Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Merry.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I always had an interest in the arts. I attended a private art University in Italy, lived in an artist colony in France, and finished my studies in the States getting a degree in studio arts and art history. This didn’t lead me to the amazing art career I had imagined, rather I took a detour and started teaching school-aged and preschool children. When I had my children I decided it was time to quit teaching and get back to my roots.
I started my business in 2008 as Merry Time Arts focused in the beginning on my artworks, commissions, and sales. At this time I became very involved in the Minneapolis Art scene working with several galleries and organizations. Although it was great working as an artist, I missed teaching. I started teaching for some of the galleries, community centers, private parties, and community education centers and working with some local bars and restaurants to offer entertainment classes. When COVID hit, I quickly adjusted to an online format to continue to offer classes. Since I have focused more and more on teaching.
I work with several Community Educations, Assisted Living, and Churches to offer not only painting, drawing, fiber arts, encaustic arts, printmaking, and pretty much anything that I can think of to offer. I like to add some history lessons and skill-based techniques to my classes so students leave with not only their creation but some idea of what went into it. I truly believe that everyone has a creative side and just needs some help finding it or finding what medium is best for them.
Community Centers are such a great resource for a wide variety of classes not just in arts but so many things and for me they help me connect with the people and their interests in each community. Since COVID so many have a desire to learn new skills and be around others.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s always a struggle to figure out what classes will be popular in what district and design new and exciting classes to offer.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
What sets me apart is that I am truly invested in my students walking away feeling confident even if they do not feel they created a nice work of art. I love seeing people try a new skill and when it does click for them the joy in their eyes as they realize they have talent. Artists don’t show all our failures and there are many.
We work at our skills and you get to see the results. This is an important reminder to each of my students as they try their hands at a new skill. Also just because they don’t do well at one skill does not mean they won’t do well at another -I just help them find their voice.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I’m not sure. Maybe, I don’t take myself in my art too seriously and like to create whimsical images even when they might not make sense to others.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Merry Time Arts
- Facebook: Merry Time Arts
- Linkedin: Vanessa Merry
- Youtube: Merry Time Arts
