One sunny day in May 2021, my son and I walked into the backyard art classroom of Lacy Ezell, art teacher and owner of TN Art Yard. I had happened upon her Instagram account and saw that she was teaching children's art classes in Thompson's Station, TN - just a few minutes from my house. My son has always loved painting and getting messy, so I knew we had to give it a try.
Note: This writer received complimentary art classes for the purposes of writing this article; however, all of her opinions are her own.
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When Lacy told me that she'd started her business only two months prior in March 2021, I was surprised. Her Art in the Park events in Sarah Benson Park had sparked my attention as the new Macaroni KID Franklin publisher. I just assumed she'd been around for a while.
During a time when most people were only comfortable meeting outdoors, Lacy had provided a dire need: a place for children to get messy, learn about art, and to be around other children who were doing the same thing.
 Photo Courtesy of Lacy Ezell, TN Art Yard |
I found myself almost a year later with the opportunity to have my son join TN Art Yard's homeschool art club for her spring session. From March to May 2022, my son attended weekly classes in Lacy's yard. Each week focused on a different art medium like charcoal drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and mixed media art to name a few.
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I loved seeing the creations that my son came home with every week. When we were doing art at our own house, my son would pretend to be "Ms. Lacy" and instruct me in my art. Once, he very patiently explained to me what to do when I accidentally got too much paint on my brush - a tip he'd learned from art club. Whenever my son did something creative at home, he couldn't wait to tell Ms. Lacy about it.
Art Beyond the Yard...
Since we attended that first class one year ago, TN Art Yard has grown exponentially. Not only has Lacy continued her backyard art classes in Thompson's Station, TN, but she has also added two new locations and teachers in Nashville and Hendersonville.
Lacy has also appeared at several events where she's been able to share her passion for art education with children all over Middle Tennessee. In December, Lacy and Kelly Davis of Frecklefaced Adventures teamed up for their first Discovery Bin Art in the Park. The two former classroom teachers created rice pouring and play dough stations as well as a cardboard gingerbread house decorating station.
Most recently, Lacy launched an exclusive program to her email subscribers - Art in Your Yard. Twice a month, Lacy will send her subscribers three at-home art lessons broken up by age - preschool, elementary, and adult - to further extend her passion for art education into people's homes.
Art in the Summer
If you still want to attend a live class with your child while school is out, there is plenty of opportunity to do that as well! TN Art Yard is offering summer camps and programs for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary students. Click the image below for details.
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I can't wait to see what else comes out of this amazing venture that started as just a once a month Art in the Park event and has grown to over 2000 Instagram followers and countless paint-covered fingers and smiling faces.
Follow TN Art Yard on Instagram and Facebook or go to the webpage to find out how you can join in the creative fun!
