Creative Jane Art Studio - Becky Vlaming
Becky Vlaming - Owner of Creative Jane Art Studio
I will never know the full struggle of the working or the stay-at-home mom, but from conversations and Facebook posts, I see one particular crisis. Where can people take their kids to do something fun?
As a mother of two, Becky Vlaming knows the struggle all too well. From experience raising two kids here in Orlando, she reminisced about taking them on art picnics under the big tree at the Mennello Museum and seeing shows at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, but outside of those standard options, many parents may feel they come up short for wholesome and entertaining ideas.
Becky took her background and experience in art and working and volunteering with children, and opened Creative Jane Art Studio. The space in Winter Park is currently dedicated to giving children the chance to enjoy the arts in a relaxed and supportive environment.
Her space on Fairbanks caught my eye, as a happy rainbow on the large windows catch the sunlight while you drive by, so I wanted to get more information and pass it on to all the moms and dads out there who could benefit from what her art studio provides.
LH: Is your professional background in arts or education?
BV: “I studied art education at Western Michigan University, but then ended up as a stay-at-home mom and homeschooled my kids for a while. Once they went back to public school, I had a bit of an identity crisis, thinking what am I suppose to do with myself? When my kids were younger, I had a photography business in Maryland, but once I moved to Orlando, I didn’t have a community, so I didn’t pursue anything right away.
We eventually got involved with Downtown Credo and started volunteering at the Jackson Center. I worked with a sewing program and brought my kids along. It was amazing to serve in that neighborhood and get to know those families. My background was not sewing, so I wanted to turn it into something more arts-focused, but that never quite got flushed out. I ended up working for an after school arts program called “Kids Art” and taught in some OCPS schools. I saw how people were responding to getting their kids into the arts and really loved it.
I started my own after school art program for an organization called Cross Town. I also was able to be an educational coordinator at the Maitland Arts Museum. Throughout all this, I always followed other studios and artists, and the model of this type of studio was very popular out West and in Canada. I saw something that I could do, and I wanted to bring it to Orlando. That’s what led to me opening Creative Jane.”
LH: What types of programs are you currently offering for kids?
BV: “The most popular program is the toddler art play. It's one hour from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. and it’s very exploratory and child-led. I have different stations, and the kids come in and do what they want, like painting with sponges, sensory bins, and mixes of paint and color sorting. It changes weekly. The toddler age group includes toddlers that are walking up to about three years of age.
I also have Maker Classes Mondays and Wednesdays after school for 5-7 year-olds and 8-12 year-olds that are separate.
In the summer, we will have a special program. Every week in June and July, we are offering a four day, four-hour minicamp. Each week is a different theme. It will be a group of 12 kids that will get a lot of one-on-one time and fun projects.”
LH: What is the idea for adult classes in the future?
BV: “I really want to do a once a month craft night with drinks and light bites, and we can make stuff you’d want to display in your house. I would also like to have a seniors class eventually. I love watercolor painting, and I’d love to have something casual for them to enjoy.”
LH: People are always looking for places to host parties, is that a service you are offering in the studio?
BV: "Yes! We do host private parties now; we are booked every Saturday in March! We supply everything here that you would need. I only ask that you provide your own paper goods and food. The art parties are very popular, and I have a menu of art experiences you can choose from. If someone has a specific theme they want to work with, we can try to make that happen for them.”
LH: What is something you wish you had known before about this process of running a business/studio?
BV: “I had the full vision, but I didn’t think about the real-time that it takes when you offer these programs, like the additional time for clean-up. Since I’m a one-woman show, it became a lot of hours, so I needed to breakdown the times, but now I’ve been able to streamline the process and determine the true worth in what is offered.
This place is like my second home, and I want people to trust they are in a clean environment where they won’t leave here sick. I’ve learned to keep my numbers low so kids can enjoy it, but I can keep up with the cleanliness of the space.”
LH: What are your thoughts on having such an exploratory approach rather than a regimented process for the kids, and what are your goals within the studio?
BV: “I’m trying to focus on process art, where it’s more about the process than the finished project. That can be a hard concept for parents sometimes to grasp where there isn’t emphasis put on a finished product, but instead letting them play and explore and lead their own creative way. I want people to grasp the process of play, and that it’s ok to get a little messy.
Having full classes and people buying into the idea would be a success for me. I want people to know they can come here to play and learn about art. On the enneagram scale, I’m type one, but art has taught me to let go, and it’s ok for things to be messy and not perfect. Seeing moms let go and let their kids get messy is always cool to see.”
Becky hopes to soon add a studio shop where she can also sell art supplies. To get more information about Creative Jane Art Studio and her Summer Camp to visit her website and follow the Instagram account for updates.
Creative Jane Art Studio is located at 1781 W.Fairbanks Avenue Winter Park, FL 32789
This is not a sponsored post. All images are property of LemonHearted Creative.