Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Faro.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Julie. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I discovered my love for art in grade school when I began lessons at a small basement art studio in North Andover, called Tatia’s Art Studio. We were given access to a variety of mediums and encouraged to choose our subjects and work in the mediums we preferred which spurred our creativity and love for creating art.
In High School, I became interested in graphic design and went on to Merrimack College to get a BA in fine art and graphic design but had always hoped to eventually open my art own studio. I worked a few years in marketing design before deciding to pursue my teaching license and transitioned to a position as a special education tutor in public school while completing a graduate program for visual art education.
Shortly after my oldest daughter was born I had decided I didn’t want to go back to work full time, right away, and thought it might be a good opportunity to consider starting my art studio. When small and affordable space became available on Main Street, in the town I grew up in, I scooped it up.
My daughter was six months old when I officially started classes. I started with three classes a week and 12 students. Today we offer weekly classes for all ages, workshops, summer camps, in-studio paint parties and traveling paint parties!
With the support of our students, their families and our community, we’re going into our seventh fall session and I’m working alongside two great teachers. One who is a childhood friend who began classes with me at Tatia’s Art Studio. My daughter, Isla, just turned seven and I now have a three-year-old daughter Charlie and twins, Luca and Kaia who just turned one this August!
Has it been a smooth road?
The biggest challenge has been balancing my personal life with running a business. Caring for my aging and ailing parents and my children while still finding the time to focus on my business has been the biggest struggle.
My father was diagnosed with a passed away from cancer is 2014 and caring for him while also caring for my two children was hard on my business. Thankfully my wonderful students and their families were patient and understanding and I had a great teacher that I could trust to cover classes during my absences.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We offer high-quality visual art lesson with low student to teacher ratios. We strive to offer the most affordability while also giving students access to high-quality fine art materials and highly qualified teachers.
We also take pride in being a small community business, owned by a local mom and employing local artists.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
North Andover is a great place to start a business, the town has a great sense of community and has been very supportive of our small business community.
The one thing I would encourage is to shop local and consider small independent businesses first!
Contact Info:
- Address: 84 Main Street North Andover, MA 01845
- Website: www.juliesartschool.com
- Email: julie@juliesartschool.com
- Instagram: Juliesartschool
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/juliesartschool
Image Credit:
Michelle Roy
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