The Artist Outpost offering holiday deals on classes and workshops

OCEAN BEACH – Since moving to Voltaire Street three years ago, The Artist Outpost has flourished in serving the diverse needs of artisans young and old.

The thriving Ocean Beach business, which first opened its doors in 2018, has a holiday promotion called “12 Days of Christmas” through Dec. 19, offering daily deals on classes and workshops. It’s all part of the community-oriented art studio’s mission to offer art classes for all ages to inspire the community through collaboration and creation.

The woman-owned family business was begun by sisters-in-law and co-owners Meryl Hamilton and Eryn McCarty. The enterprise began as “Young at Art,” a nonprofit after-school children’s art program led by another OB woman, who transferred the business to Hamilton and McCarty when she moved to Texas.

“The opportunity arose to have 40 displaced students from her art classes when she asked if we’d be interested in taking over the business because she was relocating,” said Hamilton, adding it was an offer they couldn’t pass up.

“We ended up buying her contacts and starting our own business, with our own branding, starting in a little house we rented on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard. We started doing just kids’ art. But little by little, we started to add in adult art programs, painting and pottery nights, moms nights out, a Paint Your Pet promotion, etc.”

Then came COVID, which forced Hamilton and McCarty to move their art classes outside into their courtyard to offer instruction — which proved to be successful.

“[The work area] was small, but we were able to stick with it and stay in business,” Hamilton said. “We built a community within that time frame for both kids and adults. At that point, people really felt the need to be creative and try something new, like learning pottery. It opened a little niche. We realized we needed to start to expand.”

The Artist Outpost offers a wide variety of weekly art and pottery classes, everything from pop-up workshops, paint and sip nights, kids’ art classes and camps, to private parties. The art studio also sponsors a one- or two-day creative retreat at a private hilltop estate 40 minutes from San Diego.

Next year, the retreat will be held on Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15. The retreat, offering gourmet meals, beautiful scenery, and inspiring art experiences for all skill levels, allows participants to indulge themselves in a curated blend of arts pursuits, including watercolors, plein-air landscape painting, and ceramic pottery making and painting.

On Saturday, Dec. 13, from noon to 4 p.m., the studio will hold its annual free community holiday pop-up open to everyone featuring handmade gifts, music, wine, cheese, and holiday cheer. Also being held is the art studio’s toy drive, where guests can feel free to bring a new, unwrapped gift to donate.

Hamilton added that relocating to Voltaire Street has really been a boon for their business.

“We have been able to grow, expand our wings,” she said. “We can offer more classes now, including full-day summer and seasonal camps for kids. We also offer large private parties with our capacity of up to 30 people at a time.”

With federal aid to schools diminished, Hamilton noted there is also a growing need in the community for arts education.

“When kids and adults walk through our doors, we expect them to get their hands dirty in learning about the creative process and problem solving,” Hamilton said, adding it’s been a fulfilling occupation.

“It just brings smiles to our faces to know that people keep growing and developing because of what we do,” she said.

For more information, visit theartistoutpost.com.