St. Mary’s Arts Council Spotlight on the Arts: Winnie Thompson
Our Spotlight on the Arts shines brightly on Winnie Thompson, artist and small business owner of the Hand Craft Studio! Like many others, we have seen the sign on Hollywood Road and wanted to learn more! When did Hand Craft Studio open? Ha…
Our Spotlight on the Arts shines brightly on Winnie Thompson, artist and small business owner of the Hand Craft Studio!
Like many others, we have seen the sign on Hollywood Road and wanted to learn more!
When did Hand Craft Studio open?
Hand Craft opened this past October of 2023. It has taken some consideration and time to organize the studio in a way that feels welcoming to prospective students and fellow artists. I have used this time to design workshops for a variety of crafts to offer to all age groups.
How would you describe the studio?
The studio is located just outside of Leonardtown in the little bungalow at Butterfly Alley, a native plant stand. It has a cozy, bright interior full of quality supplies and a comfortable workspace. The surrounding property is beautifully planted and provides inspiration for many of the projects.
There is a back patio that functions as an outdoor studio and seconds as a relaxing retreat when we have the fire pit blazing! Despite its coziness, the studio is equipped to deal with all manner of crafty pursuits, including a kiln and potter's wheel. I will soon have a dedicated ceramics area to accommodate two wheels and a hand-building table.
What were your motivations and inspirations to open your small business?
My many years as an art educator informed the choice to design and create curriculum that is accessible to more people, especially those that are intimidated by art or have not had a lot of experience. Providing exposure to a variety of life skills, natural materials, fine motor development, and quality textural feedback are the bigger goals, with creating community and having fun being the secondary benefits.
The focus on craft, as opposed to capital "A" Art, is intended to open the experience to those who are just starting out and need to build confidence in their abilities.
I often encounter friends and acquaintances that claim to not be "artsy." Unfortunately, this self-judgement often happens at a developmental stage occurring around the middle school years and keeps many from further studying art. Craft bridges that gap because it is all about process and opens the door to creativity. We focus on fun and positive experiences at Hand Craft!
What types of classes, workshops, and other services are offered?
Hand Craft has an experience at the ready, for anyone! I offer a variety of workshops and classes, all listed with pictures on my website and Facebook Page.
For kids, I have weekly after-school classes in clay and fiber. This spring, I am offering two one-week sessions of Spring Break camp. I have time in the day that can be booked for homeschool students that need Visual Arts instruction. I offer private instruction and tutoring to high school students that are pursuing a visual arts education, as well as open studio time so that they can use my space and materials. I am also available to help Boy/Girl Scouts achieve their personal goals.
Adults have many options, as well. Glass etching, candle-making, and Shibori (traditional Japanese tie dye technique) have been popular workshops. I also offer instruction in hand-built ceramics, with plans to offer wheel thrown pottery in the fall.
A great way to get acquainted with the studio is to join us at DeStress, offered on Wednesday nights from 6 to 8 pm. Every week, a different beginner-friendly craft is offered at a reduced cost. If you bring your own craft to work on, it is free!
Designing group events is my specialty. Birthday parties, baby or bridal showers, family bonding, and team building are all great reasons for me to customize a craft experience that will be memorable and result in unique and beautiful products.
At this time, I am offering 2-hour workshops in several types of crafts. These are listed on my website calendar and can be booked through my site. A full list of my offerings is on the FAQ page of my site as there are too many to list here!
I also offer after-school classes for children ages eight and up on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There is a model project, but students are encouraged to use their own ideas while practicing the skills they learn.
Private lessons can be booked on my site as well. I draw, sculpt, and paint in my own practice and have taught fine art to upper-level high school students for my entire teaching career. I can consult with and tutor AP Art and Design and AP Art History students.
What are a few of your other interests outside of your business?
Art and crafts take up most of my time, but I also ride horses and tend to our small farm in Hollywood. We have chickens and goats, too. I enjoy traveling and have taken students on art trips to Europe in the past. I have considered running some trips and retreats if there is interest. I spend my summers teaching crafts at a rustic girls' camp in Maine.
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