Bee You Art Studio in Bayside, Queens expanded its offerings this summer. In June it added Bee You Paint Parties and on July 2 it launched weekly summer camps that ran through August 23. Since it opened, Bee You Art Studio has provided opportunities for people of all ages to practice, experience and appreciate art. Mother-daughter team Mary and Janine Ramadan launched the studio two years ago, with only a handful of students taking informal art classes in the basement of their home. Now, the full-fledged studio offers after-school classes as well as the new paint parties and weekly summer camps.
After-school classes are available Tuesday through Friday from 4-6pm during the academic year. In each session, students go through the step-by-step process of completing a unique painting. The new paint parties, open to groups of 8 or more, are an excellent way to celebrate any occasion, from birthdays and bridal showers to graduations. For two hours, friends can enjoy refreshments while learning how to paint a painting of their choosing. Canvases and supplies are included with the registration fee. The weekly summer camps are available Monday through Friday from 10am-1pm. Each week has a different theme. During dessert week, kids paint pastries and dip pretzels into chocolate, and during tie dye week, they play with various dyes and designs.
Although both mother and daughter have backgrounds in art–Mary did graphic design for 15 years and Janine, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, worked in fashion design for brands like Tommy Hilfiger and OshKosh B’gosh–they divide and conquer when it comes to running their studio. Mary sticks to the business side, handling finances and taking care of logistics. Janine is the primary instructor for art classes and paint parties. When not at the studio, she teaches art at a high school in Queens.
This is just the beginning for Bee You Art Studio. Mary and Janine look forward to expanding their business and hope to welcome more and more people through its doors.
“We want kids to come who really want to learn art and work on their portfolio,” says Mary. “Besides doing art, we really want to teach art.”
Bee You Art Studio is located in 3243 Francis Lewis Blvd., Bayside. For more information, visit their website or contact the studio directly at beeyouartstudio@gmail.com and 646-725-5516.
Main Image: Bee You Art Studio offers after-school classes Tuesday-Friday during the academic year in which students go through the step-by-step process of completing a unique painting. Courtesy Bee You Art Studio
