Color Play Studio started off as a haven for vivacious finished art projects. In the five years since Patty Middlebrooks has been in business, it has changed tremendously. The studio has undergone both curriculum changes and an aesthetic revamp. What began as Meaning-Full Art blossomed into a crafting sanctuary with something for everyone.

Middlebrooks’ decision to rebrand her business was sparked by the influx of customers who had a growing interest in learning to water marble. She wanted a studio that reflected the core values that she taught: anybody can be an artist. With that, the name “Color Play Studio” was born. Middlebrooks said that she especially wanted to emphasize the word “play” to eliminate the stressful nature of the artistic process.

“It’s more about play than perfection,” she said.

In addition to the name change, Middlebrooks has also implemented a variety of new classes. At the forefront of Color Play Studio’s oeuvre is their most popular class: water marbeling. This is a sixty-minute-long session wherein Middlebrooks teaches people how to float paint on water and transfer it to silk. People from all over the world have raved about this class. It is a fun, whimsical activity to do in the beautiful city of San Pedro.

Color Play Studio is located near the coast of the L.A. Waterfront in an old military warehouse that has been converted into an arts market (CRAFTED at the Port of Los Angeles.) Most every weekend there are food trucks, live music, and lots of fun activities. In San Pedro, there is a plethora of things to see and discover after your art session at the studio.

The studio also offers textile dyeing classes including art forms such as ice dyeing, Shibori indigo dyeing, cyanotype dyeing and more. This change came about when textile artist Simone Evans joined the team. She is an experienced artist from Pennsylvania with a wide range of talents and enthusiasm for crafts. Simone’s first textile dyeing class, an indigo Shibori textile dyeing workshop, was a huge success.

Though tie dyeing may seem like a dated kid’s activity, Middlebrooks said that the type of dyeing that is taught at Color Play Studio is anything but that. She refers to it as “elevated tie dyeing.” This means that more sophisticated methods are used to achieve certain patterns and looks resulting in elegant, wearable art.

These classes will be offered as camps and intensives for adults who are interested in diving deep into the art of tie dyeing. There will be a separate after-school program offered to kids, but the curriculum is separate from those taught to adults.

More than anything, Middlebrooks wanted to make Color Play Studio a place for people to gather and have fun no matter the occasion. The friendly atmosphere she has cultivated has made the studio a play where people not only buy things but also create things they’re proud of. Each class is a new experience, and they make an excellent gift to those who are looking for a unique activity to do in Los Angeles.

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