About Emily and The Art Schoolhouse
I am passionate about art making and education and the magical place where those disciplines meet.
I am a professional artist and home schooling parent holding a Bachelors of Arts in Fine Arts with an emphasis in painting, a B.F.A in Art History, and a Masters Degree in Art Education.
I named my classroom The Art Schoolhouse as a nod to my family’s business, Creative Schoolhouse, an education supply store based in Midland, TX and the passionate vision of my Grandmother. Creative Schoolhouse played an important role in my early childhood and teenage years. We sold everything a school classroom and teacher could need. In the summers we hosted “Summer Fun” workshops that revolved around science and art activities. As a young child I practically lived there, helping out after school, some mornings before school, and on the weekends. As a teenager I worked there, earning a paycheck while spending quality time with my grandparents, mother, aunts and uncles. I taught classes, hosted birthday parties and created custom art for classrooms all under the kind guidance of the women in my family who were all educators.
Me with my mother and grandmother working at Creative Schoolhouse.
Mom behind the counter at Creative Schoolhouse.
I was raised in a family that treasured creative outlets. I come from music makers, woodworkers, quilters, and seamstresses. As a child I was encouraged to make all kinds of things with my hands; homemade Halloween costumes, toys, music, art to hang on the fridge. I was under the strong impression that all problems could be solved with a pair of scissors, some cardboard, and a hot glue gun. This environment and encouragement made me who I am today and instilled a love of creative making and problem solving in my everyday life. Art is a powerful, powerful thing and when you feel confident in making things, whether its images, a cardboard city, or a wooden box, that spills over into others aspects of your life in a very positive way.
I was a maker from the get go. I’m thankful that my family honored my inner artist. Art making has been a consistent force of good throughout my life.