S M U DG E Making a mess at

Kids get creative at Paducah’s new art studio all while implementing critical thinking and problem solving skills

Hby ELENA WRYE

INEVER EXPECTED THEM TO MOVE TO PADUCAH,”

Becky Clark said as she recalled when daughter Sarah Farris surprised her and let her know that she and her husband, Justin, along with their two-year-old son, Eli, would be moving back to her hometown. After graduating from Murray State University and marrying, Sarah and Justin moved from Tennessee to Texas, back to Tennessee and also to Mississippi all in a matter of five years!

When Sarah returned home to Paducah with her toddler in tow, she noticed a deficit of places where parents could take their kids to go and do. She mentioned to her mom, a retired elementary school teacher, a desire to create another location in Paducah where families could visit and interact with each other—and the two felt a mutual excitement for the idea.

Sarah shared with Becky about some of the interactive options that were available to young families in other places they had called home.

“So I asked mom—what can we do to make it fit in Paducah?” Sarah said. “And with her teaching background, me having the toddler and thinking of other people who have kids, I mean honestly, we started talking about it, and it just spiraled.”

Although Becky was equally as enthusiastic, she didn’t quite commit at first. In their talks, the matter of location came up.

A drive down Broadway one day led them to stop in front of a vacant space that looked like it could be ideal for the creative duo, and sure enough, the spot was meant to be the new home of SMUDGE. With some work, SMUDGE opened its doors in July 2019.

“We wanted a place where kids didn’t have to feel like they’re in a structured environment, because they already have that at school all day, in sports—they even have it at home with schedules and bedtimes. When you come in here, you don’t have to be structured. You can be, but you don’t have to be,” Sarah said of the atmosphere at SMUDGE.

Whether you thrive in structure or blossom with no creative boundaries,

SMUDGE has something for everyone. Each week, Sarah and Becky curate instructional crafts that greet you when you walk in the door. If visitors are a bit overwhelmed by the countless activities that one can do at SMUDGE, these crafts provide helpful focus and direction to assist guests in creating beautiful projects.

Sarah and Becky have found, however, that the instructional crafts often get passed up for the rows of art easels adorned with blank sheets of paper that seem to beckon little artists with the lure of endless possibilities. As a part of the popular “art play” at SMUDGE, visitors can create as many paintings as they’re creative minds can conjure.

“They’re not afraid of failure here. And it’s okay to color outside the lines here—we encourage it,” Sarah said.

SMUDGE’s most popular service, art play, allows children the opportunity to utilize their creativity and their imagination as they bring art and play together. At $15 per child, these little artists are given access to various supplies and materials in the studio and are welcome to create as many projects as they would like within the one-and- a-half hour timeframe they’re given. Adults that accompany children on their art play visit receive free admission and are encouraged to create art along with their child.

Outside of the art play option that SMUDGE provides, visitors also have the choice to pay separately to utilize the “paint your palette” package. Here, you can purchase a canvas and look through the vast collection of photos that are provided to inspire you, or give you a starting point for your own painting.

Of course, kids of all ages are “making a mess at SMUDGE.” The studio’s calendar is continuously kept full with local office parties, garden club meetings and various special events. From “painting your pet” and “eye define me” with artist Leah Rose, to birthday parties and crafty story hours with the Carson Center, there is certainly something for everyone at SMUDGE. The studio has already welcomed guests from areas such as Washington D.C., California, Las Vegas, as well as numerous visitors from surrounding cities to partake in the creative fun. Sarah and Becky encourage their out-of-town guests to mark where they’re from on a map hanging by their desk to see just where SMUDGE has had an impact.

In just under a year of operation, both Sarah and Becky are humbled by the city’s support of their new undertaking.

“We’re thankful that Paducah has been so good to us,” Becky said of the city’s encouragement. “It’s been so well received, and so many people have come to us with ideas – we love it! It may just look like crafts to some, but there are so many critical and creative thinking and problem solving skills going on. At SMUDGE, we want kids to be mess-creating, choice-taking, risk-making problem solvers as they create their own selfguided art pieces. SMUDGE is the place where the freedom to be creative is a must!”

SMUDGE is located at 2225 Broadway and is open Tuesday – Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from Noon – 6 PM For more information and a calendar of events, visit www.smudgepaducah.com.