When Shawna Williams opens the door to the Splatter Room at Creative Array Studios (136 Chesterfield Commons), she often sees the same look from parents: excitement, curiosity—and maybe a little panic.
“Do you like making messes?” she’ll ask. The children’s answers are almost always yes. “Well, you came to the best place in St. Louis to make a mess and not get in trouble.”
That’s the philosophy behind Creative Array Studios, the Chesterfield art experience that Williams opened in late 2025, after spending nearly a decade working in arts and entertainment spaces across the region. Part splatter-paint playground, part DIY craft studio, and part party venue, the space is designed around a simple idea: Creativity should feel fun, approachable, and a little bit freeing.
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Where making a mess is the goal
The studio’s biggest draw is the Splatter Room, where guests suit up in protective gear, grab paint-filled brushes, and fling color across canvases, walls, and sometimes themselves. “It’s controlled chaos,” Williams says.
The room can be upgraded with black lights and neon paint, transforming the experience into what Williams calls a colorful wonderland. But the appeal goes beyond the novelty. For many families, it’s one of the few places where kids can experiment freely without worrying about spills, stains, or cleanup.
Parents often arrive cautiously. Kids, especially younger ones, can be surprisingly hesitant, too. Williams has noticed that children under age 5 have often learned not to make messes. “They don’t want to break the rules,” she says. “Then they realize it’s OK here.”
Adults, she adds, often need the same reminder to achieve a sort of catharsis. “By the time they’re done, they’re like, That felt really good.”
More than an art project
Williams believes the popularity of hands-on creative experiences like hers reflects what many families are craving right now: less screen time, more connection, and opportunities to make memories together.
“I hear all the time that people want to give experiences instead of more stuff,” she says.
Roughly 80 percent of visitors are celebrating something, whether it’s a birthday, anniversary, girls’ night out, family gathering, or simply a day off from school.
The studio also offers canvas painting, acrylic pouring, DIY crafts, workshops, and summer camps, all designed for beginners. Williams intentionally removes many of the barriers that make art feel intimidating, using tracers, illustrated instructions, and step-by-step guidance that help guests succeed regardless of skill level.
“We want people to leave saying, ‘I made that,’” she says.
The approach draws inspiration from artist Jackson Pollock, whose action-painting techniques helped popularize paint splattering as an art form. Williams often tells young visitors that Pollock’s friends thought he was crazy when he started throwing paint at canvases.
“Sometimes you should try new things,” she tells them. “You never know what you’ll create.”
A place for everyone
One of Williams’ favorite parts of the job is seeing who walks through the door.
She’s hosted toddlers, grandparents, Girl Scout troops, assisted-living residents, and even a 95-year-old celebrating a birthday in the Splatter Room.
The studio regularly welcomes guests with sensory needs, mobility challenges, and varying abilities, adapting experiences as needed. “We’ll find a solution,” Williams says. “I promise, we’ll make it work.”
That flexibility extends to the atmosphere itself. Williams makes a point to learn why guests are visiting beforehand and often creates personalized touches, from birthday messages to custom signs celebrating milestones.
“It’s really about making people feel special,” she says.
Looking ahead, Williams hopes Creative Array Studios becomes more than a destination for crafts and birthday parties. She dreams it as a place where families can reconnect, laugh together, and discover that creativity doesn’t require talent—just a willingness to try.
“I think we need places where it’s OK to safely break the rules a little bit,” she says. “To explore, be creative, and just have fun.”
The details
Offerings include:
- Splatter Room experiences (reservations required)
- DIY craft projects
- Acrylic pouring workshops
- Birthday parties and private events
- Summer camps for children
For information, hours, and reservations, visit creativearraystudios.com or call 636-778-1233.
