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Ballast Point

Sidewalk sale work of art for two sisters

Caroline and Margaret Mitchell bring creativity to the old lemonade- stand-on-the-sidewalk idea.

By ANNE ARSENAULT
Published April 1, 2005

An "Art for Sale" sign drawn in chalk on the driveway pointed to the makeshift storefront. Margaret Mitchell set up on the left side of the drive; her sister, Caroline, set up shop on the right.

Forget the lemonade stand. These kids are finding more creative ways to spend their time and make a buck. During spring break last week, Caroline, 7, and Margaret, 5, of Ballast Point set up a sidewalk art sale to showcase their talents to neighbors and friends.

"We used to do lemonade sales, but one day we couldn't do it so we decided to do an art sale," said Caroline, who came up with the idea.

The sisters have been taking classes at the Hyde Park Art Studio for the past year. Classes ranging from cartooning to origami, clay and space art have resulted in varied and extensive portfolios.

With prices set at $1 for large pieces and 50 cents for smaller ones, affordability and cuteness were certainly a draw for neighbors.

Among the girls' first customers was Jan Stein, coordinator of public art for Hillsborough County. On her way to the mailboxes of the Bayshore Pointe gated community where Stein lives, she came across the girls and "knew I had to buy art at the stand," she said.

Stein, a fine arts collector who describes her collection as "eclectic," said, "If you appreciate art, you can appreciate it at any level." She added three Mitchell sister originals to her personal gallery.

The girls' mother, Mary Ann Mitchell, a former elementary school teacher, has always encouraged her daughters to explore their creative sides. "It's their time to relax," she said. "They do it automatically."

Margaret, who likes art "because it's fun," said she hopes to be an artist when she grows up.

Daughters of U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mark Mitchell, the girls have moved around a lot and not always had access to art classes.

"It's fun to be in a city that has art to give them," Mary Ann said. "We're lucky when we can be in the city."

But after three years in South Tampa, the Mitchells are moving in May. The girls' father has taken a job at Fort Campbell, Ky. The nearest big city, Nashville, is more than an hour away.

While they will miss Tampa, the girls will most likely continue their creative endeavors.

"I'll probably never stop doing art," Caroline said. "It's pretty much my favorite thing to do."

Anne Arsenault can be reached at 226-3434 or aarsenault@sptimes.com

[Last modified March 31, 2005, 08:53:03]