Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandy Moss.
Sandy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I am a late bloomer to the world of art, but not to creativity. Growing up in rural Ohio, I made things, from paper, cardboard, and cloth. I also wrote poetry and journals from an early age, beginning in grade school. Plus taking classes in journalism and creative writing in high school and college. I would draw all sorts of shapes from animals, people, school mascots for pep rallies, creating house floor plans, making doll houses, and creating doll wardrobe.
Met a guy, had a most wonderful daughter, did office work, occasionally took a local art course, continued to draw and paint whatever struck my interest. When my daughter went off to college, I said, “Now it is my turn.” I began studying oil painting, found I did not know how to draw what I envisioned in my head, took art classes in community college, then water color-a path for understanding technique and value.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Allergies stopped me from the painting processes, but along with drawing media came an introduction to colored pencil by Sue Brooks, then President of The Colored Pencil Society of America.
Many workshops and practice, color theory classes, and finally entered a first art show and won an award-so off I went into many years of studying and doing art, each piece leading to the next with improvement. All the steps taken over the years brought knowledge and honed abilities, even the economics class my senior year, working for various companies, and always creating, prepared me to begin the business of Calumet Art Studio.
How did instructing art come into play? First of all, I naturally enjoy teaching. Second, I enjoy organizing and writing. And third-I see details. I felt there existed holes in my art education on the how-to side of things. I read textbooks, any books on the subject of the foundation of doing art. I began an outline. Then looked at the definition of art terms-art language.
And eventually, over a two-year span, wrote The Comprehensive Drawing Course curriculum. Ran the information by two college art professors and they said I had something going. Now, the business side needed attention. Where do I teach? A previous business owner I worked for, Mr. Soltis, often talked about growing a home business, low overhead, control of space… I began the in-home art business that continues today.
Next problem, where to get adult students? I left my name at a local art instruction classroom. First, one student, then another came along. Street art fairs, (sweat equity for sure), presented me a format to show my personal art and advertise the art classes. Showing art in local and regional exhibitions brought awards and recognition. The tiny
the business grew slowly but surely.
Calumet Art Studio – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Drawing classes based on process versus an art project. Each lesson is designed to lead a student from the beginning of learning drawing to the next lesson and so on until each student can complete the process of artwork on their own, giving them technique, knowledge, and confidence. Each student begins with Introduction to Shapes, then progresses through Still Life, Landscape, Composition/Design, Perspective/Structure, and Figure.
As each student trusts the process, their ability comes to fruition. “No mistakes, only visual adjustments.” Within a small classroom setting, we critique kindness and create an atmosphere of support.
After seventeen years of instruction for adult and junior high/high school students, each is prepared to create their own work and/or go off to colleges and universities ready to study: architecture, pottery, illustration, graphic arts, and design, museum restoration, advertising, engineering, etc.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is doing something I continue to enjoy, sharing what I know as an art instructor and watching each student grow and be able to accomplish what they want to do in art. Also, I found growing a business slowly gave me time to evaluate and find the best of the curriculum that works. Small but with quality has proven, for me, to be the best way to progress.
I would be remiss if I did not mention persons who have been involved in my life:
-Junior High teacher’s positive note about my first poem
-Retired school teacher Maggie Nichols’ encouragement to create with words and fabric
-My first country girl in big city bus trek to an art museum
-A local independent art group: Marilyn Todd-Daniels, Carl Bindhammer, Dan Foshee, Suzanne McBride and I worked together for four years, creating in various mediums, critiquing in kindness, showing together in exhibitions, continuing to support one another as artists and friends.
-Also, home-school connections via Mrs. Ohanian, Pettibon, Cook and Mulder and many others who trusted their children to attend and then sent other students my way. With these referrals I am indebted.
Pricing:
- Art class tuition: $30 per 2-hour session per week
Contact Info:
- Email: calumetartby sandy@att.net
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
