At first glance, it looks like a simple bookcase in the corner.
But when Presley Tetrick pulls the shelves to the side, a world of creativity opens up for her: her own hidden art studio. The 11-year-old Edinburgh resident can step inside the small hidden room to her paints, brushes, canvases and easels. Here, she unleashes her imagination.
“It feels so peaceful to me. It makes the whole rest of the world go away. If I’m having a bad day, the first thing I think of, when I get home, I’m going to paint,” she said. “It’s like I’m in a tiny box, and all I have are my painting supplies.”
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For Presley, art has opened doors of expression that she never knew before. She started painting two years ago, and this summer competed in the Art to Finish event in downtown Franklin, as well as displaying her work during the Ethos Celebration of the Arts last weekend.
With a brush in her hand, the possibilities are endless.
“She’s an amazing person, she really is,” said Angela Hash, a Franklin resident active in the local arts scene who has helped mentor Presley. “I cannot tell you what a light she is. I’ve really enjoyed spending time with her and helping her.”
On the walls in her family’s Edinburgh home, a variety of artwork speaks to Presley’s creative journey. Early pieces include an island sunset, inspirational sayings on colorful backgrounds, even a portrait of her family. A cutting board is decorated with slices of watermelon, lemons and criss-crossed knives.
More recently, she has attempted more daring and complex works. Sharp gray mountain peaks reflect off of a mirrored alpine lake. A steely range of granite rises up from a tranquil, blue waterfront. Skies range from gentle early-morning serenity to encroaching nighttime.
“I love painting mountains,” she said. “Then to make the skies, I’ll get a bunch of different colors, dab the brush in it and blend it out. And then I can do all the details.”
Presley has always been a creative-minded kid. When she was younger, she loved to do crafts, and had a chalk board that she was constantly doodling on.
She remembers when she was 5, she made a heart motif that she ended up leaving up for months.
“I used a bunch of colors and shading, and it was really fun. I liked it a lot,” she said.
That interest led her to painting. After a school project that involved paint, Presley became more interested in making her art that way. Her father, Mike Tetrick, bought her acrylic tube paint, canvases and supplies, encouraging her talents.
He also created the secret studio behind the bookcase in her room.
“It took a lot of people coming together, a lot of people who supported her wanted to do that,” Mike Tetrick said.
Presley was also encouraged by others in the local art scene. Hash, a family friend, introduced her to other creative types around town.
In particular, Hash had her work with Ray Turner, a Franklin artist and member of the Creative Council of Franklin. Turner mentored her, offering her guidance and helping her develop her skills, until his death in June.
“He took a shine to her and thought she had something special,” Hash said.
To encourage her art, Hash also bought her a whimsical painting, “Luna’s Circle” by Duy Huynh. The framed piece has a place of honor in Presley’s room.
“It’s really inspiring,” she said. “(Angela) has helped me through this all.”
Presley also found inspiration from Bob Ross, the famous painter known for his serene natural scenes and his easygoing televised lessons.
“Every night, I used to watch two or three of his videos, before I watched them all,” she said. “Then I started loving painting valleys and mountains. I love that now. It’s my specialty.”
After working and expanding her talents, Presley was ready to measure her work against other artists. She entered the Art to Finish competition on Aug. 1, an event that asked artists to create a single work of art in one day. The idea was that it would help her grow as an artist.
“I kept telling myself, if I lose, I know that I learned something, that I needed to fix something and make it better,” she said. “That’s how I’ve tried to evolve.”
For four hours during the competition, Presley worked on a small stage in front of Benjamin’s Coffeehouse. She carefully put together her composition, with mountains, spruce trees and a lake coming together.
Though her finished piece didn’t win the competition, it ended up being her favorite. That same piece was on display at the Ethos art show on Aug. 22.
Presley has been encouraged by growth over the past year, and her plan is to also enter more competitions in the future. She also intends to take more serious art classes to build up her skills.
The end goal is a career in art.
“That’s what I do, I paint, and it’s a part of my life now,” she said.
