The Drawing Board Arts opens in Lyndhurst

John Butler, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
·2 min read

May 20—The Drawing Board Arts, a pottery and ceramics arts facility in Lyndhurst with a focus on therapeutic arts, will be holding its grand opening May 23.

Owner Renee Borowski took her first wheel throwing class in 2019 when her mom was suffering from a terminal illness. At the time she was working a high-paced corporate job and was looking to find a space where she could find peace of mind and, as she puts it a "zen" environment.

"Once I started I fell in love with the medium, and it actually helped me ground myself," she said. "It takes you out of your crazy thoughts and puts you right into zen mode."

Borowski expanded upon the idea of grounding yourself within her own wheel throwing classes, saying that the idea of the art itself is to expel stressful thoughts and find a space where you can focus on the pottery in front of you. She hopes this will help her customers find peace of mind in the same way that it helped her.

"It brings you out of your thinking mind and into your present moment," Borowski said. "Whether you are throwing it on the wheel or molding it with your hands, all my students describe the same feeling."

All ceramics are handmade besides a few ceramic materials for children to paint. Customers can then choose a ceramic piece that they can paint.

The facility has its own kiln and offers a variety of classes in both wheel throwing and canvas painting both in groups and with private instructor-assisted classes.

Borowski wants to be involved in the LGBTQ community and plans on having several events in the future geared toward LGBTQ inclusion.

Borowski's daughter Alexis Rubertino, vice president of The Drawing Board Arts, is a member of the LGBTQ community and she supports her mother's efforts.

"I find it to be important for people to find a safe space when dealing with creativity, you should be able to express what you're going to express yourself without feeling persecuted or stifled," Rubertino said. "It helps you bring out your subconscious art and the feelings a bit deeper in."

The store is located at 5660 Mayfield Road and is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. If customers come in from now through the 23rd they can enter their name for a chance to win one of four spots for a private wheel throwing class or one of four spots for a private canvas painting class.

For more information visit thedrawingboardarts.com or call the store at 440-879-8033.