Willow studio closing

Drivers making their way north on the Parks Highway through Willow have been greeted by two spectacular views: among them, the first great shot of Denali, and the intricate chainsaw carvings that line the roadway in front of Willow Creek Studio.

After 13 years in its current “downtown Willow” location, studio owners Scott and Joan Thompson have decided to sell the building and pass the torch to the next small business looking to join the community of Willow.

“It’s been a good little business,” Scott said. “Made hundreds and hundreds of carvings and signs and paintings… We’ve made a lot of house signs for people and a lot of art. It’s been a lot of fun.”

The Thompsons originally purchased the building in 2011 on a whim, Joan said. Scott was working a full time corporate job and was making his artwork as a side gig for the entirety of their marriage. Joan had pointed out the building to Scott while driving through Willow to their cabin. It had previously been a rock shop, and once the sale had gone through, both Scott and Joan built the studio out and opened their doors in 2012.

“I wasn’t sure it was really happening at first when we first opted to buy the studio. It was kind of an offhand remark as we were driving down the road,” Joan said. “We were still living in Anchorage, and I offhandedly said, ‘I could move up here and live in the cabin and run the business,’ and that was all he needed to hear.”

Scott retired from his full time job in 2016 and was able to spend more time in the studio and expand on his creative side. The space provided him an opportunity to showcase not only his artwork, but those of his friends and colleagues. The studio has grown to feature upwards of 70 different artists from across the state. Scott has now sold his art, both physically and digitally, in over 34 countries. From charcuterie boards, to chainsaw carvings of mermaids, underwater fishing scenes, and paintings of majestic creatures that roam the wilds of the Last Frontier, Scott has found a way to showcase his talents across various mediums and styles.

Joan has supported Scott throughout owning and operating the studio. She jokingly said she's the one that’s been behind the scenes cleaning up his mess. Joan has skillfully worked with the POS system, as well as engaging with and incorporating artists and their work into the studio.

“I am the face behind the counter,” Joan said. “Scott’s the creative part and I try to keep the T’s crossed and the I’s dotted.”

While the studio may be closing, Scott will be continuing his work from home. He will continue to accept custom orders, but at a slower pace. His art will still be available online at scottartak.com and his CNC designs will be available for purchase on his Etsy account, ScottartCNC. Art classes will continue to be offered in the future once he is settled in a new location.

“This is definitely a throttling thing, trying to slow it down a little bit,” Scott said.

Both Scott and Joan look forward to enjoying time with their children and grandchildren once they sell the building. Scott said he plans to fish more and enjoy the lake the two reside on. Joan said she is excited to work in her garden and greenhouses and be able to make spontaneous travels from home.

The Thompsons are thankful for all of the support they have received from both the local community and the artists that have trusted them with their work over the years. Whether it be a friend from down the highway, a tourist from across the world or an artist stopping by to visit, the Thompsons will miss the social life that the studio has created for them.

“Leaving is bittersweet,” Joan said. “I will miss dearly the people, the artists, there’s so many of them in here that I just love. I love when they come in, I love to shoot the breeze with them, I love their quirky sense of humor. I love everything about them. And that’ll be hard.”

Being a part of the small community of businesses in Willow has been integral to their success and their learning experience, Joan said. She has learned from them, grown alongside them and has supported others in her community.

“I’ve loved being here in the community, to get a firsthand view of how many small businesses there are in Willow, and to see the generosity that they have when it comes to people in need,” Joan said. “So many of the small, little community businesses… It has been a privilege to be among them.“

As a final thought, Scott mentioned the importance of supporting the local businesses that reside within the community.

“Support the businesses that you like in your community because they come and go,” Scott said.

The Thompsons said they have a potential buyer that would like to utilize the existing building. While they would like to refrain from sharing information about the purchaser, Scott said that the purchaser has plans that will be a benefit to the Willow community. The Thompsons will be closing the studio at the end of July.