Welcome to THE ART PLACE: A Creative Space for Kids

Hey everyone! I'm Ashley. Owner of The Art Place; a new Children's Art Studio coming to Grants Pass this summer! I wanted to take a few minutes to share a little of my history and how I got to the place of dreaming up a children's art studio.

For most of my life, I've been around children. During my teen years and early twenties, I was volunteering in Child Development Centers and Daycare's.

After becoming a Mom, I still found time to help out with children. I held many events and fundraisers, helping raise awareness for children at Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland. I've also taught a couple of children's dance classes.

A couple of years ago, my husband and I were making children's furniture for a little business we had created and in 2016 I started a business (online Etsy shop) for children's clothing.

It seems that each of my creative outlets and/or volunteer work have all involved children. And as I have very much enjoyed each of those different seasons and journeys, I've still been searching for that "one thing," that is my purpose.

My daughter (now 8 years old) has always loved art. She loves painting and crafts, but she truly loves drawing. She will sit at the table for hours and create books that have the most detailed illustrations. A little over a few years ago, she came to me and said that she wanted to start taking art classes. I started doing some online research for local art schools, classes or workshops. I had looked multiple times for days in a row and just couldn't find what I was looking for.

I can remember, it was a Saturday; I had just poured a cup of coffee and I sat on the couch next to my husband, when it literally just hit me. I thought, I know what I want to do. I want to own a children's art studio. I told him about the idea, I talked to my Mom about the idea, I had even mentioned it to many friends.

Over the course of the last few years, the idea has resurfaced many of times. I find myself often daydreaming about the way it would look, the classes that would be offered, the connections that would be made, the smiles on the kid's faces ... the positiveness it could bring to our community. But then, something else will come up or the timing just doesn't seem right.

In October of 2016, my friend had asked me to teach a children's art workshop at a local holiday event we had in town. It was an amazing experience and a true confirmation in the passion I've felt with pursuing a children's art studio. Since teaching that workshop, the desire to pursue a children's art studio has become even more of a passion.

Recently a space has become open, giving me the opportunity to actually pursue my dream; a true passion. Unlike the past, the timing now, feels right. So I'm going for it!

What will The Art Place be? A space where kids can dream up ideas, create their very own masterpieces, inspire others and become inspired from those around them. It will be a place to connect while building confidence and social skills.

The classes and workshops will help teach kids that all art is art. And although each class/workshop offered will have a theme with a project, we will encourage the kids to know that it is not necessarily about the product, but the process and the experience.

My dream for this space is that it allows a place of creativity in our area. From the toddler age to the high school age, with parent interactive classes, themed summer camps, workshops hosted by talented creatives in our area, and ongoing classes.

Some kids find that art is true therapy, some just love the mess while creating and exploring. Either way, art is inspiring.

Going into opening this Children's Art Studio, I have so many hopes and dreams.

I absolutely hope that the kids in the studio leave with an extra skill. However, my biggest wish? That the kids walk out of the studio a little more confident than when they walked in, they leave having made a new friend or two, and that the experience + the process will create a memory to last a lifetime.

I'm beyond excited to be opening this place in our community and I cannot wait to share it with you all!

Have a beautiful day!

Ashley