Brittney Wysong is the founder of Artsy Studio, a 1,700-square-foot process-based art studio for kids in Trussville, Alabama. Before opening the studio, Brittney spent a decade in healthcare marketing and graphic design, balancing a full-time corporate role with raising two young kids. A single visit to an open art space with her toddler sparked the idea for Artsy, a place where kids could create freely without the limits of traditional classrooms or the distractions of home.

Within months, Brittney found an older, character-filled building in the center of town, signed a two-year lease for $2,800 a month, and began transforming the space with hand-painting walls, building custom tables, and renovating late at night while working full-time and caring for a newborn. She tested the concept by tarping her garage, inviting 20 moms and their kids, and letting chaos and creativity run wild. The response confirmed the demand, and Artsy Studio officially opened in March 2025 to a packed, wall-to-wall grand opening crowd.

Today, Artsy Studio hosts process-art classes, open studio hours, workshops, lessons, birthday parties, seasonal camps, and even at-home craft kits through its new “Artsy Anywhere” line. Brittney serves 100–125 unique kids a month while steadily growing the business, expanding offerings, and learning how to navigate seasonality, pricing, staffing, and the realities of year-one brick-and-mortar life.

In this episode, Brittney breaks down how she launched a neighborhood creative space in under 90 days, why environment changes everything for kids' creativity, and what she’s learned transitioning from corporate marketer to full-time founder.

We cover:
• The lightbulb moment that inspired Artsy Studio
• Testing the idea by turning her garage into a DIY mini-studio
• Finding a below-market, character-rich space and negotiating the lease
• How she funded the buildout with ~$30K in savings and family support
• Her philosophy on environment-based creativity for kids
• Why she hand-built most of the studio herself (and what she outsourced)
• How process-art classes, open studio hours, and parties drive revenue
• Seasonality, homeschool demand, and early business learnings
• Going full-time on Artsy just two weeks ago
• Trusting your gut as a founder and keeping some ideas close to the chest

If you’ve ever dreamed of opening a kids’ space, launching a creative studio, or starting a community-centered retail concept while juggling work and family, this episode is a candid look at how one founder made it happen with speed, scrappiness, and a whole lot of paint.

Resources & Links
Artsy Studio Website: https://www.artsystudio.co
Artsy Studio Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsybham

Sponsored by Signs and Mirrors, the leading sign and furniture shop for retail stores.

Opening Soon Links & Resources
→ Signs and furniture for retail stores: https://signsandmirrors.com
→ NYC and Houston’s first self-portrait studio: https://fotolab.studio
→ Follow us on Instagram: @openingsoonpodcast
→ More episodes and guest info: https://www.openingsoonpodcast.com
→ Your Host Alan Li: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-li-711a8629/