That Art Place

Along US Highway 98 in Daphne, tucked into a suite among other small storefronts, That Art Place operates as a creative experience studio open to anyone willing to try something with their hands. The business does not aim for gallery level polish so much as accessibility, positioning itself as a place where a person can paint a mug on a Tuesday evening without any art background at all. Its own tagline, “Create. Connect. Inspire,” sums up the pitch fairly directly.

The studio was founded by Jerri Ledford, an artist, instructor, and creative entrepreneur whose approach centers on the idea that artistic ability is not something a person is simply born with. Instead, it is something built through curiosity, practice, and a willingness to make something imperfect. That framing shows up throughout the studio’s programming, which favors low pressure, project based sessions over formal art instruction. Customers with questions can reach her directly by email at jerrilynn@thatartplacedaphne.com, in addition to the studio’s general phone line.

Open studio sessions run for two hours at a flat fee that covers materials, with additional time available at $5 per half hour for anyone who wants to keep working past the clock. No reservation is required for most open studio visits, though the studio welcomes advance bookings for anyone who wants to guarantee a spot. Projects rotate monthly; the August lineup, for example, included ceramic painting, acrylic canvas work, jewelry making, botanical projects, and decoden crafts, giving a repeat visitor a genuinely different experience from one month to the next.

Beyond open studio time, the calendar fills with scheduled workshops built around a specific technique or project. In August 2026 alone, the schedule included a four week Beginning Watercolor course starting August 6 at 6 p.m. for $140, a session that sold out, a single session Beginner Watercolors class on August 19 for $35, a $65 Mahjong Bag Set Workshop on August 21 where participants paint their own fabric carrying and tile bags, a $45 Mosaic Candle Class on August 22 built around glass mosaic tile and soy wax, a $70 per pair Mystery Project Night on August 28 for adults twenty one and older with wine available, and a $75 Handbag Workshop on August 30 where participants assemble a PU leather bag with hardware.

Younger visitors have their own track. A Kids’ Art Lab centered on Gelli plate printmaking, using acrylic paint alongside textural materials like lace and leaves, ran August 29 at 10 a.m. for $25 and was aimed at ages ten and up, with anyone under eighteen required to have a parent or guardian along. Class sizes across the board are kept manageable enough that instructors can walk the room and help individually rather than run a lecture format.

The studio also books birthday parties and private events for scout troops, homeschool groups, and workplace team building outings. A party budget generally runs $25 to $30 per person depending on the project and group size, for a two hour block split into ninety minutes of creating and thirty minutes set aside for refreshments, gifts, and cutting the cake. Most party projects accommodate around ten participants, with larger groups possible depending on the activity, and the studio provides the space, materials, instruction, tables, seating, and cleanup, along with an optional birthday banner. Families are asked to book early to lock in a preferred date and project, and a reservation fee is required to hold the booking.

Registration and full payment are required to reserve a class or workshop spot, since space is limited and materials are ordered in advance. Cancellations made at least 48 hours ahead can be transferred to another class or converted to studio credit, but fees are otherwise non-refundable, a fairly standard policy for a small class based business working with fixed seating. If the studio itself has to cancel a session, whether from low enrollment, instructor illness, or weather, registered participants can choose a transfer, credit, or a full refund.

Gift certificates are available starting at $25, a straightforward option for anyone looking to introduce a friend or family member to one of the workshops without committing them to a specific project. Booking for both open studio time and scheduled classes runs through the studio’s website, and the business stays active on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok under the handle That Art Place Daphne for anyone who wants a preview of a project before signing up. For a small Eastern Shore studio, the range of projects on offer is wide enough that regulars can move between mediums, from watercolor to mosaic work to leatherwork, without ever quite running out of new things to try.