Susan Roberts’ venture with The Red Easel Arts & Crafts Studio began in the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2021. For 17 years, she worked in the senior care industry and climbed the ladder to administrator in Bluffton, South Carolina before actualizing her passion back home in Hardee County.
Roberts refrains from calling herself an artist, instead, she’s a “crafter” that loves to paint. The Red Easel is where her professional career in art really began, and since then she’s established herself as a steward to the community.
“I remember somebody asked me what I want to be when I grow up,” Roberts said. A lot of people asked me, ‘what do you want to be when you grow up?’ I don’t know what age I was. But I remember saying that I wanted to own my own business. I absolutely have it now and I absolutely love it.”
During that summer, Roberts started a children’s summer camp that was successful in creating arts and crafts. This evolved into children and adult sessions that Roberts calls “parties” either in her studio in Sebring or around businesses in Highlands County.
For these parties there could be a theme depending on demand, but Roberts wants her parties to be a creative space with no restrictions. These parties are planned around Highlands County and are announced online.
Adult parties are paint-and-sip, this isn’t restricted to alcohol, where beverages and snacks are included. For children, Roberts especially coordinates with mothers prior to the parties notifying them of the activities.
Roberts plans these parties with diverse activities such as wooden door hangers, porch learners, wooden porch leers, pebble art and glass art among many others. This month, she is unveiling two new types of projects, one being wooden garden flags and paint your partner.
“I don’t call these classes because I don’t like that word,” Roberts said. “I don’t want anyone to think that they’re walking in here and I want them to be stressed or uptight. No, it’s a party. That is one thing that I’m very adamant about.”
The Sebring studio is a quaint space that looks like a harbinger for creativity, with many different art and craft supplies at the ready.
“I just truly love seeing people happy and relaxing and having a good time,” Roberts said. “And truly art is therapy and I love seeing people just letting loose and having a good time and especially my little kiddos that come in here for birthday parties. Their enthusiasm is just absolutely infectious, and it gives me joy to see that it truly does.”
