Area residents looking to express their artistic creativity need look no further than Centered Earth, 21 Kristi Road, Muncy.

The clay and art teaching studio has been in the business of helping everyone from the novice to the experienced create their own unique pieces for the past 11 years, according to Managing Member Melissa Jenkins.

Founded in the summer of 2014 by Kathy Görg, the reins of Centered Earth were passed onto Jenkins, who holds a bachelor of fine arts from Penn West Edinburgh, where she met her husband, James, who holds the same degree.

“I had my own jewelry business, Narrow House Metals, and I taught jewelry classes for Kathy, and when she had a change in her direction, we didn’t want to see the community lose the studio because it’s really a special place, so we stepped in and purchased the business from her,” Jenkins explained.

The studio hosts a number of classes focusing on a number of different crafts, including wheel throwing and hand building clay, silver jewelry, watercolor painting, fused glass and stained glass and basket weaving.

“We also have ceramic glazing paint your own pottery as a walk-in project during our open hours, where people can just come in, pick a piece off the shelves, choose your glaze colors, paint it, and then we film, fire it and return it to you,” Jenkins said.

“And that starts as young as age four,” she added.

“We run the whole range of functional to decorative art,” Jenkins said.

“There are some classes where you may make a mug or a serving tray in a clay class, and there are other classes where you might make a stained glass sun catcher, or wearable silver jewelry, or a watercolor or acrylic painting,” she explained.

Additionally, Centered Earth features after-school and homeschool clubs that meet weekly during the school year.

“We have one group for ages six to seven, two groups for ages eight to 12 and a group for ages 13 to 18, which will be kicking off in October,” Jenkins explained.

Participants can sign up for two months at a time or for the length of the classes, which conclude in April, Jenkins said.

“We do all kinds of projects with them, obviously clay, because everybody loves clay, print making and painting,” Jenkins said.

“We also touch on some art history, and we do pastels,” she said.

The after-school classes meet around 4 p.m., while the homeschool classes are held on Thursday mornings.

Both clubs, along with all teen and adult classes are available for registration through Centered Earth’s website.

“Because we like to support local artists, we invite local artists into the space to teach,” Jenkins said.

“Every time you come in, you’re working with someone who is a specialist in their media or in their craft. So if you’re taking the glass class, it’s with a glass artist, if you’re taking a jewelry class, it’s with a jeweler,” she explained.

“Everyone really knows their craft thoroughly and they’re very good at sharing it with people,” Jenkins said.

Centered Earth welcomes people of all skills and abilities, Jenkins stressed.

“Our whole purpose is to make art accessible and approachable to people, no matter what their background is, no matter what their skill level is,” she said.

The staff is always willing to help as much, or as little as the participant would like.

“For instance, in a wheel throwing class, if somebody is struggling to center their clay, our instructor can help them center that, so they can move on to the next part and have a fun time,” Jenkins said.

“Nearly all of our classes are beginner level, and when you come in for a class, we provide everything you need for your project. So your class fee covers your materials, instructor, studio time and kiln firing,” Jenkins said.

“You just sign up, come in for your class, and then we take care of everything,” she said.

Jenkins said even for the uninitiated, one visit to the studio can awaken their creativity.

“Often people will come in and they say, ‘the teacher is going to hate me,’ ‘my friend is the crafty one, she made me come,’ and then by the time they leave, they’re like, ‘I can’t believe I actually made this by myself,'” Jenkins said.

“When people come in saying they’re not an artist, we’re like, you’re already my favorite person tonight, because you’re just gonna turn around, and leave feeling so good and so happy with what you made,” she said.

For anyone who is interested in just dipping their toes in the water before taking a class, Jenkins suggests stopping in during their regular business hours.

“If people just need to get a feel for the studio, they’re welcome to come in and talk to us anytime,” she said.

“Another good way is to stop in for pottery painting, because that’s a walk-in project, with no reservation or wait required,” Jenkins explained.

“Through that, you can get to know our staff a little bit. You can chat with us, get a feel for the studio, and decide if it’s something that you might like to pursue,” she said.

“Even if you’re not buying anything, just walk in and see what the studio looks like and ask us some questions. Our door is always open,” Jenkins said.

For more information on Centered Earth or to register for a class, please visit their website at www.centeredearth.com.