Featured Artist
Angela Fernot
@afernot
Illustrator • Educator • Creative Force
As we grow, we plan to celebrate the artists who make up our creative community each month. This month, we're shining a spotlight on the wildly imaginative and endlessly inspiring Angela Fernot.
Angela’s artistic mission is to “bring visions to life that break the boundaries of expectation”. Whether she's illustrating bold portraits, creating comics, teaching art classes, or streaming live to her growing online community, Angela brings a fearless curiosity to everything she touches.
“I don’t believe in being just one thing or one style,” she says. “People aren’t that simple—so why should art be?”
Angela thrives in collaborative spaces and is passionate about building a creative community rooted in respect and support. She’s not just a talented illustrator, she’s also a mentor, a teacher, and a major creative spark in Wilmington’s art scene. Fun fact: Angela was one of the first artists I met after moving here—and yes, I proudly own a few of her art pieces and comics!
Angela also leads Figure Drawing sessions at The Eagle’s Dare
Dare to Drink and Draw sessions are equal parts social gathering and an artistic workout. They bring people together for an evening of sketching, sipping, and connecting. Whether a seasoned artist or just curious about gesture drawing, Angela creates an environment where everyone feels welcome.
Now open to ages 12+ (accompanied by an adult), Dare to Drink and Draw is a perfect opportunity to bond over art, try something new, or sharpen your skills in a low-pressure, judgment-free zone.
Stay connected with Angela at @afernot for dates, updates, and sneak peeks.
July & August Events
Words of Inspiration
Proudly supported and sponsored by River’s Edge Art Supplies, this exhibition celebrates the creative connection between language and art while championing a meaningful cause. We believe in the power of words and the importance of making them accessible to all.
The exhibit will be on view at ACME Arts in the heart of Wilmington’s vibrant Brooklyn Arts District, with an opening reception on Friday, July 25, 2025, from 6–9 pm.
The exhibit asks you to study the role that words and literacy play in shaping our understanding of the world. The ability to read isn’t just a skill, it’s a bridge to knowledge, communication, and self-expression. When that bridge is missing, so too is a vital connection to stories, ideas, and opportunity.
Words of Inspiration not only showcases powerful visual interpretations of written works, but also raises awareness for Cape Fear Literacy Council, a local nonprofit that has been advancing literacy in our community for over 40 years. This event is more than a celebration, it’s a step towards a more connected, literate, and inspired community.
Create Your Future
A premier juried art exhibition, open August 15–17 at the stunning historic Station No 2 in downtown Wilmington. The event will feature over 200 works including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, mixed media, and more—inviting the community to engage directly with local and regional creatives. Sara Edge, owner and founder of River’s Edge Art Supplies, will be showing at the event. The Friday evening reception is an exclusive ticketed event to benefit Kids Making It, followed by free public access on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am–4 pm.
Ch-ch-changes
A Shakeup in the Art Supply World…
and What It Means for River’s Edge Art Supplies
As we work to bring River’s Edge Art Supplies to life, we’ve run into an unexpected challenge shaking up the entire art supply industry.
Several weeks ago, MacPherson’s — North America’s largest wholesale distributor of art materials — announced it was closing its doors for good. For decades, MacPherson’s was the main distributor of high-quality materials and trusted brands like Sennelier, Fabriano, Raphael, Stabilo to independent art shops. But in a swift move, Blick, the biggest art retailer in North America, purchased MacPherson’s inventory and intellectual property. That means that several of those brands may now be available only through Blick.
Why does that matter to a small, local art store like ours that hasn’t even opened yet?
As both a retailer and (now) a distributor, Blick is positioned to gain exclusivity on certain brands and could control prices and access in ways that make it harder for independent stores to compete — or even get off the ground. It’s like trying to open a coffee shop when Starbucks just bought all the coffee beans.
River’s Edge Art Supplies is joining the call alongside other independent shops across North America, urging manufacturers to avoid exclusive distribution deals with any one company — especially a company that’s also a competitor. Independent shops deserve a fair shot, and local artists deserve access to the tools that inspire them.
We’re also actively working with other suppliers and speaking directly with manufacturers to ensure we’re still able to stock a carefully curated, high-quality inventory that reflects your creative needs — not just what’s cheapest or most convenient. We’re committed to building relationships that reflect our values: community over corporate, quality over quantity, and people over profit.
So, when we open our doors, we hope you’ll walk through them knowing that this is your space — a space built with love, intention, and a belief that art belongs to everyone, not just the biggest players in the game.
Thanks for believing in us as we start our journey.
— River’s Edge Art Supplies