04/17/2026
We’re celebrating 1 year in business!!!
A letter from our founder:
On April 15th 2025, The Ugly Art Studio was officially established. I was working from home while taking care of my 6 month old son when the idea for The Ugly Art Studio landed amongst my whirlwind of thoughts. It started as a blip of light, just a spark of a thought, that grew and grew until it could no longer be contained in my head. It had to come out, had to be manifested as physical reality.
Over the next 6 months, with my youngest son still at home, and while teaching college art classes remotely, I began to develop the pieces of the business. One by one, elements began coming together - the name, the branding, the website, the products, the offerings, the network.
Finally, in October, the first batch of products were ready to launch. I opened my online store and signed up to vend at a few craft markets. I was in full-blown research and development mode, trying new products and assembling new art kits and activities, and discussing possibilities and doing our first sales a few wonderful clients.
I brought my cousin Shannon on board to help with sales outreach and community building to start expanding our network. We started to book sales calls and deliver customized art solutions and proposals to healthcare organizations and businesses.
At the turn of the new year, we got our first contract with a hospital to provide art kits to their long term patients and palliative care patients. Then our kits made their way to Wisconsin to support family grief gatherings, and as donations for the local science center’s health and wellness raffle prize.
Now, we have added weekly Art for Wellbeing classes in person in Orlando, Florida, with more time slots opening next month. We are partnering with local organizations to run Art for wellbeing activities for employee appreciation and wellness activations.
Needless to say, the last year has been an absolute whirlwind. From the very seed of an idea, growing into a small business with professional clients and onboarding freelance employees, has been the most exhilarating and rewarding experience (outside of parenthood 😅). Continued in com
