Heather Congrove had the inspiration for years for a children’s art studio in Williamsburg, but no space to house the creative venture.
She looked at buildings to lease in the area, but nothing felt right until she walked into Artfully Yours – an art consignment store that opened in April in the city’s Arts District – to scope out her potential competition. Congrove started chatting with co-owner Chelsea West and formed a partnership and business solution.
“The fact that the space was available and the fact that it was over a local art boutique – the stars seemed to kind of align with everything,” Congrove said.
Artfully Yours was interested in offering art classes and programs for a younger set of students, and its mother-daughter duo shared many of the same long-term plans and passions for artistic community outreach as Congrove, along with her mother and business partner Megan Moore.
Having recently moved to the Historic Triangle from Hampton with two young daughters, Congrove was disappointed to find a lack of activities for families. She missed trips to museums, jaunts through the zoo, and most of all, a place for little ones to do art without limits.
Grow Happy Studio will offer classes for children from 6 months old to late elementary-schoolers. Youngsters will engage in sensory play, while older artists will have more opportunities to learn technique, work on tangible projects and gain art appreciation. Congrove will share the teaching with Moore, and hopes children can feel free and open to create in the studio, whether their medium is finger paint or noodles.
Congrove, a speech pathologist with Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools with a background in early childhood development, is sad when she sees children too timid to take control of an artistic adventure. Dump a box of Legos in front of some, she said, and they ask for directions.
A less structured art time allows them to let children’s creativity run wild.
“They figure stuff out on their own,” Congrove said. “If there’s other kids in there, they’re more willing to work with others their own age instead of being told what to do.”
In addition to classes, Grow Happy is also slated to host open play time. For those sessions, Congrove scouts for supplies that are eco-friendly and manufactured in a socially responsible way, and also uses as many recycled or donated materials as possible.
“Messy play dates,” open to all ages, will give children the chance to romp through Jell-O and other wet substances for free-form fun and creativity.
Congrove’s vision for the studio includes the parents as well as their children, forming a community around art.
She plans to offer mommy-and-me classes, but specifically later in the evening. Congrove remembers missing out on many with her children because she works during the day when school is in session.
Congrove said her older daughter, who is going into first grade, has some understanding of her mother’s speech pathology career, but not in the same tangible way she can come to know Grow Happy Studio.
“This is something that I can say, ‘Hey do you want to come to art with me?’ and she will,” Congrove said, adding she feels other children and families will jump on board as well.
She considers her daughter her muse, and what makes all the challenges of opening a new business worthwhile.
Classes start Thursday, and are currently $60 for a four-week session with a $20 drop-in fee if space is available. Open play and messy play date sessions are both $15.
For more information about classes, prices and registration, visit the Grow Happy Studio website or call 253-6932.
