Nestled within Lemoyne’s State Street Plaza is Horizons Creative Studio, an artist’s oasis offering a diverse and growing selection of classes and workshops for adults of all ages and abilities.
Owner Demetra Luciano was inspired to open the studio while working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She began to incorporate art classes and workshops into her work and eventually began offering free art classes to the wider community.
Her artistic background is in the fiber arts, including needle felting and embroidery, and she recruited other artists to offer classes in additional fields. Two years after opening, Horizons’ lineup includes classes and workshops in sea glass, knitting and crocheting, paper quilling, acrylic painting and watercolor, calligraphy, baking and cake decorating and more.
The store gets foot traffic from neighboring shops and restaurants, as well as referrals from her craft-minded neighbors at String Theory Yarn Shop next door. Over the last several years, more than 2,000 people have registered for classes at Horizons, Luciano said, with many attending multiple classes.
According to the studio’s website, the “three Cs”—creativity, community and connection—are at the heart of its mission.
“I love getting to meet the people—the guest instructors and the people who take the classes,” she said. “We have people of all abilities coming together.”
Horizons maintains its variety of class offerings with the support of guest instructors, who propose new class ideas and themes. One of the studio’s regular instructors is Hannah, owner of Owlfeathers Watercolor. She teaches watercolor workshops featuring florals, landscapes, animals, plants and seasonal themes, among others.
Hannah, who lives in Perry County and does business under her first name, has been teaching at Horizons since last year. She is a self-taught artist with a background in education, starting her art business at age 18.
“Within a year, I began teaching watercolor workshops in a local coffee shop, and discovered that I loved teaching,” she said. “Over the years I continued to grow my business until I was able to step away from my traditional 9-to-5 and make my living as a full-time artist.”
She made Owlfeathers Watercolor her full-time job in April 2024, just two weeks before completing her master’s degree in history.
“Since then, I’ve never looked back or regretted my decision to take my art full time,” she said.
For Hannah, the connections formed at the studio are the most valuable aspect.
“My favorite thing about teaching at Horizons is Demetra,” she said. “She is one of the most down-to-earth and agreeable people I have ever worked with. I feel like I can be myself and have a true friend. It’s not every day you can have such a secure connection and friendship within business. She really makes Horizons a welcoming place for all the students, but also instructors like myself.”
The studio houses a shop featuring items created by local artists and class participants. The rotating inventory includes everything from herbal teas to jewelry, greeting cards, craft kits and supplies, paintings and resin art. Luciano has also developed a “badge club” for adults, encouraging participants to learn new skills and pursue new experiences while earning merit badges. In addition to art-related fields, badge activities include animal care, outdoor pursuits, technology and health and wellness, all of which are listed in a book available at the studio.
While most classes are held at the Lemoyne studio, some are held in other locations throughout central Pennsylvania. Additional special events include a weekend book retreat scheduled for October at the Kentland Retreat Center in Mechanicsburg.
Horizons Creative Studio is located at 829 State St., Ste. 2004, Lemoyne. For more information and a list of upcoming classes and events, visit horizonsgroupunlimited.com or call 717-460-6886.
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