Kim Pearcy was an art teacher for 16 years before she decided to venture out and open Creative Palette—an arts and crafts studio and boutique in Warsaw. After COVID-19 shut down schools nationwide, Kim began selling paint kits to customers. “They would have everything they needed in a little kit,” Kim says. “They’d order them on Mondays, and they’d pick them up on Fridays. It worked out great and gave people something to do.” Noticing the paint kits were quick sellers, Kim took her side hobby and transformed it into a full-time business. The arts and crafts studio thrived throughout 2020 and has since continued to expand.
What began as selling painting kits soon grew into offering a multitude of different creative classes, such as classes for beading, ceramics, wooden sign painting, candle making, wreaths, and canvas painting. Classes are led by Kim, who guides participants through the creative process from start to finish. “When class participants come in, I check them in and give them whatever supplies they need. Every class kind of varies, so when they come, it’s a new experience every time. It’s not like it gets old,” Kim explains.
In addition to classes, the shop also has a boutique section with items for sale—the majority of which are handmade by Kim. Shoppers can browse through hand-dyed T-shirts, Kansas City Chiefs merchandise, key chains, water bottles, and more. If customers are in the mood to create something new, they can customize hats, charm bracelets, or necklaces. There’s something for every age, including a Create a Critter station that is similar in concept to Build-A-Bear, and Creative Palette’s newest addition: a black light splatter painting room. Inside the room, lit with black lights, visitors can rent out the space to spray, fling, and squirt neon paint onto canvases, the walls, and each other.
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At Creative Palette, visitors can expect to find something fresh and exciting to spark their creativity, as Kim regularly adds new inventory, classes, and experiences. “All you can do is just keep evolving as other things evolve,” Kim says. “That’s the nice thing about art. It doesn’t get stuck in one place, right? You can always change and go another direction if you need to.” The best parts about owning the business, according to Kim, are getting to teach others to embrace their artistic side and experiencing how creativity brings joy into the lives of each participant. “I love teaching. Now I get to teach kids and adults, and it’s on my schedule,” she says. “You’re here to be happy. You’re here to paint and leave the world behind at the door.”
Visit Creative Palette at 216 West Main, Warsaw.
For more information about Creative Palette, click here.
This article was originally published in the June 2025 issue of Missouri Life.
All photos by Sydney Jones.
