About Erin

Erin Deneuville (she/her) is the owner of Atelyay, a small community art studio on The Commons in Ithaca, New York. Erin studied painting at the Art Students League of New York. She was also an art teacher in NYC for many years. When she moved to Ithaca she opened up a business called Bristle & Turp teaching art lessons and workshops. She ran that until her very first student went off to art school. And then, she focused on being a mom. And growing a garden. And on her art, too.

Now, Erin lives in Freeville, just outside of Ithaca. She is the mother of two buoyant young boys who invite their creativity along with them wherever they go. It is their constant companion. Thank goodness, because it feeds their joy like nothing else. It doesn’t seem to need any special materials to make all that joy. Just their attention and their bodies (but actually, those are very special materials, indeed). Erin has also always kept her creativity right by her side. Or rather, it has always stayed by her side, even when she has sometimes not fed it very well. Still it has stayed there. When she remembers to give it materials (mainly paint, but it’s not picky) to make it happy and grow, it feeds her in turn. It is a food for her soul as delicious as anything that grows out of the earth (which is saying a lot). And she really never forgets now, because her kids remind her with their playtime laughter why it’s important. 

As of Spring 2024, Atelyay is open. All people, young and old, are invited to come and feed the creativity that is right here by all of our sides. Our creativity is waiting to feed us so that we can feed each other and our world. I hope to see you soon!