Today we’d like to introduce you to Whitney Horrocks.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Whitney Horrocks, and at my core, I’m a painter. After years of refining my own artistic practice, I eventually found myself teaching art in charter schools. Teaching came naturally and was something I loved, but always felt was only one piece of my calling. I’ve always been deeply drawn to entrepreneurship, and when the pandemic hit in 2020 and disrupted our educational system, I found myself feeling disconnected and uninspired by the traditional classroom setting.
One night during that uncertain time, I had what I can only describe as divine inspiration. I literally woke up in the middle of the night with a fully formed vision for a studio — the name Smartest Artist included. I could see every detail of it with total clarity, like it had always been there waiting for me. I immediately began the process of opening the business here in Utah. From day one, it felt like I was in creative flow — everything clicked. I found the perfect studio space on the very first try, and within just two months, The Smartest Artist opened its doors to a young people with a natural propensity or deep interest in the arts. The community embraced Smartest Artist with open arms. I felt supported and connected not only as a small business owner but as an artist creating something meaningful for others.
What I offer at Smartest Artist is more than just after-school art classes it’s a comprehensive fine arts education designed specifically for young creatives. I give kids access to the kind of structured, intentional artistic growth that usually doesn’t come until high school or even college. It’s also a space of true belonging for creative kids to feel safe, challenged, and inspired.
As a child, I didn’t have a space like this. I painted and drew daily in a studio my father created for me in our Sugarhouse basement. While I loved what I was doing, I was largely alone, and that’s a big part of what drives me. The Smartest Artist is the studio I wish had existed when I was young: a place where kids can become the artists they are meant to be.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I truly can’t overstate the ease with which Smartest Artist came to life. Though I studied painting, not business, in college, every step of the process seemed to unfold naturally. I truly had no idea how to do what I was doing, but answers appeared when I needed them and resources aligned. There was no second-guessing, just steady forward motion. From the moment of inspiration to the opening day, less than eight weeks passed. It was as if the path had already been paved for me and I simply had to follow it. That sense of creative flow confirmed that I was exactly where I was meant to be, doing exactly what I was meant to do.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Smartest Artist is first and foremost an art education studio, not just a place for casual crafting or quick creative entertainment. I believe that studying the fine arts requires determination, patience, and practice and I hold my students to high expectations because I know that they’re capable of reaching them.
Our students build technical skills through hands-on exploration of drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, and mixed media. As they develop their art practice, they are also learning how to problem-solve, how to manipulate materials with purpose, and how to express themselves with clarity and confidence. And yes, I’m talking about my students as young as five years old.
My unique curriculum is structured, cyclical, and intentionally layered, giving students not only the tools of artmaking, but the language of visual literacy.
That said, I also know how to make it fun. The studio has a warm, supportive energy. My artists know it’s a safe space to explore, take risks, and grow. I often say I “trick” my students into technical study because they’re having such a great time doing it. That joy, paired with discipline and guidance, is what makes my studio special.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
One of the most essential qualities that shapes my approach is recognizing and honoring the whole child in every student. I don’t see them as just “kids in a class” — I see them as full, complex, curious human beings. I speak to them with the same tone, cadence, and respect I would offer a peer. I ask them about their day. I listen to to their thoughts about the art we look at together. I use their names, make direct eye contact, and let them know that their voice matters.
That personal connection creates a foundation of trust and safety which is essential for meaningful artistic growth. I believe that art is not just a subject, but a way of exploring the world and developing a sense of identity, empathy, and perspective.
I also bring a high level of intention and discipline to the studio. I set ambitious goals and create a space that is structured, rigorous, and inspiring. My students rise to meet those expectations because they aren’t afraid to fail and know that art takes practice. Smartest Artist is more than a creative outlet. Students are developing visual literacy, building confidence, and growing the tools they need to express themselves with clarity and purpose.
At the heart of it all is genuine care. My students know they are seen, heard, and valued and I love them very much.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thesmartestartist.com
- Instagram: @smartestartiststudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smartestartiststudio
