Tucked off of North Oracle Road is Oro Valley's only dedicated art studio and gallery.
Linda Ahearn opened Toscana Studio & Gallery six years ago in a 960-square-foot space at 9040 N. Oracle Road.
The studio and gallery space is barely visible off the road. Motorists likely notice the turquoise-colored sculpture on Toscana's roof of a young girl with wind-swept hair gazing toward Pusch Ridge.
"It's not in the best location," Ahearn admitted.
But under the roof of a multi-tenant building, Ahearn operates a studio that provides art classes to children and adults, and a gallery space for artists.
When Ahearn opened Toscana, she thought she'd teach painting and sculpture to children - she had taught clay sculpture at Copper Creek Elementary School in Oro Valley for two years on a volunteer basis - then show their work in the gallery.
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Artists wanted in on Toscana, so Ahearn started to rent wall space in the gallery.
Toscana's intimate gallery currently features works by local artists with the Southern Arizona Arts Guild.
"They are big supporters of Toscana," Ahearn said of the guild. "It works out great for them and me. I have a ton of artwork all the time."
Ahearn's oil paintings and sculptures also are on display at the gallery.
"I never get the really good spots in the gallery," she joked.
Ahearn doesn't waste any space in the gallery and also takes things outdoors.
She created a lighted path through the desert to display art at night for special shows.
Artist Saundra Trumbull, whose paintings are featured at Toscana, appreciates the hard work Ahearn pours into her gallery.
"She's so giving. She's so willing to share her knowledge with people," Trumbull said.
Artist Susan Oyler's work also is featured in the gallery. Oyler, a retired special-education teacher, is Ahearn's only employee.
"I do mostly abstract, but I do realism as well," Oyler said of her work.
The two met five years ago when Oyler attended a show at Toscana.
Oyler then submitted 18 works for Ahearn to consider for a show at the gallery.
"She took them all. I was flabbergasted," Oyler said.
She added: "Now I'm a professional artist and I thank Linda for having a part in that."
Oyler, Ahearn and about nine other instructors, including a former physician who teaches anatomy for artists, teach art classes to adults and children at Toscana.
Seventy children signed up to take art classes at the studio this summer.
"Combine children and art and there's nothing better in life than that," Oyler said.
Ahearn, who lives in Oro Valley, also enjoys working with children.
"They have no fear," she said. "They are more willing to try new things. They aren't as afraid of failure as adults are."
Ahearn has tried to grow Toscana over the last year to serve more people.
"There are so many people in this area looking for a place to take art classes," she said.
Lack of space has made growth difficult, but that will change in August when Ahearn takes over the office space next to her gallery.
Toscana will double in size with the expansion.
"We're trying to grow an art center. I think it's happening," she said.
Contact reporter Andrea Rivera at arivera@azstarnet.com or 807-8430.
