Today we’d like to introduce you to Shawn Carson.
Hi Shawn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Carson’s Art School is a family owned art school that has recently expanded with the addition of our Christian Art Gallery, Kingdom Fellowship Gallery. I (Shawn K. Carson), have been teaching students young and old for almost half a century. I opened my own school in Katy Texas 14 years ago in a small room of a young church, The Waters Church. The school has grown through mostly word of mouth and some help from our friends. We opened our new location just before Covid, and that hit us hard. We are still trying to get back to where we should be. When we want to get noticed, it is the online student gallery where we shine, and Now, not only can we offer a place to learn art, you will be able to sell it as well. Local artists and crafters can also have a place to showcase their work. Our school includes a unique Christian art program called “Drawn to His Presence” that local church’s or families can use to get closer to Jesus or spread His good news. We would like to invite Homeschool co-ops to use our new expanded location for gatherings, along with local businesses, or anyone that wants to bring a lunch and a laptop to work or relax. Learn, Sell, Connect, Fellowship, and Grow.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Starting with no money was scary, but the art school I was teaching at 15 years ago was on hard times and I had not gotten a paycheck for 4 weeks. So I realized I could do that all on my own and at least be starting a new business. The customers who came to the school I used to work at in the Memorial Mall area always used to ask us if we had an art school in Katy. So I new where I should start. A parent of one of my teen students believed in our school so much they invested some cash and that got us started. We began in a small room of a church, then an even smaller room of another church, then a temporary room in a community lake house. but finally we found our current space and have recently expanded it. There were sicknesses in the family, floods, and Covid, but we got through those times with our Faith. This new expanded gallery chapter is not quite affordable yet, but we are keeping the faith and going for it once again.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have illustrated half a dozen children books. I can create art in many different art styles and mediums. My parents were both artists and supported my dream to become an artist. Now I can use those talents to help Anyone improve their artwork, lifting up nervous students with little to no talent, or expanding the abilities of talented artists to a next level. Our school teaches one on one so we can fit the program to each student’s skill level and interest, as well as their schedule. Many of our students have won art contests such as the Rodeo Art Show. Also, everyone who I have helped build a portfolio to get into an art college has been accepted. Our school is as casual or as serious as you want it to be. It’s your program, and its our desire to help you achieve your best.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Our big risk, besides starting this school, is our current rebuild into an additional Christian Art Gallery. We have not recovered enough from covid to pay for this new expansion. But with new art schools moving into our area, and the economy at a slower pace, we needed to try new things. I realized we had some dreams we had been putting off until the school was fully ready. Well, we just put that vision before the finances and are going for it yet again. Hence, we are making this article to help share our family’s business journey, and invite others to join us on the adventure.
Pricing:
- $39 for 2 hours, kids/teens
- $36 for 2.5 hours adults/homeschoolers
- -$10 discount for additional family, montly
- discounts for semester pays
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.carsonsartschool.com and www.kingdomfellowshipgallery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carsonsartschool/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarsonsArtSchool
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarsonsArtSchool
- TikTok: Mr. Carson carsonsartschool
