A Dream Taking Flight
Mollykid Studios Helps Others Find Joy Through Art…
For as long as she can remember, Molly Watson has been drawn to create art in many forms. Her art room at home was filled to the brim with supplies, but there wasn’t much physical room for the making process. And there wasn’t much figurative room in her life, either. As an active-duty member of the Air Force, a mom and a wife with a full-time job, she found herself setting those creative dreams aside as life happened, knowing her passion would wait for her.
“There was always the ‘one day I’d love to have a studio’ dreams and I honestly didn’t think it would come,” says Watson. “Then, suddenly, I was close to being an empty nester and thought, ‘If not now,
then when?’”
On a whim, Watson searched online for spaces around Redding. When her calls resulted in news that the spaces were no longer available, she put the idea on the back burner. One day, she found a spot in a place she hadn’t considered. She had all of 45 minutes to check it out. She raced over to see the space, promptly fell in love with it, and let her dream take flight – finally carving out time to nurture her passion outside of work.
In February 2025, Watson officially opened Mollykid Studios, a name derived from the nickname given to Watson by her father: “Mollykid.” The addition of the word “Studios,” Watson says, seemed natural, as it denotes an array of creative ideas. She had the name picked out long before she had a dedicated place to put her passion into practice. The moniker came to her in 2011, while living in Germany during her husband’s last military assignment, when she began making art and sewn items for friends.
Less than a year after opening Mollykid Studios, Watson has slowly been offering classes and hosting events. Most classes are held in the evenings and on weekends. Mollykid Studios specializes in paintings, magnets, stickers, art greeting cards and sewn items. A vibrant, colorful, bursting-with-texture collection of inspiring messages called “My Wordies” are original art pieces Watson creates from personal photos, paintings or digital art.
“These words and phrases come to me while I’m navigating life. They stem from a desire to put positivity into the world. With the weight of life we all carry – regardless of age – we all need uplifting messages to get us through our days. These words remind us to find happiness and motivation, even during hard times,” says Watson.
At Mollykid Studios, Watson teaches watercolor, acrylic painting and collage, and makes space for creativity to decide its own course during open studio sessions. Those moments in open studio sessions, Watson says, “fuel and inspire creativity and wellbeing in our community.”
“I think everyone has something awesome to offer the world,” says Watson. “Sometimes, they don’t give themselves credit because they may not be widely known or consider themselves ‘good’ but to me, that’s not important. It’s the fact that somebody’s out there creating in the world and putting it out there. That takes a lot of bravery.”
Watson sees art as a vehicle to express emotions, process trauma and grief, and a space in which people can be free with themselves. “Art gives us a space for expression with limited rules – there is no right or wrong. We can let go of perfection and order to create freely. The joy I see in people who create is an honor to witness,” says Watson.
It feels good to create a piece of art, and connection and strength can be gained from others during the journey. Transformative. Community-building. Life-shifting. That’s the power of the creative experience.
Making art can be a process of healing and release. I have personally experienced it, and I value the opportunity to share with and teach it to others. Art is a priceless gift we can give ourselves and those we care about, because it helps to mend our souls.”
Watson hosts free art classes for veterans during a monthly Vets Art group. No previous art experience is necessary, and the benefits of creativity and connection are undeniable. “I see the tremendous benefits of art programs for veterans and always wanted to give back to my military family. I didn’t know of anything like it in our area, so I started it at my studio,” says Watson.
While Watson does not have routine studio hours at this time, her class schedule, dates for open studio sessions and details on any special community events she’s a part of can be found on her social media channels.
When she’s not creating magic in her studio, you’ll find Watson connecting with people and selling her handcrafted items at local events, capturing inspiration on an adventure or treasuring moments with her family, friends and two dogs. She continues to find joy in her work with veterans.
“I am truly lucky to get to do what I love,” says Watson. “Helping people find joy, positivity and themselves is inspiring. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have a studio to bring all kinds of people together to be creative.”
Mollykid Studios • 8865 Airport Road, Suite A2, Redding
mollykidstudios@gmail.com
Find Mollykid Studios on Instagram and Facebook
