The Fort Wayne School of Art is Giving People of All Ages the Chance to Learn and Create

Housed in a beautifully sunlit converted loft space off Lafayette Street, Fort Wayne School of Art feels like a creative oasis. Adding a mini fireplace and dotting the exposed brick walls with an eclectic mix of prints from artists who inspire her own work, Founder Lauren VanderHorst says she wanted to create a “cozy and inspiring atmosphere that would foster creativity.”

As a local artist and educator, VanderHorst hopes these pieces will trigger a spark in students as they enter. 

“Walking in makes you want to create art, regardless of your skill level,” she says.

Originally from Arizona, VanderHorst moved to Fort Wayne for her husband’s job. They fell in love with the city and stayed on to raise their two daughters here, who now help with the school’s social media accounts. After studying psychology in college, VanderHorst returned to school to earn a degree in art education and taught art at the elementary and middle school levels for seven years.

Prior to opening Fort Wayne School of Art, VanderHorst taught locally with organizations like the YMCA and Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation. But after years of hauling her supplies around to different locations, she hoped for her own space where she could teach out of a true art studio. 

In October, those dreams became reality as she opened Fort Wayne School of Art, which hosts classes, workshops, and private events for the community. The school’s programming includes options for children, including after-school classes as well as daytime options for homeschooled students.  

“Younger kids love coming into a studio,” VanderHorst says, noting the effect a change in environment has on young students, who might be more accustomed to a typical classroom setup.

In the evenings, the school becomes a haven for adults looking to explore and cultivate their creative side. Since the beginning of October, Fort Wayne School of Art has offered courses for adults in watercolor, drawing, and crochet, which meet weekly for four to six weeks. VanderHorst teaches these classes herself, but also has instructors who lead individual classes on subjects like felting.

On Thursday and Saturday evenings, Fort Wayne School of Art hosts paint nights. These standalone events allow people of any ability to choose an image to recreate on canvas, either from their own collection or using one of the paintings in the studio. These evenings are both entertaining and educational – while participants paint, VanderHorst teaches different techniques, giving participants a taste of what would be included in a formal art program.

For some adults, the prospect of making art seems daunting. VanderHorst approaches this by using tools like grids and tracings that allow students to overcome what might be an otherwise intimidating blank canvas. She also employs unconventional prompts, like asking students to use their non-dominant hand, encouraging a sense of levity in class. 

“We forget to be playful and light with it,” she says. 

VanderHorst is also aware of the influence of technology on how people approach creative pursuits. 

“We get instant gratification from technology. It’s a switch to not have it be perfect immediately,” she says, adding that in class, mistakes are welcome and expected. Working on a project allows students to see the impact of time and effort. “We’re not computers…the imperfections make it special,” VanderHorst reminds students.

She also encourages new students to explore their own influences, whether it be paintings, cartoons, or other mediums. For VanderHorst, her own inspiration comes from artists such as Edward Gorey, who created darkly comic illustrations, as well as the bright and colorful works of  Vincent Van Gogh and Georgia O’Keeffe, all of whose works can be seen on the walls of the studio.

Her studio also includes a library of books for class participants to peruse, borrow, and ultimately find inspiration for future artwork. VanderHorst describes the process of “filling a bucket with ideas and pictures”, knowing these moments of inspiration will fuel future projects for students.

In addition to classes, the studio hosts private events, such as a recent birthday party and a watercolor event for a local youth group. People can rent out the space for parties or work on a custom project with VanderHorst’s guidance. 

As Fort Wayne School of Art continues to grow, VanderHorst hopes to expand her offerings. While many of the current classes focus on beginners, she hopes to eventually bring in local artists to host workshops for more advanced students. 

Watching the local art community grow is one of the great joys of VanderHorst’s work, and she’s already seeing students come back for multiple class sessions and share the experience with their friends. 

After the initial few weeks of running Fort Wayne School of Art, VanderHorst is encouraged by the desire her students have to create. “People do want to learn art… people are looking for something tangible and real. There’s a unique satisfaction that comes from making something.”

Fort Wayne School of Art is located at 1309 Lafayette St, #201B, Fort Wayne, IN. To learn more about the space or see the class and event schedule, click here.