Boone’s Creative Outlet
Anna Mills Welsh lived in 11 different places across the country before settling down in Boone. Despite her vast travels, she credits Boone, North Carolina as one of the most unique places she’s ever lived.
Anna taught children for 18 years, 9 of those at Hardin Park Elementary, before deciding to take a break from the education system. Over the years, she has seen her students deal with the anxieties of testing and technology, and really struggled with that asa teacher. How could she do what she loved most and help children slow down and connect with creativity? After graduating from The Art of Education University, she wondered what she could do for the children of Boone. That was when The Blue House Art Studio came into the picture.
Children of all ages can come to Blue House to take classes, create art, or just play. Anna wanted to foster an environment for learning in more nontraditional ways, encouraging kids to produce their own works of art and feel a sense of accomplishment.
“I keep the classes small, because half the time, they [kids] just want someone to listen to them. During the teaching day when there are 24 kids and you have all of these objectives, you don’t have time to really listen to them. I just love to be around kids and hopefully inspire them to be their best self, and know that it’s okay to think outside of the box.”
In some of her classes she loves to teach her students about different artists and art styles. During our interview Anna gushed about the Yayoi Kusama Exhibition in Atlanta where she was about to pay a visit. She shares her passion for a polka dot Japanese artist with her kids and shows them how to make their own polka dot creations.
Adults are welcome to take classes as well. Blue House has hosted bachelorette parties, baby showers, and small get-togethers. “Adults are so much harder to work with than kids,” Anna laughs. “I always have to give them a speech, ‘There’s no negative self talk. It’s okay if it doesn’t look like Pinterest.’” She believes it’s just as important for grownups to be regularly creative as it is for kids: “I think people forget that just creating something with your hands rather than just typing on the computer is a very powerful thing.”
Blue House Art studio not only offers different classes and all kinds of parties, but also involves itself in events that benefit local charities and nonprofits, such as Brushes and Brews with Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Cidery.
If you’re feeling like your creativity muscle could use some exercise, why not head on over to the big blue house and take some time for yourself?