Specs by Kyla: Looking Through Rose Colored Glasses

Local Business • Business Spotlight SPECS BY KYLA Looking Through Rose-Tinted Glasses

By Christianna Marks

What happens when three powerhouse women with entrepreneurial instincts come together? You get Traffic Way’s latest collaboration.

When Specs by Kyla’s owner Kyla Skinner started looking for an artist to team up with for the December 2 edition of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce’s Art, Wine, & Brew Tour, she knew just who she wanted to work with. Enter Jenna Hartzell and Janet Wallace, co-creators and owners of Page of Art History.

Page of Art History is an at-home-printable coloring page subscription service featuring pages with everything from cave paintings to contemporary art created by best friends, and fellow art history majors Jenna and Janet during the height of the covid pandemic. The artistic subscription is a fun learning tool that officially started in January this year.

“Every single artwork that’s in our coloring pack is linked [on our online portal] to where the artwork exists in the world. There’s a full glossary; there are links to videos and art projects. We have “explore more” and “beyond the page” sections where people can really dive deep and learn more if they want, or they can just learn while they color through art’s greatest masterpieces,” added Jenna.

Together, all three ladies are blending their artistic businesses, giving back to the community, and spreading joy to the kids in the local foster system. Right now, Kyla is carrying a line of glasses in her Traffic Way eyewear boutique called 141. The glasses are made out of Ultem, the same stuff airplane cockpits are made from, which makes them super bendy, durable, and perfect for kids.

“The reason it’s called 141 is they give a frame for each that’s sold. So one for one. They’re based out of Portland, and the owner is an optician, she designed frames, and she feels strongly about giving back to the community. So, what I’m able to do is use this in our community,” Kyla added.

Kyla’s been looking into her own Foster Care records over the last year, and her husband encouraged her to work with 141 to donate pairs of glasses to the local foster care program. So now, Kyla has partnered with 141 and Dr. Chaffe to donate complimentary eye exams and glasses to foster kids in the Kinship Center/Seneca Family of Agencies programs.

When Jenna and Janet found out what Kyla was doing for the local foster kids in the community, they also jumped on board and donated a free membership of Page of Art History to the Kinship/Seneca. Jenna, Janet, and Kyla will also be donating a percentage of their eyewear and art sales in December to the foster program.

“It takes somebody with an artistic eye [to pair frames with faces],” Jenna said when Kyla stated she wasn’t artistically inclined. “The first thing you learn in art school when you’re a studio art major is how to draw a portrait. How to look at somebody’s face.”

“I’m an eyewear artist,” Kyla proudly exclaimed.

It’s easy to see why Kyla, Jenna, and Janet work so well together, and the three women gave Instagram the credit for bringing them together.

“I just never understood how much art means for our community. You know, with the murals and with art and wine walks — people who have an appreciation for design and art and art history. I don’t know, there’s just something to it that builds community,” added Kyla. “I realize the tie-in of artwork and glasses being art for the face, too, and that’s why it works so well to collaborate with artists for me.”

You can find Specs by Kyla at 5808 Traffic Way or online at specsbykyla. com. To learn more or subscribe to Page of Art History, head to pageofarthistory.com.

Jenna Hartzell (left), Kyla Skinner (right), and Janet Wallace (right) model Specs by Kyla. Photo by Christianna Marks