Meet Jaime Hinrichs of Jaime’s Palette in Sugar Land

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jaime Hinrichs.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jaime. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have loved arts and crafts since I was a young girl. My Mother is an artist and my Dad loves woodworking. They got me started. When I was a teenager, babysitting jobs were plentiful for me because I loved to do arts and crafts with the children I babysat. Though I grew up in a small Texas town, my husband, Joe Hinrichs and I moved to Houston to find work at the young age of 18.

I started working for The Honor Roll School in Sugar Land in 2007. I designed fun art projects for the kids and sat with them during “free time” and drew with them. I had so much fun. I would decorate the Lobby and stage for events, as well as our bulletin boards and it made me realize that I wanted to do more. I transferred to The Missouri City location in 2013 after taking a leave to have my second son. I painted murals all over the school in addition to starting art classes for the children, eventually things changed and the art program became smaller due to budget constraints and I became unhappy.

In 2015, I received a call from a friend, Chessa Rapp about applying for work at the Sugar Land Art Center. I was invited to start teaching art classes for children and hosting art parties for kids. It was the break I needed.

So, my husband and brother-in-law helped me build my website and I filed for a DBA (Jaime’s Palette) to make it official. They have helped tremendously to get me where I am today!

In December 2016, Chessa offered me a position at Fort Bend Senior Meals on Wheels to be their new Art Instructor. I started with them in January of this year and it has been a remarkable journey doing what I love the most. It has allowed me more time to focus on my business and more time with my husband and sons.

I also teach art at Montessori Kids Universe in Sugar Land. I teach there Wednesdays from 3-4pm. Students must be enrolled there to attend classes.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Life is never smooth and every decision we make sends us down a new path. The choices I made led me to Jamie’s Palette. Since I love what I do now, I would not want to change my path and not end up where I am today.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I feel my business is set apart from others because I truly care about people and try to make things affordable. My classes are an enjoyable, relaxing experience where children can be themselves while creating artwork. They want to come back day after day. My classes are a mixture of arts and crafts for children of all ages.

A lot of the people say, ‘I don’t know how to draw.’ You don’t have to know how. When people leave my class, they are so mesmerized by what they did, I taught them that. I got them to like art and want to continue to do it. To me, that’s a huge accomplishment because art is really dying.

Once, I had a little 4-year-old girl [as my student]. Her mom texted me that they went to an art museum and the little girl was saying, ‘That’s Picasso, this is Monet.’ I did that. I got her to love the arts. It’s not really about me. It’s not about inspiring myself. It’s about inspiring others.

I love coming to this center and helping and inspiring and getting people to create.

Because, a lot of the time when you’re older, you lose that imagination, you lose that creativity.

It’s what I love to do. I want to be remembered for helping others. I think it’s huge for me to go from where I came from to where I am now.

What were you like growing up?
I grew up surrounded by Arts/Crafts. In my spare time, I would always draw, Art was always my favorite subject in school.

Pricing:

• Art Classes – $25 per class or pay for 4 classes and receive the 5th class free (all supplies included).
• Mommy & Me Class – $40 for one adult and one child, $10 each additional person (all supplies are included).
• Face Painting – $100 per hour

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sugarlandart.com
• Phone: 713-376-6188
• Email: sugarlandart@gmail.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jaimespalette

Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.