Pablo Picasso is quoted as saying “Every child is born an artist, the problem is to remain one once they grow up.” It seems the influential 20th century painter has also had influence on Scott Allen, a Fondren artist who never gave up on a passion that’s been growing since he was a child.

Allen’s dad was a collector long before cable networks began calling his kind a “picker.” As a kid, Allen says his dad’s fondness for hand-painted porcelain signs helped to foster his own love of logos and lettering.

Custom Optical has served the eyeglass needs of Fondren for over 20 years. This week, the shop has branched out to a neighboring community with a second location. Trish Hammons, a certified optician who has owned Custom Optical since 2006, now has Custom Optical Flowood at 5310 Highway 25.

Opened just this week, Hammons had simply responded to an optician closing in Dogwood. “I called, because I wanted to maybe buy their equipment or some of their stock,” she says. “Dr.