Business Q&A: The Art Studio

For several years, Rockville Centre’s up and coming artists have been taking painting lessons and trying their hands at pottery at The Art Studio on North Park Avenue. This week, owner Meryl Cittadino shares her artistic expertise as she prepares to move to a new location on North Long Beach Road in January. 

Tell us about what services your studio offers.

We are a fine arts studio that teaches drawing, painting, and sculpting to children and adults. Our students range in age from five to 100. We paint with all mediums, including watercolor paint and oil. We use self-drying clay for pottery projects. 

What are some of your most popular offerings?

Birthday parties are very popular in the studio. The parties are similar to the classes but I like to make sure that the kids make something that they can take home with them. For example, we will do projects where we paint picture frames or backpacks that they can keep.

What do you like about owning a small business in RVC?

I’ve been a business owner in RVC for 12 years now. The best part about this town is that it is centrally located and because of that, it attracts people from all different areas. I have students who live here and students who come from other places. A lot of my business is done through word-of-mouth. 

Do you offer any specials or promotions to entice customers?

I give special price breaks to siblings who sign up for classes together and to people who sign up for multiple months at one time. Also, all of the art supplies you need are included in the annual registration fee.

What are you looking forward to about moving to your new location?

The most exciting thing is that in the new studio I’ll have space for a gallery. We’ll use the gallery to display the work of outside artists and also to display out students’ artwork.