COVID-19. When you first hear this as a small business you are scared, crushed, uncertain, and probably shut down because it is just too overwhelming to think of running a brick-n-mortar when you can’t legally have people walk through your doors. You go between raising your hands up and saying it is out of your control to spinning, freaking out, and saying we have to rise above, but how?
Well 5 weeks later and here I am. Redesigning, problem-solving, reinventing, and basically pivoting what I knew as truth to a new frontier of what truth is for me and my business today. I have sat in this space percolating, letting my mind wander, sitting in stillness, staring at walls, and dreaming of how to move forward. And you know what I realized, this is exactly what we share with our students. To solve any problem you have to see where you are and brainstorm ideas as to where you want to be. The difference is we liked where we were but are being forced to rethink to continue to follow our mission; community, connection, and giving people a voice through the creative process. Don't we all desperately need all of this right now?
So again, 5 weeks later, I am here to share with you I have reinvented our business model but have not reinvented our philosophy or our mission. For that, I am eternally grateful that I don't have to let go of who and why Studio 4 Art was born. What does this new business look like? Well, it is connecting through art explorations in the comfort of your home through art kits, pottery painting kits, virtual art classes for children and adults, virtual art camps for ages 8-15, and free tutorials on our YouTube channel. Our teaching staff is available to you and your family to continue to share what we feel is important in our lives, and that is ART. So please DO ART! Together we will get through this hard time and when we are able to greet you at the door (even if it means wearing a mask) we will rejoice in all that we have learned in this time away.
Some things to look forward to:
New studio in San Rafael - 1547 4th St. (Westend with its own parking lot!)
New art kits that will always be available
New YouTube channel that will be available for free how to's
New Online learning options that have video create along and PDF's step-by-step
New shipping options so you can create with us wherever you live
Pivoting we can do.