Studio on 6th has new owner

Jenny Suttill, who calls herself a hairdresser by trade, is now also the new owner of Studio on 6th, an artist co-op in downtown Springfield.

“I am officially the fourth owner,” said Suttill, who has been involved with the business at 215 S. Sixth St. since November 2019. “Our previous owner, Laura Camp, is one of my great friends.” Camp purchased the business in 2019 and Suttill began selling her artwork and teaching classes at the store.

“Laura enabled me to take my business from being very simple to upgrading it,” Suttill said. “I started out teaching paint classes in my hair salon; that was my new hobby when sewing didn’t work out.”

Suttill, who previously taught classes for hair stylists, said she was able to transfer those skills to teaching people how to paint. She initially offered classes for adults and later expanding to teaching kids’ classes as well.

Suttill said her mother used to teach beginner skating classes for kids at Skateland North, and she learned the importance of encouraging kids to develop new skills, even if they may initially think they’re not good enough at it.

“In my classes for kids, I teach them where they are… they gain confidence, community and creativity,” she said.
 

Studio on 6th has been in business for 23 years  and features work from more than 25 area artisans. Many of the artists who sell their wares also teach classes, and Suttill said the public can take classes in watercolors, door hangers, needle felting, tie dye, crochet and more.

“We have a lot of educators here in our store who are also creative people,” Suttill said, noting that many of the artists also have a background in teaching.

Suttill said she started her career working downtown and appreciates the historic buildings.

“Studio on 6th is a legacy business, and when you come here it’s not like going to Walmart,” Suttill said, emphasizing that she knows every artist who sells merchandise in the shop.  “I’m a downtown person, and I want to create community with my neighbors. I hope people will come out and enjoy downtown.”

See Suttill give a tour of the Studio on 6th space.

This article appears in SBJ July 2025.