art world is bifurcated into the things you read about in art publications and in the news (art fairs, auction prices for contemporary art, and a handful of art stars) and things you never hear about. Art in Shreveport is in the latter category. Here, artists toil away in obscurity like the rest of us.

Artist Vanicka Terhune diligently works on an abstract painting in her studio. The piece isn’t quite turning out the way she wants it to, so she decides to splash paint in two different areas on the canvas. Suddenly, she sees a face emerge from her painting.

A glass and metal door leads into a foyer flooded with sunlight. A modern “Sputnik” light from Henson’s Lighting shines down on a painting by local artist Vanika Terhune. A bright blue basket weave console table and lamps from the space: interiors collection sit beneath the painting.

I like its viscosity, its manageability, the very nature of the oil. I have zero desire to switch mediums,” Crews said. “I love the challenge of painting. I love the overcoming of obstacles in the process. New horizons are always stretching out before me to keep me reaching for new standards,” she said.