More Than an Art Studio. It's a Place to Breathe.

Wild Laurel Art Bar was created to give people a place to slow down,

create with their hands, and reconnect with what matters.

Art has carried me through some of life's hardest seasons. My hope is that it brings a little joy to yours.

A Dream Begins

For years, I dreamed of creating a place where people could step away from busy schedules, screens, and stress to simply create. Wild Laurel Art Bar grew from that dream.

The funny thing is, I never planned to open an art studio.

I discovered painting in 2018 at a local paint party, simply looking for a fun creative outlet.

When Art Became Something More

During the uncertainty of 2020, I turned our guest room into an art studio. Canvas after canvas filled the walls, and painting became much more than a hobby—it became a way to find joy during a difficult season.

In January 2023, our family lost nearly everything in a house fire.

One question stayed with me. My mom, who had suffered a stroke
two years earlier, would ask every time we talked,

"Did you lose all of your beautiful paintings?"

Every time, I'd tell her,

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll paint them again."

That promise led me to begin studying oil painting.

As our home was gutted and rebuilt,
creating art became one of the things that helped rebuild me, too.

Why I Built Wild Laurel

I've learned that creating art does more than produce beautiful things. It creates breathing room. It gives us permission to slow down, quiet the noise, process life's difficult seasons, celebrate joyful ones, and discover that we're capable of more than we imagined.

That's why I created Wild Laurel Art Bar.

Nestled in the Riverwalk Shops of downtown McCaysville, Wild Laurel is a welcoming space for everyone - from first-time painters to lifelong makers. Whether you're creating with friends, celebrating a special occasion, visiting our mountain towns, or simply looking for a peaceful afternoon, my hope is that you'll leave with more than a project.

I hope you'll leave feeling lighter, more creative, and reminded that making something with your own hands is good for the soul.

Hands-On Art. Mountain Heart.

Technology will continue to change.

Tools will evolve.

But the human desire

to create with our hands

remains timeless.

Why "Wild Laurel"?

The name Wild Laurel was inspired by the mountain laurel and wildflowers that bloom throughout the Appalachian Mountains.

Mountain laurel isn't planted in perfect rows or carefully tended gardens. It grows where it was meant to grow - through rocky soil, cold winters, heavy rains, and mountain storms.

Year after year, they return with a quiet beauty that asks for nothing in return.

There's something deeply inspiring about that.

To me, wild doesn't mean untamed or chaotic. It means having the courage to create without worrying about perfection. It means embracing curiosity, trying something new, and finding joy in the process.

Like the wild mountain laurel, I believe creativity is already within us. Sometimes it simply needs the right place to bloom.

That's what I hope Wild Laurel Art Bar will always be - a welcoming place where creativity grows, community flourishes, and everyone is invited to discover the simple joy of making something with their own hands.

A little wild. Handmade Art. Mountain Heart.

See You Soon

Whether you're visiting from across the country or just down the road, I hope you'll stop in, slow down for a while, and create something that reminds you of this place long after you've gone home.

I'll be here cheering you on. One project at a time.

- Christine

Riverwalk Shops, Downtown McCaysville
hello@wildlaurelartbar.com