Our Story: Building More Than Just Artists
Every significant endeavor has a spark, often born from a personal journey and a desire to create something better. For The Little Yellow Building, that spark ignited from a deeply personal understanding of what it means to find your way in the art world without a map.
Growing up in a small town, resources for visual art were scarce. My own education, steeped in business rather than creative passion, left me feeling profoundly ignorant about the vast, complex art world ahead. Luckily, the early internet became my unsung university. Around 2008, platforms offered free access to college curricula, lectures, and assignments from top institutions. I audited every art course I could find, devouring information whether I fully grasped it or not. Recognizing my own ignorance and shortcomings became a valuable tool, equipping me to absorb knowledge and begin my own growth journey.
Finding Purpose in Return
My journey of growth continued, leading me to New York with a plan to pursue a full-time art career. What I hadn't fully considered was my own mental blueprint for new places: I tend to wall myself off, navigating a small, familiar loop for a long time before feeling safe enough to explore. This pattern, which had played out in Orlando, California, and North Carolina, emerged again in New York. The isolation, combined with the relentless internal pressure to "move the needle" in my career, brought back years of self-judgment and self-hatred that I thought I'd long since packed away.
Despite achieving significant milestones for a new artist—securing several commissions and being accepted into nearly every show I applied to, even signing with a gallery within three years—my internal world was incredibly dark. My anxiety and depression took a deep toll, and when my relationship ended, I faced a crucial choice: return to Orlando, where I had a support system but feared I'd succumb to old vices, or face my deepest fears and return home to Mississippi, a place where I was terrified of social backlash but knew I could find the strength to shed those habits. My mind settled on Mississippi.
With the destination clear, the next question was purpose. I had come too far to abandon art. A powerful thought kept replaying: What if I could offer what I wish I had growing up? What if I could help young artists navigate the self-doubt and baggage that had derailed my own path, and simultaneously build a life that sustained both myself and my dog? With that vision, I organized summer workshops before leaving New York, using the income to fund my move back home. The response that summer was so encouraging, it gave me the belief that this improbable dream might actually work.
The Little Yellow Building Takes Root
That summer back home confirmed the dream was viable. Students filled the workshops, giving me the momentum to take a leap when a downtown space became available. For six packed months, the studio thrived. But as fate would have it, that space was sold out from under me, requiring another rapid pivot. My grandfather had built a small, unassuming building for my father’s screen-printing business years ago—a place that had seen better days after years of disuse. Seeing my dedication and beginning to understand the vision I was striving for, my father graciously extended the same support that his father had once given. The bones of the building were good, and after three months of dedicated work, it was transformed. In February 2018, its doors reopened, and The Little Yellow Building, earnest, resilient, and brimming with potential, was truly born.
Building Beyond the Walls
The physical space of The Little Yellow Building, though modest in size, has always been limited only by imagination. This little shoe box has adapted from a drawing class to a play production house, a filming lot, a sculpture center, and even a candy store, constantly transforming to meet the needs of our ambitious students.
The most significant evolution, however, unfolded over the past year. I started hearing comments—first from students in an article, then from parents, and even from a former adult student—about how much they valued my "serious and real" approach to art, noting that while they had fun, it was genuinely substantive. This consistent feedback was a powerful validation. Until then, I had taken things seriously but was often lax about specific class outcomes, focusing primarily on keeping students engaged. This newfound understanding—that the kids were not only grasping the deeper meaning but choosing to take it seriously—was my cue. It validated my instincts and ignited a commitment to "up my game" even further, providing everything these students truly deserve.
This shift led to a profound rethinking of our approach. We added a full digital arts suite, equipping each student with an iPad to explore new creative avenues. I delved into extensive research, studying top arts education regions worldwide and meticulously gauging their strategies against our daily classroom experiences. The result is a refined strategy, a core set of standards, and a curriculum thoughtfully laid out for purposeful advancement. We replaced traditional grades with four distinct levels, guiding students from foundational skills in Level 1, through progressive growth, to confidently walk out of Level 4 with a robust portfolio and a clear understanding of who they are as a creative individual and how they can apply their skills moving forward.
Currently, we are building out an invaluable online classroom and resource center for our students. This platform will allow them to review lessons, access comprehensive resources, engage in real-world class assignments like "submit your proposal," and participate in supplemental at-home programs like "Level-Up." Through "Level-Up," students can dive deeper into topics, earn pins for completing quizzes, assignments, and projects, thus truly mastering and elevating their skills.
Equipping Minds, Empowering Futures
The journey of The Little Yellow Building—from a personal struggle to a thriving creative hub—has forged a clear and unwavering mission: to equip young artists with more than just techniques; we aim to foster the knowledge, confidence, skills, and self-worth that will empower them for life.
For us, success isn't solely about gallery shows or prestigious positions. It's about ensuring that when our students face challenges, they possess the resilience to navigate their path, knowing they can sustain themselves with their skills and knowledge. It's about guiding them to truly understand who they are and the unique value they bring to the world.
Our philosophy is woven into every lesson and every interaction:
"Hard work beats talent when talent won't work hard." We emphasize dedication and consistent effort as the true drivers of growth.
"It's about progression, not perfection, because perfection doesn't exist." We celebrate continuous learning and effort, freeing students from the paralyzing pursuit of an unattainable ideal.
"When it comes to art and life, the things that people say and react have everything to do with how they feel about themselves and nothing to do with you." We empower students with a resilient mindset, teaching them to separate external reactions from their intrinsic worth.
"Think yellow: break it down to find the first step and do the best you can at every stage." We instill a practical, iterative approach to creativity and problem-solving, encouraging them to find clarity and take action.
This is the heart of The Little Yellow Building: building not just artists, but confident, resourceful individuals ready to make their mark on the world.