After years of teaching in schools, I discovered something important: the most meaningful learning happens in intimate, nurturing environments where students feel truly seen and supported.
That realization led me to transform my basement into Open Studio DSM—a cozy art studio where creativity flourishes without the pressure of grades or competition. Here, it's not about being "good" at art. It's about exploring, experimenting, and discovering the joy of creating.
My background in education means I understand how to meet each student where they are. I've worked with shy children who were afraid to make mistakes, adults who hadn't picked up a paintbrush in decades, and everyone in between. What they all have in common? They left feeling more confident and more connected to their creative selves.
"The greatest art doesn't happen in galleries—it happens in the personal triumphs of daily practice, in the moment a child realizes they CAN draw, in the smile of an adult who finally gave themselves permission to create."