130 SOUTH THIRD STREET

Artist Todd Lovett and gardener Mark Sutter opened their gift store when they realized how smoothly their individual careers blended into a cohesive package. “I had done landscape and event planning,” Mark says, “and Todd’s career was in art and retail. It made sense to merge our professions. That’s how we came up with Artist & Gardener.”

Deciding on a theme for the store, which opened in 2016, came just as naturally. “We call it ‘Art, Home, and Garden,’” Todd says. “Much of what we carry has outdoor or garden subject matter. You’ll find wildlife themes, or dog images, on many items in the shop. Plus, we wanted to reflect the microcosm of creativity that is Jacksonville.”

Todd’s talent as a watercolorist is evident by the number of paintings and limited prints on display in the store. “Most of the watercolors are mine,” he points out. And he has transferred those works onto a selection of greeting cards and textiles. “The cards are very popular,” he says. “And since my career includes textile design and anything to do with pattern, we have turned my art into silk scarves, and pillows made with my fabrics. They’re all exclusive to the store.”

Initially, Artist & Gardner carried only items made by friends of the owners, but as happens in Jacksonville, those friendships expanded. “We’ve met so many talented artists in town,” says Todd. “Now we have beautiful woodturned pots and bowls by Richard Calhoun, and all of our glasswork is by fused glass artist Evie Ault. And our tiny, delicate baskets are by Marie Cole, who lives only a few blocks from the store. It’s exciting when local artists create things that click with us.”

For the Holiday Season, the store is resplendent with gift items. But at Artist & Gardner, “seasonal” doesn’t refer only to holidays. Flanking the front door, at 130 South Third Street, stand two beautiful topiaries, created by Mark as examples of the outdoor work he prefers. “As the weather warms, I’ll focus on smaller topiaries, and things that are herb oriented,” he says. Looking at the broad, grassy area in front of the store, he notes, “I’m an outdoor artist, and I love this space. We’re waiting for spring to arrive to bring out our living plant materials and things for the gardeners. We’ll carry containers, garden furniture, and lawn ornaments. That’s when everything out here will really pop.”

“We’re a year-round gift designation for one-of-a-kind things,” Todd adds. “Our goal is to focus on unique gifts that are a pleasure to buy, and easy to walk away with.”