A MESSAGE FROM HEATHER

"The IRiS is exvited to offer exceptional art supplies, film photography supplies, workshops, and a warm, inspiring environment to support artist and creatives of every skill level!"

ABOUT THE IRiS

The IRiS is more than an art supply store; it's a creative hub in the heart of Fayetteville, AR. When you think of an Iris, you may think of the flower that blooms in every color of the rainbow. Or maybe it's the Greek goddess, the divine messenger who bridges heaven and earth with a rainbow. Our IRiS celebrates the full spectrum of artistic expression. Here, artist of every level can find the tools they need, connect with the community, and discover inspiration through workshops, supplies, and shared experiences. Whether you're stocking up on materials, learning a new skill, or simply seeking a spark of creativity, The IRiS is where color, craft, and community come together.

THE STORY BEHIND IT ALL

The IRiS is named after Heather's mom, Iris Eman. She was endlessly creative and an artist in every sense of the word. When Heather was four, she brought her along to her painting classes. As a pre-teen, she taught Heather how to sew, often without patterns, transforming the visions and words of others into something real. She didn't just teach Heather how to make things; she taught her how to see them. The IRiS reflects her mom's legacy - a celebration of the creative spirit she passed down and a space where that spirit can inspire and welcome others!

For everyone who enters, The IRiS is a place where color, light, and imagination converge. It's a home for inspiration, learning, and creation; a space that nurtures curiosity and celebrates the artist in all of us

MEET HEATHER

OWNER & HEAD HAUSKEEPER

Heather Chilson grew up in the wide-open prairies of northeastern South Dakota, where winters stretched on forever, the wind blew, and the cold begged for indoor projects. Luckily her mom, Iris, always had something creative up her sleeve: from decorating cookies to sewing clothes for her daughters (and their Barbies) to endless coloring, painting, and stitching. Heather remembers tagging along to her mom's art classes, sitting quietly with a sheet of paper and a set of Prong watercolors while Iris and the other grown-ups worked with oils. Being the younger sister meant hand-me-downs were a way of life, but one of them turned out to be magic: a Brownie camera that had belonged to her grandmother, passed first to her sister Sue, then finally to Heather. Iris lit the spark of creativity, but that little brownie camera fanned it into a lifelong passion

Fast-forward like a cassette tape from the 80s... through elementary and high school, college, and nearly 27 years in corporate roles at Tyson Foods, which brought her to Arkansas right up to 2024 when Heather hit pause: unemployed for the first time in decades, she finally had space to breathe and ask, "what's next?" An art supply store had been a dream simmering in the background for years, and when she looked at the local market, she knew the timing was right.