THIBODAUX — The detailed pen-and-ink drawings of local landmarks and wildlife drew interest for years but the artwork received a major boost in attention with its debut at an upscale home-furnishings store.
Brady Bullock of Chackbay, started displaying his drawings at Kenla Designs on Canal Boulevard about a year ago, hoping that customers might like images of plantations and alligators with their new sofas and drapes.
The 35-year-old Thibodaux native opened BB Gallery, named after his initials, in May, following several months of remodeling the roughly 600-square-feet space at 408 W. 4th St. in downtown Thibodaux.
Most of Bullock’s customers live in the Houma-Thibodaux area, but he also has created work for residents of Mississippi and Tennessee.
The gallery includes paintings, drawings and mixed-media pieces by 17 artists, most from Houma-Thibodaux. A lot of the work stems from newfound artist friends Bullock met through art shows.
“I wanted to keep it Louisiana,” Bullock said.
The gallery includes Bullock’s own work, mostly pen-and-ink drawings of bayou wildlife like alligators and local landmarks like Laura Plantation, St. Joseph Co-Cathedral, the Olde Icehouse and the Lafourche Parish Courthouse.
Bullock sometimes dabbles in painting and color pencil, so gallery visitors also can find two acrylic paintings created by Bullock within the last month or so as well as a pen-and-ink drawing filled in with color pencil.
Bullock said the gallery has received a warm welcome, with its May grand opening, attended by more than 80 people.
Customers bought two of Bullock’s paintings the day the gallery opened, and visitors have scooped up work by renowned Donaldsonville folk artist Alvin Batiste, he said.
Bullock plans to promote the arts by holding pen-and-ink classes for children and featuring a different artist every other month.
Batiste serves as the gallery’s first featured artist, which means his work sits in the gallery’s display window and another room to the side. A meet-and-greet with Batiste is scheduled for 4 p.m. July 25 at the gallery.
For information, call BB Gallery at 447-3640 or e-mail Bradybgallery@yahoo.com.
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