Learn About the Owner - Shelly Matthews

I have always loved color and being outdoors! Art classes in school led me to college at Ball State University in my home state of Indiana. I started out in interior design then switched majors and graduated with a degree in Art Education for K-12th grade. My personal canvases have been my gardens and my home. Flowers bring me so much joy! My husband (an architect) and I have designed and created our home and now my studio. We have goats and chickens that keep me laughing and being lakeside gives me peace and blesses my soul.

For the past 23 years, outside of being a wife and mom, I founded a Christian elementary school that God grew into 125 students in preschool through fifth grade. Art, of course (both performing and visual arts) are a key part of that school. I have recently retired as principal, and art teacher, to follow this passion of devoting my time to teaching and exploring art.

I am a proud mother of two wonderful adult sons and one adorable granddaughter! My husband, Paul, and I will celebrate 33 years of marriage this year. To God be the glory! Over the years, I have taught art camps, group art retreats to ladies, individual and home school art classes/lessons. Recently, I’ve studied sculpture with Terry Lee and encaustic painting with Jodie Stejer.

I love to explore all mediums of art!

Be Present

There’s no way to check your phone when you’re elbow-deep in paint. Practicing art is a way to break your routine, shoo away distractions, and clear your mind. Through art, you can learn to focus, tune out all the stresses around yourself and just focus on creating something beautiful. Nurturing your creative side is essential to your well-being, not to mention lots of fun! Being present during our family workshops and focusing on just your family creating art is priceless! Register for an art class today!

Challenge Yourself
Learn something new! Whether it’s a new technique, a new medium, or if art in general is something you’ve never done before. Learning new things strengthens us and gives us more confidence.

Prepare for the Future
Art enhances fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem solving skills, lateral thinking, complex analysis and critical thinking skills.

Challenge Yourself 25%
Prepare for the Future 25%
Feeds the Soul & Relieve Stress 25%
Awaken your Imagination 25%

Relieve Stress
A recent study found that 45 minutes of creative activity significantly lessens stress in the body, regardless of artistic experience or talent. (Study published in Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, titled “Reduction of Cortisol Levels and Participants’ Responses Following Art Making” 2016).

Awaken your Imagination
Art makes you look at things differently, even mundane ordinary aspects of the world. Communicating with color, shape, and form awakens your imagination.