SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Before the "blurp, blurp" process begins, artists select the size of their blank canvas and paint.
The fun phrase, as told by the co-owners of Hawaii Fluid Art, is used to describe the pouring of paint into a cup during the fluid art creation process.
The catchy "blurp" may sound silly, but indeed is fun to watch as the colors vibe together with each tilt of the canvas.
To "blurp" is one of the many uncomplicated maneuvers taught at Hawaii Fluid Art Lehigh Valley, an art studio at 3325 Hamilton Blvd. co-owned by mother-and-daughter duo Mary Szakmeister and Virginia Ellen.
Hawaii Fluid Art, a franchise with more than 40 locations in the United States, was founded by Maya Ratcliff in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
At the time, Ratcliff worked in finance, and like many people during the coronavirus pandemic, she sought a hobby to ease her boredom during lockdown.
Although painting turned out harder than it seemed, Ratcliff developed an easy liquid-pouring medium, or the blurp, that let anyone of any age or skillset create a masterpiece, Szakmeister said.
Welcoming concept
Ratcliff's vision was to create an art studio that welcomed all, including individuals with disabilities, who may benefit from the therapeutic benefits of art-making, but without the challenges.
Since opening last winter, Szakmeister and Ellen have held parties for pediatric cancer patients, autistic individuals, older adults with memory loss and students with developmental disabilities.
Szakmeister, a jewelry designer, and her daughter, a pottery maker, used to sell their Celtic-inspired works at local festivals.
"When COVID came around, we stopped all that," Szakmeister said. "Then we were doing parties, teaching others, and that sort of fell out because people weren't getting together."
A friend told them about the franchise, and the welcoming concept appealed to them, they said.
Resin designs
On a recent afternoon, Szakmeister and Ellen held a session with a couple celebrating their anniversary.
Together, and armed with blow-dryers, the pair made one of the studio's more complicated pieces — a beachy blue-and-white scene glossed over with resin (hence the heat), then adorned with mosaic stones and a starfish.
At another table, a mom and her daughter designed a charcuterie board and tumbler.
Szakmeister said the daughter brings her mom, who has Alzheimer's disease, to the studio at least twice a month.
" She tries to keep her mother occupied with an activity that isn't challenging, but turns into something beautiful," Szakmeister said.
"It doesn't take Picasso-like skills, and they can do it together."
At the studio, customers also can create photo frames or bear and bunny figurines, paint glass, create mosaic frames and even customize a ball cap during a patch hat party.
"There are so many things you can do with fluid art," Ellen said. "You can add different gizmos, pour different colors. We have glitter, stones, flowers, shells.
"It's interesting because it has endless bounds, so we've been enjoying learning new stuff together."
Theme nights, parties for pooches
The studio also holds themed parties and caters to larger groups.
Some themes are a Taylor Swift night, a coffee and chat on Mondays, glass painting classes, children's birthdays and even "adventures with paws," a paw-ty for dogs.
With their paws, the dogs step onto canvases that are covered with plastic and adorned with treats, before the "blurp" mix dries.
A summer camp for ages 6-14 begins on June 23.
"It's nice to see people leave happy," Szakmeister said. "Even if they come in a little grumpy, the customers who have come are in a better mood. They are smiling and laughing."
Hawaii Fluid Art is open 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Mondays, 2-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-4 p.m. Sundays.
To book a class or for pricing, visit Hawaii Fluid Art Lehigh Valley's website.
