Luv for Art, a community art center offering painting and drawing classes for adults and children and art supplies, opens at noon on Main Street in downtown Duluth Saturday, Aug. 6, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Grand opening festivities continue with pizza from Steverino’s, face-painting, balloons, and art activities for kids until 4 p.m. Then Yoeshi Roberts will entertain with “indie soul” music from 5 to 9 p.m.

Space where local artists can paint and walls where they can display and sell their work are available at Luv for Art. Photography classes also will be offered. The shop’s name is derived from owner Bobbie Flower’s signature on her own artwork. The self-taught artist signs her abstract and contemporary acrylic paintings “Luv,” reflecting her passion for art.

Artists no longer will have to drive into Atlanta to purchase quality art supplies, Flowers said. Her shop carries paints (oil, acrylics and watercolors), brushes, canvas, drawing pencils, tablets, and other supplies.

She is in the process of hiring instructors to teach classes. Melissa Sellars has been confirmed to teach painting. There will also be children’s art and photography instructors.

A California transplant, Flowers has lived in Duluth for nine years. She’s been painting for five. “I started painting through my divorce, and it changed my life,” she said. “It keeps me in a place to love life and allows me to express myself through painting.”

Flowers has a degree in marketing, which was feeding her body but not her soul. “When I came across the opportunity to open this shop, it was a dream come true,” she said. “I love Duluth.”

Luv for Art will also host birthday and bridal parties, wine and painting nights, date nights, and other group events.

The art studio/shop is located at 3227 Main St. in Historic Downtown Duluth. 678-697-5578. Hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and closed Sundays. There will be drawings for prizes during the grand opening Saturday.