About | HopeandDimplesStudio

welcome!

I'm Malaine Colver and I am the face behind Hope and Dimples Studio. I help new and blossoming bisque ceramic artists like you elevate your painting game to masterly level using various painting techniques including glazing, acrylic painting, drybrushing, shading with pastels and the fine lines and details that bring your pieces to life.

I am a self taught artist, calligrapher and illustrator but I'm also an entrepreneur, small business owner, teacher and social media marketer. In 2016, I took a part time job in a small pottery shop and rediscovered my intense love of ceramics. Working there provided me the opportunity to teach and that's when I discovered that I loved teaching art more than anything.

Throughout the years, I have gone through many artistic journeys including calligraphy and creative lettering, window and glass painting, murals, canvas painting, watercolors, woodworking, chalkboards and illustrations.

I am here to help you take this next step in your journey by providing videos, content and classes for you to enjoy and hopefully you'll learn some fun things along the way!

My Story

My journey into ceramics began at age 10 when my grandmother began taking me next door to my cousin Mary's ceramic shop. I would spend hours there, splitting my time between painting and playing with her 3 year old daughter, Camille, whom I affectionately called "Dimples."

At the age of 11, I came home from school to the news that Camille had fallen into a controlled burn on her family's property and died. I was devastated. As a child myself, I was suddenly crippled with the grief over this unimaginable loss of my best friend. I began spending all of my time with Mary in her shop, painting for hours and days at a time. It seemed to be therapy for both of us. She would continue teaching me all she knew about ceramics through my middle and high school years. Then, after graduation, I moved the East Coast and art took a back seat to marriage, kids and life.

During my 20's and 30's I worked in pharmacy while simultaneously teaching myself calligraphy, spending hours in my studio practicing handwriting drills and dreaming of being my own boss. In 2015 after 5 years of growing a very successful online business, I became the victim of hacking and identity theft and lost everything. I was thrust into a deep depression that would last over two years. I wondered if I would ever create art again.

Then, one day in 2016, I awoke to the announcement that my friend's 4-year old daughter, Eliza Hope had suddenly died. I was devastated over her very unexpected death. I remember jolting from the depressive mental fog that had been crippling me for far too long.

Eliza suddenly began coming to me in dreams. I became obsessed with writing her name and learning to draw her. She was guiding me back to my love of art and I realized that teaching was really where my passion lied.

The name Hope and Dimples came to me one night in a dream. Eliza was playing with a little girl who I could only see from behind. They looked like twins from a distance, both of them had the same brown hair tied in top knots. The mysterious little girl turned to me and smiled. I was immediately drawn to the dimples in her cheeks and I knew right away who it was.

It was Camille.

Hope and Dimples Studio was created from the death of two special little girls that had a tremendous impact on my life. They have both inspired me in ways that I still do not yet know. During this journey, I have been blessed to meet many grieving families who have lost children and I have been fortunate enough to also bring awareness to their causes through my art. Many of my pieces are also donated to families raising money for pediatric cancer research.

You can learn more about Eliza here: www.ElizaHope.org