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Photos above: Left image: Clarkesville natives Greg Kimsey, Gail Kimsey, Tonya Kimsey-Fowler and Resident Artist Dawn Gunn revisit the original Art-Full Barn they started in 1998. Right image: In 2025, they stand in front of the new location.
The Art-Full Barn Story
BIG NEWS! The Art-Full Barn received Clarkesville's Main Street Award of Excellent. Click here to read about it.
Greg and Gail Kimsey opened the Art-Full Barn in 1998 inside an actual old red barn that was built in the early 1920's.
It actually began as a place for artists to sell their creations in a funky and fun atmosphere. As people came in to look at the original art on furniture, canvas, and functional items, they would ask if we could teach them how to paint it. So we began teaching art classes in both decorative and fine art techniques.
Our students were having trouble finding the art supplies for the classes, so we contacted suppliers and began carrying the supplies ourselves. People in the community found out we were stocking art supplies for students and began asking us to order for them, too, which is how we transformed into one of the finest art supply stores in northeast Georgia.
Eventually, we outgrew the little, red barn, so we moved into a much larger space inside the Old Clarkesville Mill. Gail opened an 80,000 square foot antique store called Old Clarkesville Mill Art & Antiques Mall. With the expanded space, we brought in new products such as Melissa and Doug toys, scale model kits, and birding supplies.
We've moved around a couple more times since then. We currently reside at 143 GA 17 (at the light) in Clarkesville, GA.
Tonya Kimsey-Fowler (Gail and Greg's daughter) moved home from Colorado and became a partner in the business. As Mud Fairy Pottery, she teaches pottery classes and creates all the beautiful pottery sold in the store.
We've come a long way from the early days of selling art in an old, red barn. We now have an art community with a variety of artists and shops offering art supplies, classes, parties, events, pottery, models, gallery space and more. Come visit us at 143 GA 17 in Clarkesville, Ga and see for yourself.
BIG NEWS! The Art-Full Barn received Clarkesville's Main Street Award of Excellent. Click here to read about it.
Greg and Gail Kimsey opened the Art-Full Barn in 1998 inside an actual old red barn that was built in the early 1920's.
It actually began as a place for artists to sell their creations in a funky and fun atmosphere. As people came in to look at the original art on furniture, canvas, and functional items, they would ask if we could teach them how to paint it. So we began teaching art classes in both decorative and fine art techniques.
Our students were having trouble finding the art supplies for the classes, so we contacted suppliers and began carrying the supplies ourselves. People in the community found out we were stocking art supplies for students and began asking us to order for them, too, which is how we transformed into one of the finest art supply stores in northeast Georgia.
Eventually, we outgrew the little, red barn, so we moved into a much larger space inside the Old Clarkesville Mill. Gail opened an 80,000 square foot antique store called Old Clarkesville Mill Art & Antiques Mall. With the expanded space, we brought in new products such as Melissa and Doug toys, scale model kits, and birding supplies.
We've moved around a couple more times since then. We currently reside at 143 GA 17 (at the light) in Clarkesville, GA.
Tonya Kimsey-Fowler (Gail and Greg's daughter) moved home from Colorado and became a partner in the business. As Mud Fairy Pottery, she teaches pottery classes and creates all the beautiful pottery sold in the store.
We've come a long way from the early days of selling art in an old, red barn. We now have an art community with a variety of artists and shops offering art supplies, classes, parties, events, pottery, models, gallery space and more. Come visit us at 143 GA 17 in Clarkesville, Ga and see for yourself.