Meet Melissa Noeth

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Melissa Noeth. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Melissa, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

There were many galleries and professional art studios in St Augustine that made this such a rich creative area to live, but I felt there was a need for a studio space in the community in which families and people of all ages could create art with their own hands. I wanted to create a space where kids could take fine art classes, adults and teens could use pottery wheels, and families and friends could drop in and paint together and have a relaxing, fun experience. This vision has expanded to encompass corporate team building events, birthday and holiday parties, and private and small group art lessons.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Please Introduce yourself. I am Melissa Noeth, DPT and I am the owner of The Art House, a new open studio concept located in St Augustine Beach.

What inspired you to start your business? There were many galleries and professional art studios in St Augustine that made this such a rich creative area to live, but I felt there was a need for a studio space in the community in which families and people of all ages could create art with their own hands. I wanted to create a space where kids could take fine art classes, adults and teens could use pottery wheels, and families and friends could drop in and paint together and have a relaxing, fun experience. This vision has expanded to encompass corporate team building events, birthday and holiday parties,and private and small group art lessons.

Walk us through the events that led to where you are now – education, past careers, life-changing decisions, etc.
I have a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I have practiced locally as a PT since 2011. My husband, Jon, and I also own and operate our local videography businesses, Noeth Films and Noeth Films Pro. We have 3 kids that are 9, 6, and 4 years old and live on Anastasia Island. After the pandemic and the significant mental health toll that it took on people all over the world and in our local community, I realized how impactful it could be for people to have a constructive, healthy, and creative outlet that positively influences your brain and mental health.

How does engaging in art effect your brain?
When completing art, it engages your brain in a different way than you are used to and encourages neuroplasticity, which is the process of creating new neural connections and pathways.Creating art has an impact on your spatial reasoning (which is perceived and then processed by the hippocampus and parietal lobe), your hand-eye coordination (processed by the cerebellum), and your rewards center as demonstrated by increased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex during engagement in art. Participating in art also reduces stress and releases dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin.

How does art effect your mental health and focus?
Creating art allows you to immerse yourself solely in the moment you are in and allows you to reduce the grip of intrusive or negative thoughts that tend to become a normal part of our day with exposure to devices, news outlets, and social media. It encourages focus, attention to detail, problem solving, and mindfulness. Engaging in art is an extremely healthy way to escape the daily demands and stresses that our modern lives impose on us and naturally release beneficial neurotransmitters.

Is art healthy?
I can’t think of anyone who would not benefit from the neuropsychological and mental health benefits I described. Clearly it would benefit you as an individual. But, think of the influence it could have on your child. It will help increase concentration, hand-eye coordination, and give them a healthy, lifelong coping mechanism in which to address stress. What about your employees and the effect it could have on their problem solving, attention to detail, and creative ideas? Society has embraced the idea that you should eat healthy food, exercise, and get enough sleep to keep your body healthy, and is also starting to prioritize mental health. Maybe it is time we started embracing art as a part of a healthy lifestyle also.

But, what if I am not an artist?
So many adults have told me they are not artists. You are the perfect person for this studio. First, the benefits described above regarding neuroplasticity are specifically pertaining to people who DON’T already have this circuitry. Inexperienced participants are in the best position to reap the benefits of neuroplasticity by introducing a new skill. The mental health benefit for beginners can also be understood through the Zen principle known as beginner’s mind in which you approach a new challenge with curiosity and enthusiasm that in turn promotes appreciation and focus on the present moment. Lastly, the studio itself is geared specifically to beginners with no experience. We have teachers that are experienced in instructing beginners, but can also guide you as you progress in your techniques and skills. This question also is interesting to me because most people who claim they “aren’t artists” have never taken a class or had any formal training. Think of something you are good at; how many hours have you spent doing that activity? Probably thousands of hours. Many people, especially adults, have categorized themselves as not artistic; but perhaps that is not true, maybe you just were never shown how or allowed yourself the time to practice.

Do you host any events that benefit the St Augustine community?
Yes, we are working with the Junior Service League on some of their events and hosted their Lighthouse Guided Draw fundraiser at The Art House in August as well as sponsoring the live painting auction at the JSL Gala in October. We have hosted an open studio day for kids and sponsored the Give Kids the World Day Event at Guy Harvey Resort in September that benefits terminally ill children and their families. We are also hosting our Empty Bowls event at The Art House on November 18 from 5-8 PM to benefit food banks and organizations that work to alleviate hunger in our local community. This ticket will include a handmade local ceramic bowl of your choice and a meal provided by Buena Onda and Lotus Noodle Bar, and a beverage of your choice.

What kind of art forms do you offer at the studio?
We offer pottery wheel throwing, clay handbuilding, classical drawing instruction, watercolor, acrylic, or oil painting lessons, abstract art lessons, and craft workshops including resin pouring, wood burning, candle making, sewing, and hand knitting. We have beginner and intermediate wheel throwing classes weekly, Spin & Sips every Friday night and select Saturday mornings, monthly craft and handbuilding workshops, regular kid’s art series classes throughout the school year (August through May), kids’ summer camps, and private and small group lessons by request. We also have team building options for companies in studio and on-location.

How do we get started?
You can drop by the studio anytime during our normal business hours for open studio to paint pottery, air dry clay, or use acrylics or watercolor paints. If you have been authorized by one of our instructors to use the pottery wheels and handbuilding equipment, this is also available during open studio hours. You can sign up for a class at 904arthouse.com/book-a-class or email us to arrange a private lesson or start any class or workshop with a group of four or more people.

Is the studio available for events?
Yes, the studio is available for open studio parties with a 12-person work table and lounge area or the entire studio is available for private parties.

Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday 10 AM – 6 PM
Sunday 12-5 PM

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Initially flexibility and perseverance are vital. What you set out to create may not be exactly what comes to pass and sometimes done is better than perfect. Give the people what they want—if what you thought would do well doesn’t, are you willing to go down with the ship or pivot to something that people actually want and will buy? Ultimately, achieving a life balance will be vital to maintaining a business over the long haul and prioritizing your mental health so that you can make sound decisions, step back and look at the big picture — which is sometimes very difficult for small business entrepreneurs wearing all those hats.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday is a great book to checkout if you are feeling discouraged or pessimistic. It is a wealth of examples of important historical figures, stoic philosophy, and modern applications.

Contact Info:

• Website: 904arthouse@gmail.com
• Instagram: @904arthouse
• Facebook: @904arthouse
• Yelp: The Art House

Image Credits

Greg Olech Photograpy
Molly Herri Photo