Mike Hoover and Lane a’Day are a collaborative team of artists who have been working together for over a decade. Hoover regularly works out of his Transit Arts Gallery (TAG), #27B art studio space, where he focuses on encaustic and/or acrylic painting. He regularly sells his works through SaatchiArt.com/wax+ and at the Transit Art Gallery and Gifts, located in the TAG building.
He plans on maintaining his business model of direct sales and service to area consumers, for a minimum of the next few years. He has successfully continued generating consistent artworks through the last several decades. His career includes participating in different capacities and functions for several arts organizations, through several years. Hoover is a prolific reader, submits fiction writings for publication, honorably served abroad during Vietnam, and holds an AA degree. “Mike keeps an active and dedicated studio space at the Innis Park Studios ‘home’ he shares with a’Day, where he often works when he is not in the Transit Building.”
After settling from the overwhelming task of late-in-life relocation that began in 2022, moving from western states to Pennsylvania, a’Day is now preparing to increase her art business participation overall. “I am looking at tackling regional, national and international shows.” where she has already enjoyed some acclaim. A’Day has a dedicated studio space in the couple’s Innis Part Studio ‘home’ location, “The completely finished attic and it’s loft space operates as a work and studio space, by-invitation gallery and private art library.”
A’Day, who still works full-time in a “day job” career, has remained active as an artist in 2023, where she produced 45-50 art-driven pieces. She works principally in outdoor painting and actively works in textiles (formal crochet). She reports, “I have already launched major incentives for 2025,” indicating renewed memberships in critically significant art leagues (LPAPA – Laguna Plein Air Painters Assoc., AIS – American Impressionist Society, CAC – California Art Club, NOAPS – National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society, and TAGG Transit Art and Gifts Gallery), involvement in several national and international competitions, building of an outdoor interactive space to hold or host upcoming outdoor sculptures, and continued publication of art educational works in film and book.
Despite ongoing professional career developments, a’Day has been active in the arts for some decades, “Production and proliferation are not a problem for me,” she states, indicating, “I’m from a family of engineers, we always took tools and organization rather seriously, in art school, at times, I would be done with assignments when some peers were not yet completely set up at their stations.” She is a 1980’s graduate from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, Department of Fine Arts.
Though recently from the west coast, originally, Hoover was from inland Washington State and a’Day from the mid-west, “We’re familiar with snow. Pennsylvania weather was not problematic for us when considering relocation to this area,” Hoover and a’Day agree. A’Day, a quick-draw outdoors plein air painter, states, “It was a bit of a childhood dream to live in Pennsylvania as I always thought it was magically beautiful.”
Hoover and a’Day have and continue to build an extensive collection — now over 500 pieces — of visual art and decorative arts publications in their private arts library at Innis Park Studios. A’Day has called their home “Innis Park Studios” due to the street address and park located across the street.
During 2024
Hoover was awarded a 1st Place category in the annual Oil Heritage Festival Art Show for one of his several relief sculptural wall art pieces. He was also invited and participated in the June 30, 2024, Red Brick Gallery show titled, EKPHRASIS: Writers Responding to Art (Emlenton, PA). A’Day earned a 3rd Place category in the annual Oil Heritage Festival Art show for her painting titled “What the Fire Said,” a work titled by Hoover.
During late December, Hoover and a’Day traveled for their second time to view and reflect on the Canadian Niagara Falls, where a’Day returned with two completed paintings. “It was a ‘bucket list’ item to view and visit the majestic falls during the cold winter season where northern light angles are particularly long, have unique annual effects,” reports a’Day.
A’Day and Hoover travelled to the Adirondacks mid-summer for a casual competition-free social week of live portrait and plein air painting with 100 other regional, national and international artists.
“Some of the participants are some of the biggest names in American painting currently. I was amazed and pleased to have such proximity,” A’Day said of the week-long event organized by Streamline and Eric Rhodes. During the event, a’Day produced approximately ten works. Her piece titled “vista view” painted in 2-3 hours one afternoon during that event received international attention when it was selected and showcased by a leading SaatchiArt.com curator during September.
Hoover and a’Day also travelled to Jamaica for a week during February, where a’Day generated +20 A5 sized travel watercolors in support of her book and writing titled “Weight of Clouds.” A’Day enjoyed attending a local book fair (hosted by Oil City Library / Venango County Library) with other local artists and writers where she shared “Weight of Clouds” and a handful of her other publications from her publishing platform “Educational Art Press” at blurb.com.
Changes in physical facilities, business expectations
Also in 2024, a’Day and Hoover purchased an open lot next to their “Innis Park Studios” location in Oil City. After careful consideration, a’Day began constructing a Chartres Walk Path (healing spiritual labyrinth) that is projected to be completed in late spring 2025.
“The site is already operable; and, when winter weather clears for the outdoor space, we will be further investing in: completing grounds landscaping, installing additional lighting and security, and building outdoor seating for visitor comfort,” a’Day said.
A’Day and Hoover arrived at the Innis Street location for its outstanding potential to support the arts, longitudinally, “The Innis Park Studios location is a beautiful early 20th century historic structure that was meticulously maintained by its prior owners. It sits on an established roadway, next to an open space that reveals historic architecture and nature all around. Tourists regularly walk up and down our street with their cameras and marvel at the view. This place has amazing potential,” a’Day states of their smaller brick structure on the southside.
“Perhaps one day local municipal interests will protect this roadway and all the view opportunities it has to offer.” A’Day admits investments in the structure has included new metal roofing, legacy windows, exterior water abatement landscaping and ongoing landscaping, including that not related to the Chartres Walk Path. Historically, a’Day and Hoover have assisted museums, art associations and galleries with their operations. “We were really excited to find how active Oil City is in building community and commerce through the arts and entertainment. Supporting the arts to promote tourism and commerce is a proven model I have witnessed in more than one region,” a’Day states.
Special activities or promotions
During 2024’s “Artist’s Sunday,” Hoover enjoyed a positive day in his #27B studio at the Transit Building. “I was surprised with the turn out,” Hoover stated. A’Day had a successful day clearing past inventory from prior shows, charter and public school education demonstrations, and festive ‘paint party’ models, she has taught in the past. “It felt really good to clear out the closet and get some deeper organizing done before 2025,” she reports.
Looking forward
Hoover regularly asks a’Day to take it easy and relax. “I’m not ready for that,” a’Day states. I have way too much energy right now.”
Hoover and a’Day are sole proprietors without regular employees. On rare occasion, a temporary hand may be hired for arduous activities. Hoover retired several years ago after a career in civil service where he exercised considerable management improvements toward worker safety and security. He was pleased and excited to be admitted into the TAG studios when he arrived to Oil City with a’Day. A’Day continues to work full-time, beyond retirement, 100% remotely, as a licensed professional and part-time advisor in a human service industry.
“It is soul work that enhances individuals lives toward kinder living, greater love, and better work for themselves and their loved ones,” she states of her decades-long ‘day job’ career that “is an art, in and of itself.”
