It’s a place where artists of various trades can come and hone their craft or start a new one. A place that sells various gifts, books, toys, art, instruments, jewelry and dance wear and a place where there’s even a studio space where artists can have different experiences from photography to yoga and art camps. That is what For The Love Of Art Studio is all about. 

“I have been planning my business for 30 years,” said owner Janika Byington. “I grew up wanting to be an entertainer, but I didn’t want to compromise or sell myself to a company. So I am trying to create a company that trains and promotes independent artists. My focus is on giving creators a local (for now) platform (in person and online) to collaborate with other artists and connect with their audiences with all the sales and business support that creatives so desperately need.” 

With different events being done at Byington’s business, she had the idea to create a mini-convention thanks to the suggestion of her daughter who is an avid cosplayer. It was held June 14 and 15 at the Ogden Newgate Mall. 

“I have been selling fandom-based merchandise at boutiques, conventions, and pop-up markets for a decade including FanX for seven years,” Byington said. “My daughter makes her living doing cosplay. She said she was coming to visit me from Texas and wanted to have a reunion with her Utah cosplay friends. Of course, we wanted to invite everyone to the party. I blurted out in a moment of insanity, ‘What if we turned it into a mini-convention? My daughter started making fliers, inviting panelists, and setting up a schedule. I went to mall staff the next day, got approval, and we took off with six weeks to plan and execute.” 

Her daughter who goes by Gemini Chrysalis for her cosplayer name, helped Byington run the con along with Byington’s 16-year-old twins. She also had the help of the guests that she had invited. From artists to authors. Now that the convention, Itty-Bitty Con, is over, Byington hopes to hold other events at her studio/store. Plus, she wants to hold Itty-Bitty Con twice a year.

“If all goes well, I will host Itty Bitty Con twice a year,” she said. “But my studio has events all the time. Thursday is free Karaoke, Friday is Live performances (I am looking for performers), and Saturday is Dance Club with Discat DJ. They all start at 7 p.m.”  

Byington said she is especially looking forward to her first year of art camp. “We will have multiple teachers working with three age groups (from 4-16) in different rooms of the studio for a full-day camp. We will be integrating multiple forms of art with history for an immersive educational experience. I will have sessions during the third and fourth weeks of July.”

Byington loves running For The Love Of Art Studio. It gives her the freedom to express a multitude of ideas and make the impossible a reality. 

“My biggest mental challenge is that my brain thinks thoughts that are too big for one person,” she said. “But, I am blessed with a delusional personality that allows me to try things others expect are impossible. My biggest business challenge is that as a single mom of six, my resources and capital are inexpressibly limited while I am still trying to provide for my family. But I have an ample supply of the most valuable resource: creativity. What I like most about running my own business is that I don't have somebody shooting down my crazy amazing ideas and telling me they won't work (that's the same advantage I find with being a  single woman.)”

For The Love Of Art Studio is located at 3651 Wall Avenue, Suite 1238, Ogden, 385-888-0881.