An Unexpected Haven

Jacqueline S. Vaughn’s journey to owning an art studio

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Jacqueline S. Vaughn came to the realization that a career in law was not to be her journey. A series of events led the 2011 Roger Williams Law School graduate to her ah ha moment after many months of deep mediation, reflection, gardening, and her daily practice of yoga at the Bristol Yoga Studio. “I had found courage in this room and when I heard Tracy (Tracy Ramos owner of Bristol Yoga Studio) was moving to a different location I knew I wanted to use this space,” she says. “I found my voice here and this space was sacred to me.”

Jacqueline, who identifies herself as a closet artist and a business person, looked around Bristol and thought about what she could do with the space. The idea of bringing art to the lives of others came one night as she painted a scene of a beautiful winter night’s sky outside her bedroom window. In February she opened The Bristol Art Studio at 676 Hope Street.

This had not been the road map in 2009 when Jacqueline and her family moved from New Jersey to Bristol for her to attend law school. Life in the East Bay was to be a brief stop before returning to New Jersey where she would pursue her lifelong dream of being a lawyer and with it the fast paced lifestyle of New York City. But in 2010 her husband Jeffrey was diagnosed with a rare form of neuroendocrine cancer in his ileum. After his diagnosis she recalls, “it became very apparent that we would have to make some drastic changes to our lifestyle.” Between the illness and expecting their third child, she felt it had become very apparent they were moving fast in the wrong direction.


Growing up, Jacqueline had always set her mind on being a lawyer and majored in political science in college while pushing aside any thoughts of pursuing a career in the arts.  “I think I was never excited about really living my life as an artist because of that whole starving artist agreement we make that it has to be that way,” she says. “But I now don’t think that it has to be, and I would like kids to know that there are options. By being strategic and having a good business head and the right education tools, you can do well.”

Her vision for Bristol Art Studio is to serve a need for both children and adults who want to explore art but are intimidated by big established and costly programs like Providence’s Rhode Island School of Design. She has assembled instructors with different backgrounds and is offering everything from group lessons and drop-in classes for adults during the morning hours, afternoon classes geared towards children and in the evenings Cocktails and Creativity for those who want to combine sociability with art. Private lessons are also on tap and the space is available to rent for art related activities. A highlight this summer will be an Arts Enrichment Camp for children, featuring drawing to sculpting to sewing, dance/movement and yoga and more. Working with a blank slate she is excited to develop partnerships with other businesses including a traveling class program to Carolyn’s Sakonnet Vineyard for art in the fields.

Jacqueline, fueled with passion and her knowledge as a current MBA student at Providence College, feels confident with the business side of opening Bristol Art Studio. The goal is to reach the segment of the population which has an interest, curiosity or a longing to be part of an artistic community. She feels it has a broader reach than the established artist who is likely already involved in an arts community. The mission of Bristol Art Studio is to be a place to explore, express, create. “We will provide fundamental tools to teach you and this is a place where you will have a sense of safety to explore and then create what you want to create,” she shares.

Life for Jacqueline and her family is about living a life fulfilled today. “Jeffrey is significantly better but part of living with his cancer is having a compatible lifestyle,” and for the artist entrepreneur, “I have to proceed with something that feeds my soul and I know now that is primarily through expressive arts.”  When asked about that plan to return to New Jersey, she answers without hesitation, “Oh no, this is home.”  676 Hope Street, Bristol. 401-253-5621.

bristol, artist, bristol art studio, jacqueline vaughn, design

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