Meet Sonia Zammel-Rogers of Culver City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonia Zammel-Rogers.

Hi Sonia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Sonia Zammel-Rogers, and I’m a Tunisian living in Los Angeles. My journey to starting “Oops! Art Happens” was inspired by the profound sense of peace and relaxation I found through making art myself. It was my meditation, and I felt a strong desire to share that with everyone around me and make it my life’s work. My dream was to create a space where people could not only have fun and create beautiful memories but, most importantly, bond while making art.

From the very beginning, my dreams for this business were big. I started by creating a detailed business plan to prove to both myself and my husband that I was serious. Soon after, we found the perfect location in Culver City, and things began to take shape. We launched with a diverse range of seven workshops, including candle making, soap making, air-dry clay, painting, glass painting, and polymer clay jewelry making. Today, we’re growing every day, adding more workshops and welcoming new artists to host their own classes.

The core philosophy of “Oops! Art Happens” is built on three pillars: meditation, bonding, and fun. My main mission is to be a bridge, connecting amazing people and helping them forget about their everyday stress while learning something new. I truly believe in embracing every “happy accident” along the way and celebrating the original, personal touch of every single person who walks through our doors.

The business has been getting better every day; we’re being noticed more and more, and people are talking about us. And while that growth has been incredibly rewarding, my proudest moments are much more personal. The fact that a well-known magazine like Voyage LA reached out for this interview made me so proud of myself. But the most emotional moment for me was when a young boy who comes to our workshops gave me a hug and told me that he wants to be just like me when he grows up. I started crying right away because it was in that moment that I truly knew I was leaving a positive and meaningful impact on these kids.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to getting started was anything but smooth. As an immigrant who hadn’t been in the country for very long, the challenges were significant. My credit history was new, so securing a business loan was impossible. My husband had to finance everything from his savings, which was emotionally difficult for me, as I’ve been independent since I was 17. His unwavering support, however, was my greatest source of strength. Beyond the financial hurdles, finding the right location with a welcoming energy and figuring out all the initial business logistics and suppliers took a great deal of time and effort.

An unexpected silver lining, however, was the incredible outpouring of support from our neighbors in Culver City. I thought building a customer base would be the hardest part, but our community made it so much easier. Since day one, they welcomed me with open arms. Layali, who owns the hair salon next door, has become like family, always distributing our flyers and planning events. Our neighbors at Baked LA bakery have also been consistently supportive, sharing our events with their customers. Their kindness has made me feel like I’m back in my hometown of Tunisia, surrounded by caring family.

I am still navigating challenges, especially feeling overwhelmed by doing so much myself. But whenever I feel that way, I am grounded by the positive impact I’m leaving behind. I’ve learned so much about business logistics and management, and I’m getting better every day. Ultimately, these struggles have taught me that with work and dedication, any obstacle can be overcome, and the harder the journey, the more fulfilling the success.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am so proud of the work we do at “Oops! Art Happens.” We specialize in offering a wide variety of hands-on art workshops for both kids and adults, designed to make art accessible and fun for everyone. We offer everything from kids’ painting workshops, polymer clay jewelry making, pet portrait painting, and collage painting, to candle making, soap making, phone case and photo frame decoration, and paint and plant workshops.

What truly sets us apart is our core philosophy. We’re not just about creating a perfect piece of art; we’re about the experience itself—meditation, bonding, and fun. Many of our classes, like the Healing Jewelry Making and Collage Greeting Card workshops, begin with a guided meditation to help people get into a creative flow. We are known for embracing “happy accidents” and celebrating each person’s unique, original touch. I love being the bridge that brings amazing people together and creates beautiful memories.

Ultimately, what makes me most proud is the opportunity to share my knowledge with everyone else. Our art center is a safe space for people to unleash their creativity and get rid of the burden of everyday stress. Knowing that we are providing that for our community is what truly makes me proud of “Oops! Art Happens.”

What were you like growing up?
Looking back, I was an overachiever with a very curious and adventurous spirit. I dreamed of being successful and caring at the same time. I had a wide imagination, and I spent most of my time playing alone, pretending to be on a mission and climbing trees on our family farm. My best friends were the animals and even the olive trees, which I gave names to. It makes me smile now just thinking about it.

My interests were a unique mix of art and science. During the summers, I would go out into the forest by myself to discover the wildlife, collecting unique rocks for my science projects and identifying animals. When I was indoors, I would spend hours and hours sketching, because my dream was always to make art for a living and help others with it.

There was a specific moment that really solidified my love for art. I had an art book, and there was a section that featured the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. I instantly fell in love with their work, especially the painting of Ophelia, which is still one of my favorites, along with “The Starry Night.” That was the moment my love for art grew deeper and deeper.

Today, I feel like my childhood soul is back with me. The work I do at “Oops! Art Happens” is a direct reflection of that. It’s a place where I can go back to being that seven-year-old and forget the noise of the world. It’s a space where we can all let go of what’s happening around us and create a wonderful, imaginary life.

Pricing:

• 55
• 65
• 45
• 35
• 25

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oopsarthappens.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oops_art_happens/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576340830850&mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/107549869/admin/dashboard/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/oops-art-happens-culver-city?osq=Oops!+Art+Happens