People always ask… "Was your mom creative/ Was your dad creative?" they were both mathematical!!!( I am not) But my mom encouraged me to go to:

My FIRST drawing class when I was about 12, in a little art studio in Tampa Florida! I loved the smell, the feel, and the awe that I could REALLY draw something. However, somewhere along the lines the little fire that was ignited did not keep getting fueled! So, like many others I went on to high school and college days without perusing this passion for 15 years! My dad encouraged me in a business we owned together when I was only 21 years old…. I remember much about that experience as we began OOTB!!!!

For most of my married life I have had an" art room". It has taken many different forms. It began as a few tables and shelves I shared in the garage in Florida with a basset hound( Bogart) and a baby at my side( Micah). I had many friends there and soon all sorts of arts ministry classes were being held from my garage!

We moved to Virginia and immediately took over a small extra bedroom, sharing many hours with friends and children creating.(, even our living room that did not have furniture yet took on making 175 pairs of earrings with 25 ladies!!!)

However, we soon moved to Alpharetta. This house had a small room off the master that MOST people would use for an exercise room or nursery… well it was an "art room"…. for about 15 minutes before I outgrew it. Soon, one summer was spent as Sam and some of our friends created a whole basement which looked like a Mary Englebreit store!!!I began holding classes there as well as leading a Arts Ministry at Fellowship Bible church. I cannot tell you the things that were created and inspired in this little basement! It was a place for refuge, retreats, and simply a place to feel creativity to flow!

As our family grew we began looking at a different home, when looking at homes they always were judged by "what will be the art room?"….. This one ( only 2 streets over) was perfect… a whole HUGE bonus room over a garage!( our one son thought ALL bonus rooms in separate garages were ART ROOMS!!!) What a dream c. So, as I began packing the things up to bring to the latest and final " art room" ( the OOTB studio) I could not help but remember ALL the good times had in ALL these art rooms…… So I cannot wait to see the many wonderful creations which will occur at OOTB studio.

My children have never called these rooms anything but" the art room" now there will not be so much " art stuff" in there . It will finally be a "school room" I wonder if we can begin to have school in there without "art"???

Sam has been supportive all along the way, looking back I can see how this was a progression to a "dream come true". Sam and I met working together, we worked together when I was a manager in retail and again when I was in another sales management position, we are used to working together. Sam's many years in Sales management will be such an asset to OOTB… But don't let him fool you he has quite a bit of talent on the Potter's wheel!!! He even painted some ceramics this summer!!!Being around " creative " types in this family all these years he KNOWS how much we need a business manager and "Kiln" man!!!

That little baby at my feet 22 years ago is now a teacher at OOTB!!! The boys that were added to our family have been going to the High Museum of Art since they were toddlers, they have always been around " creating" !!!!

I am thankful that we can use this gift given to our family to serve you and your children with our passion.

OOTB was created out of desire to do something a little different… to not put children ( and adults) " In a box" of creating " just fine art" or just" folk arts" or just ceramics:" but rather to learn that ALL areas of Art ( including Art History!!!) To be able to realize the mediums can mingle and be interwoven together to inspire children to branch out and try many mediums without fear of failure!!!Thank you for allowing us to share our passion and our BIG " art room "experience in our studio!

Love,
The Mc Gills
Sam, Juli, Micah, Ruslan and Samuel…..Peyton and Chloe too somedays…(grandkids!)… Justin( our son in law) Bradley( new basset), Mollie and Annie ( Big dogs), Mitzi and cocoa( cats)