There wasn't a blueprint or a long term plan. There was just always another family who had heard about Funky Artsmiths, another student who wanted to art, another class that filled, and another reason to keep going.
Looking back now, it all seems to have happened very gradually. One class became two, students came back year after year, younger siblings or family friends joined us, and before I knew it, Funky Artsmiths had become the studio it is today.
we teach art
Many students reach a stage where they know exactly what they want to draw, but don't yet have the skills to get it onto paper. That's where learning real art skills makes all the difference.
I also believe in exploring a wide range of materials and techniques. Every medium has something different to teach students, but they all build on the same foundation of
observation and art skills.
we know our students
Some students jump straight in. Others prefer to watch for a while. Some arrive with endless questions, while others bring a fascination with airplanes, elephants or ancient Egypt that becomes the perfect doorway into learning new skills.
We take the time to understand what makes each student tick. The skills stay the same, but how we help them reach those skills isn't always the same. When students feel understood, they're far more willing to take risks, tackle something difficult and surprise themselves.
That's where the real growth begins.
we grow artists
One of the greatest surprises has been discovering that many students don't want their journey to end. They stay with us all the way through high school, and sometimes become Studio Assistants or instructors.
That's something I never could have imagined when this all began.
still growing
Funky Artsmiths has changed a lot since those first classes.
I never imagined the studio would grow into what it is today and every spring, while we're setting up for the Annual Art Show, I look around the venue and think, "Well... I can't possibly fit any more artwork in here." The following year, somehow, we always find a way.
