How it all began

I am thrilled to announce the opening of Island Meadow Arts for the students of Deer Isle/ Stonington and the Blue Hill Peninsula, Maine. After several years of teaching art in public school, I am compelled to bring my talent and skill to my own business. I am passionate about the importance of creative arts for young students. Creative arts is essential for the development of critical and creative thinking, problem solving skills and self-discovery. 

I created and established Island Meadow Arts in 2020 to offer studio based art classes for kids as well as for adults. I want to inspire students to explore, to be curious and to create. I hope to help students open new doors of possibility, perspective, and self-discovery. At Island Meadow Arts we offer classes for homeschool students, toddler and caregivers and Saturday studio classes. This year we have started adult classes. We also offer mobile arts where we bring the art to you and have class at a location of your choosing. In our classes we aim to encourage students’ exploration, enliven imaginations, and bring art history to life through a variety of mediums. Classes are a mixture of process based art and fine arts, where there is a lot of experimentation and exploration with less focus on a finished product. Fine arts is woven into content and comes into play after a lot of exploration and play. Nature arts, painting, drawing, sculpting, and printmaking are among some of the mediums students have the opportunity to work with. Students get individual attention in a focused environment. Classes run October through June

I grew up in Essex, Massachusetts along the tidal marshes, forested land, and sandy beaches of Cape Ann. These environments helped me to develop a connection with the natural world; its intricate designs continue to shape my work as an artist and teacher. I’ve benefited from many accomplished art teachers who contributed to my artistic growth and development and encouraged my further study. I worked with ceramics and sculpture at Maine College of Art in Portland. I continued my education at the University of Southern Maine in Gorham where I studied painting and art education. I taught art at Deer Isle Stonington Elementary School for six years. I left my public school teaching position to realize my dream of starting an art school. 

Inspiring self-discovery, exploration, and appreciation of the arts

I have begun Island Meadow Arts with the desire to inspire young artists to explore, to be curious, and to create. I hope to open new doors of possibility, perspective, and self-discovery in young artists.