Splat offers educational and entertainment opportunities in the visual arts. We’re a community art studio where kids — and adults — can create, explore, and connect. Whether it’s a preschool class, a teen sculpture session, or a multi-generational paint night, we provide space for art-making that’s process-driven, playful, and empowering.

My path started in public education. I taught in Hanover and Donegal before becoming a full-time mom to four sons. After 12 years at home, I emerged from that experience with a new kind of wisdom — one shaped by teaching and one shaped by parenting. And I realized: I wanted to lead something that combined both.

I began renting a small loft in 2008 inside Paramount Sports Complex, just 500 square feet. From there, we grew — not just in space, but in vision. I’ve always been community-minded, always asking, “How can we make art accessible to more families?” That led to collaborations, programs in Annville, and eventually purchasing our current space and expanding to what Splat is now: a family art studio that helps people of all ages grow creatively and personally.

Originally, it stood for Spirited People Learning Artfulness Together. But eventually, I realized we needed to be clearer. That’s when we became Splat: A Family Art Studio. The new name captured our mission in a way people could immediately understand. Still fun, still spirited — but now a little more grounded.

I live in purpose. That’s my compass. Even when I’m tired, I can’t imagine waking up to do anything else. Helping people — especially kids — cultivate creative confidence lights me up. I believe in offering a space where mistakes are part of the process, where choices are celebrated, and where expression is healing. When a child says, “This time is different here,” I know we’re doing something right.

Fear. In all its forms. Fear of failure, fear of financial uncertainty, fear of starting over. Every time I face fear, it becomes a leveling-up moment. That’s what I tell my students: hard things make us grow.

There are many, but one that stands out is our ongoing partnership with Lebanon Valley College. Each year, education majors visit the studio for a course called Play and Games, where my students — ages 6 to 17 — teach them art lessons. Watching kids lead, grow, and teach future teachers is an incredible full-circle moment. It’s one of the ways we blend education, creativity, and confidence in action.

Also? The first time a parent told me their arthritis pain vanished while painting in class — that was powerful. Art is therapeutic, even if I’m not an art therapist. This space holds that kind of transformation.

Creative freedom. Respect. Community. And calm within the chaos. I think what makes us special is how we blend creativity with organization — the studio feels safe even for those who say, “I’m not artistic.” Everyone belongs here. We teach, we guide, but we never impose. Our job is to hold space for discovery.

Be honest about your “why.” Is it passion? Is it income? Either reason is valid — just know which road you’re on. Also, don’t assume you have to know everything. Start small. Stay curious. Get support. And if fear shows up, take that as a sign that you’re about to grow.

“Cultivating Creative Confidence.” That’s my north star. And personally: Live in purpose. That’s the framework for everything I do.

Always. Splat has never been just about what happens inside the studio walls. We’ve partnered with community groups for National Night Out, Old Annville Day, the Master Gardener Christmas Tree Contest, and more. I’ve displayed children’s art at banks and train stations. We’re active with the Palmdale Prosperity Project, and we’ve supported initiatives like autism awareness with the local police department. We give back whenever and however we can.

If I get a few hours away from the studio, you’ll find me walking in nature, dancing, or working out. I love gardening — I even have a tomato plant gifted from an art school friend. It’s not flashy, but it fills my cup.