When kids walk into Yellow Door Art Studio in Westwood, Owner Lauren Mandal has a specific goal in mind. She wants everyone to feel accepted, and enjoy a judgment-free space to play and explore materials. At her studio, there is no fear of being wrong or making a mess.
Lauren describes Yellow Door Art Studio as “a colorful, whimsical, free-spirited studio where kids can explore their creativity.” The studio offers elevated Arts, Crafts, and DIY experiences for kids and adults. Art categories include fashion design, cartooning, painting, sculpting, and more. Participants experience these arts through workshops, classes, parties, and camps.
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The original studio became an overnight sensation, requiring her to move to a larger location within the same town. “I believe our offerings are unlike any others in the area—truly unique, creative, and spanning age parameters,” Lauren says. For instance, Yellow Door Art Studio offers a “Kool Kicks” shoe art workshop and Wear-able Art fashion class. Other options include black light painting parties, collage and mood board nights, and polymer clay jewelry making for teens/moms.
Then there’s “The Open Door”, Friday morning sessions for kids ages 2 to 5 to explore, play and create. Further creative activities include an annual Earth Day Trashion Show. During this workshop, kids make their own fashion out of recyclable materials and walk the runway for family and friends. For the summer, Yellow Door Art Studio offers six weeks of indoor and outdoor summer camps.
The studio also does school beautification projects—both inside mural work and playground reimagination—in Bergen and Essex counties. “I look to bring color to the unexpected and inspire students with their everyday surroundings,” Lauren explains. “From having students paint ceiling tiles as book covers leading to a school library, to challenging them with colorful math as they climb school stairways, to I AM mantra hopscotches, whimsical sensory paths, and other games that add interactivity and imagination to blacktop play.”
About the Owner
Lauren grew up in nearby Paramus, so Westwood is a natural fit for the studio. “My husband and I moved to Westwood four years ago,” she says. The couple were looking for “a place to create our home both for our family and our businesses.”
“We love Westwood and continue to be inspired by our growing, evolving, and artistic community of small business owners; and our vibrant, family-friendly downtown.”
Lauren has a background in both art and teaching. “It brought me so much joy to combine my work life and my artistic life. First for the past 15 years teaching in public schools, and now opening Yellow Door Art Studio.”
Visit Yellow Door Art Studio at 24 Booker St in Westwood. Look for them online to learn more.
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All Photos: © Yellow Door Art Studio
