Regina Brejda was torn when deciding on a career.
“I was majoring in business. I was successful in my career, but I was not happy. I had a good job, but I didn’t love it,” said Brejda, who came to a crossroads while studying business at Augusta University and working in customer at Weinberger’s Furniture.
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Brejda’s first love was art, but the words “starving” and “artist” were linked together too many times for her liking. She wanted to be able to marry her savvy business sense and the skills she learned at Weinberger’s with her creative side.
“I changed my major to art, and all of the dominos fell into place,” said Brejda, whose 4P Studios on Roberts Road in Martinez, is celebrating its sixth year in February.
Brejda imagined a place for artists to study their craft or to teach it, to further their skills and use equipment they might not have access to after graduating from school, and a space to hang artwork for others to buy. She also wanted a place where she could develop her own passion for photography.
“I wanted a space where art and business met,” she said.
A lot of people tried to deter her from starting an art gallery in Augusta, encouraging her to look at places such as Atlanta, Savannah or Charleston, S.C., but Brejda believed in her city. She said she’s glad she took the risk.
4P stands for the four arts areas of painting, photography, pottery and printmaking. The business offers classes in each of these disciplines and more. During the pandemic, some of the classes have shifted to online.
The winter session is just beginning with classes such as adult beginner and intermediate watercolor starting on Feb. 3, youth 2D and 3D mixed media art on Saturdays starting Feb. 6 and serious drawing for the young artist beginning Feb. 20.
Not only are there ongoing art classes for groups, there are also workshops scheduled on a regular basis and there are private lessons available. Also, there’s an onsite custom frame shop.
Each month, Brejda coordinates two different art exhibitions. They usually open the first weekend of the month. One of the exhibitions is at the 4P Studios on Roberts Road while the other is at the 600 Broad Building.
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On Friday, Feb. 5, “Bold Radiance: Experiencing Existence Colorfully,” featuring the art of Dan Dyches and J. Travis Duncan will open at the 600 Broad Building. There will be a reception from 7 to 9 p.m. that night.
“Ceramic Expressions” with new works by Harrison Hickman and Kimberly Barron will have an opening reception at 4P Studios at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7.
While she’s pleased with the success achieved so far, Brejda sees the sky as the limit for her studio, and she sees the Roberts Road spot as a temporary one onto a journey to something much bigger.
“I want a billion-dollar company,” she said.
And one day, she hopes to have the time in her business to devote to photography, but until then, she’s helping other artists fulfill their dreams.
To learn more about 4P Studios, visit www.4pstudiosart.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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