Editor's Pick Best Soda City Vendor: Bee Bottom Art

Whimsical, serene and sometimes a little spooky but always miniature, Bee Bottom Art is one of the most unique Soda City vendors present on Main Street every Saturday.

Stacey Black, owner of Bee Bottom Art, has been painting miniature watercolor and ink creations since 2016. 

“There are no rules in my art. There may be a T-rex walking a dog by an ice cream shop or houses perched on the leaves of a tall flower. I like to play with scale and the absurd,” Black said. 

Black has loved both miniatures and art since she was a child. She pursued this while studying studio art at the University of South Carolina and spent several years as a graphic designer. After 13 years as a stay-at-home mother, Black returned to making art quite unexpectedly. 

“On a whim, I decided to engage in a daily art challenge on Instagram, which led me to trying out watercolor for the first time,” she said. “I found that painting with watercolor greatly relieved the anxiety that I have dealt with all of my life.” 

A few months later, she was inspired by a friend to dive into miniature art.

“I loved the challenge of creating in a tiny format, and it brought back the feeling of whimsy I had felt as a child when I had adored miniatures,” Black said.

Black has been a Soda City vendor since September 2020. Through the weekly market, she has met many friends, both fellow vendors and customers. 

“Having made these connections has given me this great sense of community,” she said. “We are truly lucky to have the Soda City Market in Columbia.” 

Black plans to bring Bee Bottom Art to other pop-up markets this spring, including the Cottontown Art Crawl on March 9, 2024.

When asked if she had a message for aspiring artists, Black said, “You just have to find what you enjoy, even if it’s weird, even if it’s silly, and keep working at it often. If you decide to share your art with the world, you will find your people. Art is valuable to our society, and you are an important contribution.”