Art on Fire Studio is a small, family-run, woman-owned business, catering to people from all walks of life. It offers a fun and relaxing atmosphere perfect for creating and sharing with friends or family. Fun for all ages- the studio caters to most ages, from toddler to students to adults.
Regina Montesano is the owner of Art on Fire Studio and she shared her story behind opening the studio.
“Art is something I have come to appreciate later in life,” she said. “About ten years ago I found myself smack dab in the middle of a mess in life. Work was all-consuming, family was challenging and I needed to de-stress. I started adult coloring, playing around with canvas painting and a few other things, and found those activities to really help calm my mind. Then, one birthday, my sister surprised me with a paint-your-own pottery experience. Wow! What a fun yet peaceful experience. I was hooked. Fast forward to the fall of 2023. My husband and I were discussing retirement, brainstorming things we could do now to prepare for extra income once we finally bid farewell to corporate jobs. Going all pie in the sky, I mentioned opening a PYOP (paint your own pottery) studio. It wasn’t more than a few weeks later when a friend Diana Santiago Gill and I were discussing “if only I could….” daydreams and she said that she’s always wanted to open an art studio – paint your own pottery, polymer clay, etc. That was just the nudge we needed. We both seized the moment, began researching, pursuing our certifications and one year later, almost to the day, Art on Fire Studio opened its doors.”
They offer a variety of art activities including:
-Clay Handbuilding
-Mosaic Plaques
-Paint Your Own Pottery
-Throwing on the Pottery Wheel.
These are perfect for ALL levels of experience.
They also plan to launch their Fused Glass in March.
Throwing on the pottery wheel is an exciting and unique art experience. The studio has been lucky to have Chuck Byer as a mentor.
“Our spin instructor and manager, Andrea Friedmann learned the art of throwing pottery under his tutelage and to this day he continues to support us in ways too numerous to mention,” Montesano said. “We are fortunate to carry a number of his pieces for sale in our studio, both finished and also ready to glaze. Thanks to Chuck we also carry some very unique, poured items that are not readily available from some our larger vendors. He recently poured a Darth Vader for one of our clients and now we have orders coming in left and right! Chuck is one of our biggest fans and has become family. We even named our largest kiln after him.”
So what are you waiting for? Try this local Winter Haven studio out for yourself! Art on Fire Studio is located at 5937 Cypress Gardens Boulevard, Suite 500 in Winter Haven, FL 33884.
Montesano said, “Until I am ready to retire, my sister, Andrea Friedmann, runs the business along with the friend I mentioned earlier, Dianna Santiago Gill, who is referred to as our “sister from another mister.” We all enjoy our respective professions, but there is nothing quite like doing something for the sheer joy of it. For us, that is Art on Fire Studio. The goals we shared at our grand opening remain in the forefront of our minds – to offer a safe, relaxing space where creativity blossoms. We strive to cultivate a space where folks can feel from the moment they walk in the door, that they are valued, welcome and appreciated for who they are. From beginner to master, we have projects for everyone. Let us help you find your creative bone!”
