Rockflower Studio Embraces Lakewood's Art Culture

Christine Hill taught fine arts to children for more than a quarter century. Now, she is starting her second career. 

But it doesn’t mean she’s done being an art teacher.

Last month, Hill opened up Rockflower Studio at 15707 Madison Avenue to teach area children (and adults) about fine arts — while giving them the opportunity to showcase their work.

In just one month, 30 students have already signed up — all by word of mouth.

“We are a fine arts studio,” Hill said. “We are not a gallery, but I think I can see a transition happening with both taking place — being a fine arts school for children, teens and adults.”

She retired from more than 25 years as an art teacher in Columbus, and most recently Westlake, after her husband, Byron, began undergoing chemotherapy treatments.

She wanted to spend more time with him.

“Being a purist in my art and my teaching, I felt that if I couldn’t see my students each week, I felt I was selling them short,” Hill said.

She got together with her husband and son — who is an architect next door — and they discussed a business plan.

“We decided to do this in about two hours. We just decided to do it.”

How did the she come up with the name Rockflower?

“It was very important to us to tie in nature and art together,” she said. “Especially working with children, I wanted them to know there’s a lot to learn about recycling. The environment is very important to us — it was given to us by the greatest artist in the universe.”

Hill said that the studio fits perfectly with Lakewood’s art community.

“I did my homework, and I am aware of the and how awesome they are,” she said. “I know my competition, but I don’t see them as competition — I see this as enhancing the community.”

The challenge now, she said, is getting people to know about the studio and its offerings.

“I think it’ll happen,” she said.

The warm, spacious 1,400-foot studio allows students to store their work, while allowing the space to spread out. Both children and adults can be see through the large Madison Avenue-facing window — past the students’ work in progress — crafting a number of projects.

This summer’s schedule ranges from drawing, painting and multimedia to paper mache and weaving — covering five age groups.

Classes start at $95, but this summer — to help get the ball rolling — Hill is offering a buy-one, get-one-free deal.

“I am just happy to be teaching,” she said. “I’d like to be able to pay my rent. That would be great.”

For more information about the studio and its classes, visit Rockflower’s website.