Greetings from New Orleans: Hot Stuff Studios has moved!

Can you believe we fit our life and business into this 7x8 foot storage cube? We can't either.

Earlier this summer, Hot Stuff Studios packed up our paints, tarot decks, and bins upon bins of art supplies to make a big leap, from the Bay Area to the Big Easy. After years of running art workshops and creative team-building events in San Francisco, Oakland, and beyond, we felt called to start a new chapter in the Greater New Orleans area.

Why the Move?

Oakland has been our creative home since Hot Stuff was founded. It’s where Trin was born and raised, and where Dru spent their whole adult life. It’s where we started our craft, opened a pop-up shop, and tested many different offerings for creativity and connection. We’ve worked with dozens of Bay Area artists and love the community that grew with us there. But for our own personal and professional growth, it felt time for a change. We settled on New Orleans because: 

• It’s a renowned creative hub: New Orleans’ art, music, and culture scene is unmatched. As people who value creativity and community above all else, where better to be than a city where these things are etched into the heartbeat of everyday life? We’ve already found new inspiration and made great connections in the weeks we’ve been here so far, and know that there is so much more to come.

• Fresh opportunities for a broader reach: With so many festivals, gatherings, and organizations rotating through this hospitality hub, we see a chance to infuse more creativity into those events and connect with folks from all over the country. We want to be a part of the creative spirit that locals enjoy and folks take home at the end of their trip. 

• A chance for more impact: It may come as a surprise that our Queer, Woman, + Black-owned business would move to the Deep South given the historical and current political climate. While any concerns may be valid, we feel that the diverse representation we offer is more strongly needed here. Without getting too ahead of ourselves, we hope to bring hope and positive change with our own Queer flair.  

• Some community is already built-in: Southeast Louisiana is the place where Dru grew up. That means that we’ve already got some community here, and a foundation to build it out even more. Rather than relocating where we know no one, moving here feels safer and keeps us close to some family.

What’s Staying the Same

Even though our zip code has changed, our mission hasn’t. We’re still traveling to workplaces and gatherings with our art workshops and activities, bringing people together through painting, block printing, clay, and tarot. We still believe that everyone should take time to be creative, and we still love that moment when someone who “doesn’t have a creative bone in their body” leaves with a smile and a finished piece.

Now that we’re based in New Orleans, we’re excited to keep on:

• Offering workshops for local businesses, nonprofits, parties, and conferences

• Building partnerships with local venues, artists, business owners, and community organizations to combine our offerings

• Organizing and attending public events and pop-ups that celebrate creativity and community

Thank You, Oakland

A photo from our last Paint + Sip at White Horse Bar in Oakland in June.

We are missing you already. We wouldn’t be here without the love and support of our Bay Area community. Oakland taught us how to grow, hustle, and make events that matter. To our clients and collaborators back home: we’ll always be just a flight away, and we can’t wait to bring our workshops back whenever the opportunity arises. Our inbox and socials are open if you want to stay connected.

Hello, New Orleans

We’re thrilled to be here and can’t wait to see what magic we can create together in our new city. We’re actively looking to connect with people who share our values, both personally or professionally. If you’re a business, nonprofit, or organizer in New Orleans looking for a creative spark, check out our services page. We’re not only excited to build a new client base here, but to connect with venues, artists, business owners, and more that we can grow together with. If you’d like to explore partnership or just meet for coffee, please feel free to reach out!