Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is art for Jeff and Sue Moualim, owners of The Artistic Pony in Solvang.

What began as an escape from an over-demanding work schedule in Los Angeles became The Artistic Pony, one of Solvang’s stellar

 

What began as an escape from an over-demanding work schedule in Los Angeles became The Artistic Pony, one of Solvang’s stellar locations to find traditional and unconventional jewelry and gifts.

Situated in the rear right corner of Atterdag Square’s cozy courtyard, the quaint store offers an assortment of novel jewelry, with many pieces made by local artisans. The store’s variety of items range from gemstone and sterling silver jewelry, as well as other handcrafted jewelry and accessories, including imaginative and humorous clocks, which are guaranteed to bring positive attention to the idea of being on time. 

“The best thing about owning a business in the Valley is visiting old friends and making new ones,” Sue said, “not only through the artists we feature, but also through all of the wonderful locals who appreciate Valley talent as well.”

Opened in August 2006, The Artistic Pony was just the refuge the Moualims needed after ending the eight-year maintenance of their business in L.A., J & R Industries, Inc.,  which sold coatings and sealants to the aerospace and construction industries.

“In 2005 I had decided that I wanted to sell the company because we felt that we had gone as far as we could have gone,” Jeff said. “The sale of the company was really event oriented. My dad was already having health problems and I began having health problems, so it seemed like a good time to sell.”

The sale of the Moualim’s business, came after Jeff learned that his liver was failing, one of the complications of having Hepatitis C, which he contracted when he was a child during a blood transfusion.

“I had known I had Hepatitis C for at least 20 years and it never caused me any problems,” Jeff said. “Until one day I woke up and didn’t feel so well. At first I thought it was the flu.”

After months of seeing doctors and being on chemotherapy medication to get rid of the Hepatitis, Jeff went into a comma as a result of liver failure.

“It was awful as you could imagine,” Sue said. “Cottage Hospital said ‘there was nothing that they could do.’”

Jeff was transferred to UCLA’s hospital, where he remained in a comma for five weeks, on life support and on the waiting to receive a liver transplant.

“He got lucky two days after Christmas, when during the worst time in their life, a family gave Jeff the greatest gift, a new life.” Sue said.

“In the meantime I was thinking that we don’t have a job anymore.”

“I knew I wanted to go into retail because I though it would allow me to take care of Jeff and have an income, plus I though it was something he would enjoy as well.”

And so the saga of The Artistic Pony began.

While Sue began looking into what retail business to go into, one of her close friends was selling her business. That close friend was Joyce Jones, who was the original owner of the Wild Rose in Julian, Calif., which became the Artistic Pony.

After a little bit of urging and nagging, Jones sold The Artistic Pony to Jeff and Sue, and the couple moved it to Solvang.

Since the couple acquired the business about a year ago, they have made some minor but significant and noticeable changes. Jeff and Sue have added 15 local artists and nine out-of-area artists to the store’s repertoire. They also added Ayako Yamaguchi who is a local artist and key person in the success of the store during this first year.

“We started with one artist and pretty soon we had many,” Sue said, “which gives the shop two things, one, the opportunity to support local artists and two, an eclectic mix of products that appeal to a large audience.”

Artist Nancy Froelich, who contributes some of her Murano glass work to the store, agrees.

“It’s really great to have a local venue to feature my work at because there aren’t many stores in the Valley that feature jewelry, and then she has other artwork by other local artists, which is great,” she said. “I think the store offers something for everyone’s taste.”

Artistic Pony customers also enjoy the ever-expanding list of items the store offers as well as getting to visit with some of the local artist, who can sometimes be found in the store.

“It’s a great shop, it’s innovative and they have unusual things, and one of the things I like about it is that sometimes some of the artists of the beaded work are in the store,” said Donna Keeler, who frequents the store. “It’s one of the places you can go frequently because they always have something new, not the same old thing.”

Featuring local’s artwork is just one of the ways the Moualim’s give back to the community. This year the store is hosting the Humane Society’s annual fundraiser Aug. 19. Ten percent of proceeds earned that day will benefit the Humane Society.

 

“We like to have fundraisers because we wouldn’t be here without the community,” Sue said.

 

In the meantime, Sue and Jeff are looking forward to their future. They envision The Artistic Pony still being a proud source of art and jewelry and offering what Sue defines as “a cross between an art gallery, gift shop and an unconventional jewelry shop” to the Valley.

“When people come, they can take a little bit of the Santa Ynez Valley with them,” Sue said.

Whether it’s just a passerby or the usual customer, one thing’s almost certain, The Artistic Pony will probably still be more than your run-of-the-mill jewelry shop and always be a place local artists can call home.

 

For more information about The Artistic Pony visit www.theartisticpony.com, call 805-686-9899 or stop by the store located at 447 Atterdag Road, Suite 6 in Solvang.