Creative Expression Flourishing

AT UPTOWN ART AND CLAY

Sylvana Whittaker, Owner, Uptown Art and Clay

Sylvana Whittaker began her artistic training at Columbus College of Art and Design and later graduated from the Ringling School for Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Her love of clay ceramics began in her college years. She was required to take a ceramics class and admittedly wasn’t thrilled about it. But after attending the first class, she fell in love with the medium.

“I’ve been doing art my whole life. At five years old, I said I was going to be a painter and an artist. And it stuck,” said Sylvana Whittaker, the owner of Uptown Art and Clay. Tucked away on the second floor of 13 ½ E. College Ave., it is one of the newest business additions to Uptown Westerville.

Whittaker began her artistic training at Columbus College of Art and Design and later graduated from the Ringling School for Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida. Her love of clay ceramics began in her college years. She was required to take a ceramics class and admittedly wasn’t thrilled about it. But after attending the first class, she fell in love with the medium.

Whittaker worked as a freelance artist for 20 years, taking her work to art shows and festivals. In 2015, she forged a new path and started teaching adult wine and art classes and working with an organization called Enriching Kids, running and after school mobile ceramics programs for elementary school students. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought an unfortunate end to that work. This led her to forge another new path — opening her own art-based business and studio.

Interestingly, Westerville was never an intended location for her business. She dreamed of having a studio surrounded by countryside. Whittaker’s daughter, a resident of Westerville, pushed her to put her business roots down in the Uptown area. Whittaker does not regret that decision.

“Westerville is very welcoming and friendly, especially when it comes to art. I’m happy to be here and happy to have brought something different to the community. People have been very enthusiastic about classes,” said Whittaker.

Whittaker says that Uptown and Art and Clay has a unique appeal to the community offering creative, social opportunities beyond restaurants and bars. Her business model is built upon intimate experiences where attendees get to explore their creativity while getting personal attention from instructors. “This is not a corporate business where you feel like you are pushed in and pushed out. You get to express your creativity in a safe place,” said Whittaker.

Whittaker attributes the success of her business to her artistic philosophy. “When you engage in art it’s good for your soul. You are manually engaged in something on a different level, especially in today’s internet world. People often surprise themselves with what they are able to create,” said Whittaker.

Uptown Art and Clay offers classes for children, adults and older adults and offers group classes for birthday parties, team-building events, and corporate gatherings. No previous experience is necessary to take a class. Classes currently focus on canvas painting and ceramics, but there are plans to branch out into other mediums including glass painting, fabrics and textiles.

Opening Uptown Art and Clay has been a dream come true for Whittaker. “I can’t see myself doing anything else. There are so many things that I want to make and create that I’ll be busy for a lifetime,” said Whittaker.

For a full schedule of classes, or to register for a class, please visit www.uptownartandclay.com