AKRON, Ohio — April Couch is an Akron-based artist who owns Totally Tangled Creations.
“Art heals, and art is therapy. I feel like I’m in therapy every day with my art. I mean, I can loose myself in it,” Couch said.
Couch has been making art professionally for the last 11 years.
“It’s been really good to me. I have no complaints whatsoever, and I get to do something that I love every day, and I get to earn money while I do it. So, it’s a win-win,” said Couch.
Normally, Couch makes her money by selling her work at art shows.
“From July until December, I typically do about 10 art shows and that makes up about 80% of my income for the year,” Couch said.
This past year, all of the art shows that Couch normally depends on were canceled due to economic effects created by COVID-19.
“That had a huge impact on my business — the income I make from my business,” Couch said.
With a majority of her income gone, she said she was able to keep her business afloat by applying for grants.
“When you’ve lost 50, 60, 70, 80% of your income — for some artists, they have lost 100% of their income,” Couch said.
Artists like Couch who have been impacted by the pandemic can apply for a grant through ArtsNow.org until Jan. 28 at midnight. The fund will award $500 or $1,000 grants to artists in Summit County.
