The Scrappy Elephant, formerly Bowen. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
The Scrappy Elephant’s art supplies for sale. Photo by Peyton Saunders 
The teaching station with Jenny talking us through the process. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
This is a Speedball Lino Cutter used for carving out the stamps. They can be found fairly cheap online and in craft stores. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
My stamp designs. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
The messy, but fun, end results. Photo by Peyton Saunders. 
The Scrappy Elephant prioritizes charity and sustainability every step of the way. Photo by Peyton Saunders.
Located in the old Bowen Jewelry Store on Main Street in Downtown Lynchburg, The Scrappy Elephant is a charming, sustainable art shop with supplies and art classes for beginner and intermediate artists.
I recently visited the space last Saturday morning to attend their mini-print class, a beginner-level session where I learned to make stamps. The Scrappy Elephant also offers courses in crochet, watercolor, and handmade jewelry.
My first impression upon entering the building was the wall-to-wall color. So many unique pieces and designs lined the store, creating a welcoming environment. The space is divided into two sections: the studio and a retail space. The shop side of the building sells supplies, prints, books, jewelry, and more. It is inspiring how a place like this can be so eclectic yet so well-organized.
In the mini-print class, Jenny, our instructor, started by showing us how the stamps can work. She had made a stamp for every day of Inktober, an event in which various artists create art and post it online every day of October. She let us play with the stamps first to get a feel for what our end creation would be like. After playing with those for a bit, we moved over to the crafting table.
Next, we carved erasers into stamps. I created a stamp that said ‘#critograph’ and one that was a face. My mother, who attended the event with me, made a pumpkin design for her stamp, as well as a design that said ‘THANKS!’. With Jenny’s guidance, we all found we were more than capable of creating the pieces we wanted, regardless of experience or artistic ability. Being able to create stamps that we could take home made me feel so accomplished. It really is such a nice feeling to make something with your own hands.
For only $25, this was money well spent. Classes can range from $25 to $35, depending on the cost of the resources. Some classes, like the upcoming painting class on Dec. 6, are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested donation of $10. This cost includes the supplies, cleanup, and the pieces you made during the class.
As the semester comes to an end, decompressing with some art could be a nice, relaxing activity. It is hard to know where to start with art, but The Scrappy Elephant does the planning part for you, so all that is left is to relax and make a piece of art.
The Scrappy Elephant does not just help stressed college students and artists; it also helps the greater Lynchburg community by raising awareness and encouraging donations to various charities like the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank and Food Not Bombs, which is especially important at this time.
Their next mini-print class will be held on Nov. 22 at 1 p.m.
Find out more about The Scrappy Elephant at Lynchburg Art Classes, or visit the Event Calendar to learn more about Downtown Lynchburg events.
