A collage of three photos showing a woman with dark hair in a black apron and black shirt, smiling and standing in front of a brick wall, likely in an art studio. In the third photo, she is sitting beside a young girl with curly hair, also smiling and painting at an easel. The collage includes a graphic with the text 'We Made' in colorful, playful letters.

Meet Jess

Founder, artist, creative chaos coordinator

Hi, I’m Jess Johns, founder of We Made in Newtown, Geelong.

Before paintbrushes took over my life, I worked in schools for 8 years, including as a wellbeing coordinator, helping kids, teens and families navigate big emotions, confidence wobbles, and the rollercoaster that is growing up.

Somewhere between the spreadsheets and staff meetings, I realised that creativity was doing what words often couldn’t. It helped people feel seen. So I traded lesson plans for paint palettes and built a studio where anyone could come to slow down, feel supported, and discover their creative spark.

We Made is a creative studio designed to make art accessible, joyful and a little bit messy for all ages.

Our studio runs:

Artistic illustration of an artist's palette with paint blobs in various colors, along with paintbrushes and tubes of paint.

Weekly art classes

for kids and teens who want to explore painting, clay, collage and crafts.

Two hands holding champagne glasses in a toast.

Paint + Sip sessions

for grown-ups who want a laugh, a glass, and a little masterpiece to take home.

A two-tiered purple birthday cake decorated with cherries and cream swirls on a green cake stand.

Parties & events

where everything from setup to clean-up is handled by us, not you.

A pastel-colored backpack with multiple compartments, zippers, and shoulder straps.

Weekly art classes

that let kids get hands-on, confident, and proud of what they create.

Our space is small, calm, and welcoming.

A studio where everyone feels at ease the moment they walk in and usually leaves... with glitter somewhere unexpected.

We’re here for:

Two children stand indoors, each holding a colorful painting. The boy on the left has curly hair and is smiling; his painting features abstract purple, green, yellow, and blue colors. The girl on the right has light brown hair with fluffy hair accessories, and her painting displays a rainbow with red, orange, yellow, green, and purple colors.

Families

Who want their children to feel more confident, creative, and connected.

Art studio with easels and white canvases on wooden tables, paint bottles in background, and one painting on an easel against a brick wall.

Adults

Who miss the joy of making something just because it’s fun.

Group of five people painting colorful wooden poles outside a building.

Schools

that want strengths-based programs to support emotional regulation, teamwork, and creative growth.

No matter who walks through the door, whether shy, loud, beginner, or a budding Picasso, our goal is always the same. Help people make something they’re proud of.

We Made was born from a belief that creativity is for everyone.

I’ve seen firsthand how art can calm an anxious mind, boost self-esteem, and turn “I can’t” into “I did.”

Every class, every workshop, every masterpiece covered in fingerprints is a chance for someone to

✨ Express themselves freely

✨ Feel proud of what they’ve made

✨ Connect with others who get it

This studio doesn't focus on the perfect technique. It’s about confidence, community, and connection.

A young boy with curly hair and an adult woman with dark hair, both wearing aprons, engaging in a painting activity at a table in a studio with a brick wall background.

Whether you’re five or forty-five,

We Made is your space to make, play, and reconnect with your creative side.

No perfection required.

Learn more about our programs