In the less than a decade he’s lived in Andalusia, Toby Tobias has worked at Shaw, Sitel, and done boat-related work around Gantt.

Recently, he hit upon something new, opening Andalusia Arts to showcase his own work, as well as the work of other local artists. The shop opened two weeks ago at 430 S. Three Notch St.

Self-described as “retired at the age of 40,” Tobias said he’s been interested in art since he was 6 or 7.

“I started out drawing cartoon characters,” the Holt, Fla., native said. “I guess you could say I’ve progressed since then. It’s selling, so I must be doing something right.”

He describes his shop as “an art consignment shop” and says there will be a few antiques there “to accent the art.” All of the work is local, and it ranges from woodwork to handmade doilies to paintings to photography.

“I’ve got everything from fine oil painting to folk art in there,” he said as he sat painting in the adirondack chairs in front of the shop. “I’ve got oil lamps made out of granite stone made from a man not two blocks from here. There’s a Hank Williams painting done in pointillism that’s like trying to count the stars in the sky.”

The artist, he said, who earns her living as an associate at Wal-Mart, painted it about 20 years ago. How’d he find her?

“We connected through my Facebook page,” he said. “I browsed the area and art and that’s how I met her.”

Tobias is interested in featuring other local artists, and plans to offer a free watercolor class this morning, Sat., April 18, at 11 a.m.

His business hours are 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Tuesday; 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday; and 7 a.m. until noon or so on Saturday.