Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Byrne.
Paige, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Geoff and I met in Washington DC as art teachers where we taught in public schools, private schools along with our own after school art class program. We moved to Savannah to be in the sunshine a bit more and be near family. I walked by Scribble Art Studio and fell in love. Two years later the owner who’s daughter was in my kindergarten art class approached Geoff and I with an ask to purchase. Our family encouraged us to give business a try and we have been the owners since. What we love about Scribble Art Studio SAV beyond the natural light and exposed brick walls is the door to the studio is open to youth and adults for camps and classes. We have grown the studio to host beginners of art, families who want time together, visitors that want to try something new and local artists who may have exhibited for the first time. Our hopes and dreams for the studio continue to grow and I am so thankful for the studio to help other organizations thrive. The next project on our agenda this spring to create a collaborative tapestry as a fund raiser for ESP Extra Special People. The challenge of being a business owner is not knowing how long it will last, but our Faith reminds us to focus on our fortunate position to create with the glorious people of the Savannah community.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We answer questions, prepare links, design curriculum with calls or emails about art classes, but then the person may not follow through. Probably marketing and promoting business is the biggest struggle because the process takes up time we prefer to be creative.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Geoff and I are art teachers as well as artists. Art does not get old. A professor of mine while getting my degree in Art Education said “the system will set you free.” I kept that in mind while earning my degree in painting from SCAD. A system for painting the Savannah Squares helped complete my thesis and I still like to think of work in that way. Currently I am painting the 50 states as tree bark to create unity. Geoff already had his MFA in photography and I really felt like an MFA would lift my profession and love of painting. You can find our work on instagram and etsy. Geoff has a graphic design eye with clean lines while my style is more expressive. Our palettes are similar in our love of summer, nature and the colors of sea glass. We are both so proud of the experience we had from being art educators in Washington DC from 1994-2017. We know how to bring out the best of the youth and adults in our art class. Our approach is to model potential paths with materials and listen closely to the student. We think this approach works when we see the same three cousins walk through the studio door ready for another week of summer camp with big smiles. We love to great them with a “Well, well, well, look who’s here!”
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
The move to Savannah was a choice to live in the southeast yet we lived in Washington DC for 20 years. I think there is something in the air of Savannah that brings luck to people. I do feel like luck was on my side on my walk around town and stumbled upon the studio. I do think in the hardest of times that fall from season to season as semester classes shift to summer mode that if you lay down the ground work of being committed, stay curious, have a will to change and keep a fresh perspective, luck will drift your way. Geoff and I are not exempt of hardship under our own roof or at the business. We believe in each other, love our family and friends who support what we do. In 2022, we became the lucky new parents of two dogs that needed a home. The luck (and hope) of being dog owners expanded our love and appreciation. With our hearts full at home, we spread the love to the studio. There is a little water bowl in the corner of the studio for them. Everyone loves when our dogs are at the studio and we love them even when they bring home glitter on their paws.
Pricing:
- $100 homeschool class
- $160 adult art class
- $180 portfolio builder
- $290 week of camp 9am-12
- $325 book a birthday
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scribbleartstudiosav.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savscribbleartstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100028875476685
