Ink and Honey Studios is working to help emerging and student artists get a start in their careers.
WSU student Zelda McAfee and alumna Isabella King created the studio, located off Oliver and Kellogg. The duo opened it while King was still a student — she graduated last year with a degree in printmaking. McAfee is currently double-majoring in photography and art history.
“Ink and Honey Studios is a gallery slash studio space, originally just for me and Zelda to work on our own work,” King said. “As a gallery, we wanted to have a space that is smaller, but also more accessible for student artists.”
The current focus is on their gallery space and on helping student artists learn the essentials of working professionally, King said.
“We have no problem helping students find out who to reach out to about framing and wiring their work,” King said. “That’s something you don’t learn about until very late at WSU. It’s stuff you don’t think about, but is very necessary.”
These efforts hope to connect students, recent graduates, and community artists to a larger network of professionals in Wichita.
“It’s a smaller space (Ink and Honey Studios), but it’s more accessible for student artists,“ King said. “There’s not a good way or place to get your art into shows, to really start your career.”
King said they are always looking for opportunities to expand their outreach efforts through social media and planned events.
One of the planned events is an upcoming open call event for cat-themed art.
Ink and Honey is partnering with Harvester Arts to host an open call event for cat-themed 2D and 3D art to be professionally displayed at Ink and Honey Studios and Harvester Arts.
These kinds of events, along with solo artist shows, help expand the reach of the studio, King said.
All entry fees and donations at both of the receptions will be donated to the Kansas Humane Society.
Students will typically not have to pay entry fees. The cat themed open call is an exception since it also serves as a fundraiser.
Opening receptions for the cat collection will be hosted on April 3 at Harvester Arts, from 5-8 p.m., and at Ink and Honey Studios, from 6-9 p.m. the same day.
For any questions about the open call or Ink and Honey Studios email [email protected].
