TESTIMONIALS:
What students say:

" This was the BEST day or my life coming to Out of the box!!!" Joey 5

"I Love going to OOTB, I am allowed the freedom to express myself, it is the only art studio I have ever attended ( I have gone to quite a few I LOVE art!!!) where the artists/ teachers are so passionate about art and love to share what they do so much!!!I have made so many beautiful things from OOTB! I loved going to pottery wheel camp this summer. OOTB is my 2nd home! I wish I could just live there!" Siobhan 8 1/2

" The teachers are nice, they teach well. I enjoyed having a teen age helper too !I learned all different times of history, I loved making " God's eye". Ashlyn

" we had great projects, I made friends, the time went by fast, I learned all about clay!!!" Julia age 6

" I learned how to use the wheel, I made bowls and mugs, I learned all about the tools. I really liked Ms. Valerie!" Matthew

" I learned how to draw properly, I liked all the teachers, I enjoyed making clay cars most, The teachers are great!" James Micheal ( Boys only class) age 10

" There were so many things I liked it is hard to say just one, I made nice new friends,my teacher Ms. Jennifer was really really, nice. I learned things about the Romans, Christians, temples, and making art by oil lamps! I enjoyed making my shield most" Micheal M. Mediveal madness class

" I enjoyed painting the most! I liked making a shield. I learned how to use toothbrush bristles to make snow! I the teachers were wonderful! Matthew C age 9. Boys only class

" I enjoyed making a clay snake!!! I learned that you cannot REALLy mess up in art you can always start again! I liked making the car with Mr. Sam!!!" Daniel

" I liked to never quit no matter if it is a little hard! My teachers gave me the freedom to try things. I liked making the car and motorcycle most' Jeremy Boys only class

" I liked making vehicles from clay, and building/ painting a wood car. Mrs. R is a great art teacher in clay! " Reid age 8 Boys only class

" I liked the drawing class and building a race car! All the teachers are great! Roman age 8 Boys only class

" Working with clay was fun!I also liked to learn to draw !!!My teachers were helpful." Brady

" I learned how to make pictures! I loved making my hat in camp! I love Ms. Micah!!!" Gracie age6 " I wish I were a princess multi media camp for age 4-6)

" I loved painting( watercolors) I learned how to paint! I loved MS. Micah" Laney age 4 " I wish I were a princess camp ages 4-6)

" I learned how to paint pottery and do beading on my crown, I liked my teachers allot!" Samantha age 6

" I liked making the hats and crowns, learning to make pottery and bead, I liked my teacher allot" Isabella age 6 ( Princess camp)

" I liked the pottery class getting messy and sculpting people.I liked making ships. My teachers were very good and very helpful" Bennett

" I liked sewing and Ms. Cheryl, classes were organized' ( American girls art camp) Lindsey

" I liked learning about Picasso and doing so many fun projects.I liked learning about all different kinds of art. The funny face in clay was fun, and blue bubbles on tile, I love OOTB"

" The teachers were really nice, they taught us allot,I liked drawing and doing a Starry night with shaving cream!" Madelyn

" I loved all my teachers, I learned allot about cubism, Van Gogh, Picasso and matisse. I liked everything but drawing was my favorite!" Skylar age 10

What Parents say:

" He could be a spokesperson for OOTB he LOVED it, it is all he has talked about!" Joey's mom

" You have such a wonderful envoirnment for creativity. Never change a thing!" Ashlyns mom

" This is such a nice place, great staff,this is one of the best camps ( very hungry caterpillar/ art of Eric carle) that my daughter has ever done" Wonderful projects and variety!" Julia's mom

"This camp made all the activities interesting and rewarding forthe boys. I would highly recommend it!" James Micheals mom

" I enjoyed coming to the studio myself! When you walk in the door you can tell by the surroundings and all of the friendly staff that this is a good place to learn all about art and to express yourself, PLEASE do not change a thing here, it is a wonderful, fun, encouraging place, it was just what I had hoped for my son!!"Micheals mom

" I think the studio is great! My son had a great time I am amazed at all he learned in such a short time!!!! Reid's mom

" The camp was great! I really appreciated Juli's( owner) emails about the kids and the stories!!! I love knowing the boys are in a safe place, learning new things and having so much fun!"" Bennett and Brady's mom

" This was wonderful our young girls loved it!!!" Gracie and Leny's mom

" I was so excited to see Samantha's enthusiasm, Naturally I love her being exposed to art and how fun this makes it! Samantha's grandmother

" This was a great and new experience for Isabella, it was very good!" Isabellas mom

" Staff was very friendly and quick to answer my phone calls and questions, we love OOTB!" Emily's mom

" everyone was warm and inviting!It was just what we were looking for, I also know they learned allot because they told me all about van Gogh, at night while watching the Olympics they have been sitting and drawing sunflowers!We are looking forward to being part of " Art around the world"Madelyn and Skylars mom

What we say:
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)