Adrian Pickett has been an artist since he was a youngster and his wife, Elonya, a few years ago discovered she has a passion for books.
The couple decided to combine his talent and her bibliophilia to open AP Studios and New2U Booknuk at the Jacksonville Landing.
It’s actually a return to the riverfront mall for the Picketts.
He opened a studio and gallery there in 2010 — which Elonya managed as Pickett’s business partner — then left about 18 months ago when his clientele switched more to private commission work than walk-in gallery sales.
That’s about the time Elonya started accumulating boxes of books of all genres at garage sales, estate sales and auctions.
It wasn’t long before her collection grew to the point there was no more room at home and Adrian missed showing his work at the Landing, so they leased a larger space than the previous gallery to accommodate an extensive inventory of used fiction, reference books, children’s books and even cookbooks.
“I had so many books, they were running me out of the house,” she said.
There are also a number of Pickett’s signature portraits and other artworks done in charcoal.
The books are displayed in the store on shelves, in boxes and wherever she can find a place to put them.
“There’s not a book in the store that’s more than $10 and most are under $5,” she said.
There’s also a selection of gifts, greeting cards and picture frames in the store area of the space.
The Picketts got married in July and for Elonya, running her bookstore where Adrian exhibits his work allows her to have a small business that complements her husband’s art career that can be feast or famine when it comes to steady cash flow.
“I have found something I love as much as Adrian loves his art and it’s another source of revenue,” she said. “My goal is to make sure Adrian can keep doing his art.”
The gallery and bookstore is open noon-6 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, later during events such as Art Walk and weekend festivals.
(904) 356-2466