Bored? Grab a board a paint Palmerton shop offers variety of classes, decorations

nnMarie and Ray Bossard recently opened the doors for Bossard’s Board Works, an art studio meets quirky country shop in the heart of Palmerton at 234 Delaware Ave. The storefront offers customers the opportunity to paint pallets and pick up rustic signs and decorations that resonate with rural charm.

“Ray and I started doing custom work with old pallets three years ago in September,” AnnMarie said. “It just kind of evolved to the pallet painting classes, which we started about a year and a half ago, and it’s been a crazy roller-coaster ride ever since. We have private parties here, you can attend public classes, we’ll have kids’ parties, bridal parties, anything, really.”

Three-hour classes in pallet painting, both public and private, are currently available, with budding artists using 13-by-20-inch pallets to follow a pattern or craft their own custom design.

The Bossards previously hosted classes at 11 locations, along with private parties at customers’ homes, but it was their children that inspired them to set up the brick and mortar shop that serves as their central hub.

“It was all about my kids, to be honest,” AnnMarie said. “We’re a family owned business, so I wanted my kids to be as much a part of it as my husband and I are. We wanted to have a space that we could call home in our hometown. It was time, we were ready to set up shop, sow some roots, and stay here.”

So, what exactly makes pallet painting the best medium for any artist? According to Bossard, it’s not only forgiving, but stylistic.

“Rustic art of any form, whether it be wood, metal or anything like that, it’s really popular in this area. It’s great, because you don’t have to be so perfect with your sign. The most inexperienced painter can do an awesome job. You want that rustic, primitive look, so you don’t need to be so particular with your sign,” she said.

After a popular reception at the Palmerton Community Festival this year, it seemed like the perfect time for the Bossards to open up shop, allowing patrons a central location to drop in and make their own pallet paintings, or to pick up a pre-made sign.

“The first time I saw her was at the Palmerton (Community) Festival, and I’ve been following her since then. When she was coming home, I said, ‘Bossard’s is having their grand opening,’ so, that’s our big excursion today,” Laura Anglemyer said as she perused pumpkin pallets and waited on her customized pencil sign.

Starting in the new year, Bossard’s will expand their offerings with more walk-in times and themed get-togethers for just about anybody, and customers have not been shy about expressing their interest in this unique and accommodating art.

“This would be fun with a group of friends, to come out and do a painting party,” Rebecca Anglemyer said. “We just love pallet painting.”