Special Sections

April 2, 2020 • News Graphic & Daily News • Exploring the Arts • 5 By Kendra Lamer klamer@conleynet.com 262-306-5095 HARTFORD – Do-it-yourself art studio Creative License believes anyone can be an artist. "Everybody has art within them. It's just a matter of tapping into it and letting it out," said owner Angela Eisenhut. Creative License off ers a variety of projects for all skills levels to be completed during open studio times or while taking a class. The studio also off ers parties for adults, kids and holiday events. Projects include pottery, fused glass, canvas painting, wood board projects, wine glass painting and jewelry stamping. More experienced artists can schedule a time to throw clay. Creative License serves artists of all ages, from families stopping by Saturday mornings with young kids to groups on ladies on a night out. The most popular project is paint-your- own pottery. Creative License off ers hundreds of ceramic shapes ranging in price from $10-$15. Artists can paint animals, people, sports fi gures, vehicles, piggy banks, drinkware and dishes. The studio also provides licensed pieces, like Spiderman and Ironman. Creative Consultants are available to help artists with ceramic painting techniques, such as bubbling, marbling and stenciling. For the artist who prefers to create in the privacy of their own home, Creative License off ers take home pottery painting kits complete with paint and brushes. Once projects are completed in-studio or taken back to Creative License, they are fi red in the kiln and ready one week after painting. Another popular project is fused glass. "Fused glass is similar to stained glass except we're taking the glass and melting it in the kiln," said Eisenhut. Artists start with a shaped base and a fl at, blank piece of glass. They cut glass pieces and layout their design on top of the base. Projects are then melted in the kiln. The fi rst fi ring leaves the project fl at so it can be hung on a wall or in the window like stained glass. A second fi ring allows the project to be shaped in to a bowl or candle sconce. Owners and husband and wife team, Angela and Dan Eisenhut, bought Creative License about fi ve years ago at its Hartford location. They opened a location in Pewaukee in July of last year. Before she was the owner, Angela Eisenhut was a stay-at-home mom looking for ways to keep her kids entertained during the day. The previous owners had opened Creative License the same year her son was born. Eisenhut became familiar with Creative License after bringing in her kids once a month for a fun daytime activity. The studio quickly became a prominent part of her life. "It was just something the community needed," she said. Eisenhut believes that everyone can create pieces of art. While she sometimes needs to sit down with her husband, who is an engineer, she says he amazes her at what he creates. She understands that creating art leaves some people frazzled. "Our job at Creative License is to make it a relaxing experience and help you let your art out so it's not a stressful experience," said Eisenhut. Art studio inspires everyone to let their inner artist out Submitted photo A class paints ceramic pieces during a class. Creative License has hundreds of ceramic pieces to choose from, including mugs, dishes, animals and licensed characters. Submitted photo Angela, left, Dan Eisenhut, second from right, and their two children stand behind the counter of Creative License. The Eisenhuts used to visit Creative License regularly before becoming owners to provide their kids with an artistic activity.

• Cover