Abington Kids Creative Art Studio Celebrates One Year

For more than 25 years, Kristen Petroff worked as a bookkeeper. That all changed when she realized that bookkeeping was no longer what she wanted to be doing.

“I woke up one day and said I wanted to finger paint for the rest of my life,” Petroff said.

Petroff quit her job and opened the Kids Creative Art Studio on Easton Road, which celebrates its one-year anniversary today, Sept. 6.

The studio offers classes to children, typically between the ages of 4 and 14 in all mediums, including mosaics, woodworking, sculpting and stenciling. A child younger than four can take a class called “My Adult and Me” with the help of an adult. This summer, the studio also offered a camp with kids ages 4-12.

Petroff, who said the plan of operation is constantly evolving as she gets suggestions from parents and learns from experience, hopes to create a more structured art environment for the future. This shouldn’t be difficult, as the studio has on staff certified and educated art teachers, as well as talented local art students from .

Through all the changes, Petroff said her goal has always been to teach art.

“I really want to bring art to the kids,” she said.

Petroff noted that many small businesses don’t make it past their first year. When asked about her own success, she spoke only of making the children happy, citing several moments when a child was inspired to try something new or create art that he or she was proud of while working at the studio.

“Just to see the kids smile is a success,” she said.

Petroff plans to celebrate the art center’s one year anniversary with an “art party,” tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 15. Children will be welcome to come in and create while new parents can preview classes.

Parents interested in signing their children up for a class can call the studio at 215-572-7200. A full calendar of classes, as well as additional information about the studio, is available on the website at abingtonkids.com.