Kelly and John Mathis are elated to offer a variety of art and music classes at Painted Melodies Studio, located at 108 West Church Street (also known as Back Street) in Quitman.
The idea to teach art classes and provide music lessons downtown originated from both nostalgia and their passion for the arts. The mixture of the two caused them to want to instill the love of art and music in others as well.
“When I was a kid in elementary school, I took art with Margaret Evans in the Mini Mall. She would come to the elementary school and junior high and take us over there about twice a week,” explained John. “I was driving by and saw a storefront for rent there, so I called Ross Roberts and the Sellers and asked them about it. I said that I used to take art classes there and that it would be cool if we got something going in art again and resurrect something like Margeret Evans did in the same space. He came and showed me the space they had available. It needed a lot of TLC, so we basically gutted it and remodeled it.”
Now, they have it sectioned to have an area for the art classes and an area for music lessons.
Their main goal is to benefit the youth in the area by providing them with creative skills that can help them over time.
“There are quite a bit of homeschool families in this area and the surrounding areas, and public schools don’t always teach different skills like shading and dimension and all that,” explained Kelly. “We can offer classes to both homeschool students and students who attend public schools. Our main goal is that we’re trying to make some creative outlets for kids. They’re just doing away with so much and stay on their phones and just try to create stuff on phones. We want to get them off their phones. We’re trying to create an environment where kids can learn skills like music and art. Creativity and music and art are very important. It helps with learning. It helps with cognitive abilities with the fingers and hands. Even voice and singing helps make a connection between the two.”
Both John and Kelly have plenty of experience and credentials to teach the different types of classes they will be offering.
Of course, one of the classes that is available to everyone starting in elementary school is art, which will be taught by John. He continued with art classes even after he no longer took classes from Margaret Evans and has already had experience teaching art in the past.
“I got a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Liberty University, but I minored in art at Meridian Community College. I basically took every art class they had there as a minor,” informed John. “I taught drawing at First Baptist Christian Academy in Sierra Vista, Arizona. I taught at Arizona Arts Academy. I taught private groups at Hobby Lobby in Sierra Vista where I guided people through step-by-step painting classes. I did paint and sip classes and stuff like that. I’m going to take those skills and experience from there and use them in the classroom here with the kids.”
Kids who take the art class will experience two hour classes that are guided and go alongside the same teaching system and process used by Margaret Evans in her classes when she was in the same building.
“I’ll focus on drawing and painting with an emphasis on acrylic painting from reference,” continued John. “They’ll have images to look at. We’re going to have a large TV screen that I can connect to my computer and display different images that I have to pick from. With drawing, I have my phone cast an image of my hands and what I’m drawing to the TV so the kids can see it, and then I can guide them through by drawing step by step. That’s how I’ve done it in the past, and it’s worked really well. They’ll learn shape, form, motion, texture, patterns, perspective, and other things with painting and drawing. They’ll come and draw a picture, and we’ll learn through immersion. That’s how Margaret did it, and it worked well. You just learn by doing while looking at reference material, and I’ll help along the way if you get stuck. It’s more open studio format on the painting. The drawing side will be a little more guided and technical where you can pick a picture and I’ll guide you through it.”
They are more than willing to have an adult class during the evening if there is enough interest from adults to have an art class as well.
The other half of the studio is directed towards music lessons. A variety of individual music lessons will be available.
John will be available to teach lessons with stringed instruments, including acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and base guitar. Guitar lessons will be available for individuals who are 10 and older.
Kelly will teach piano lessons and provide vocal lessons to those who are interested. She is highly qualified in music and even uses her skills to lead worship at Hebron Ridge Baptist Church.
“I’ve loved music since I was a little girl. I grew up singing in church, and I’m classically trained,” declared Kelly. “I went to college for that, and I took piano lessons there, too. I don’t sing classical music, though. That isn’t my genre. My main thing is worship music, Christian music. I’m also a recording artist and have some recording experience. I have taught voice lessons in the past for three or four years, so I’m classically trained in that aspect. I teach the skills to learn how to sing for adults and children. I’ll teach beginner piano classes for kids and adults and then voice lessons at whatever level, whether it’s beginner or intermediate.”
Piano lessons are available for students starting at age seven. Classes can range from 30 minutes to an hour depending on what the student prefers. All of the instrumental classes will focus on the fundamentals since they can be applied to any genre of music.
These classes are also available for more than just children.
“There are a lot of churches with music programs who need people,” stated Kelly. “This would be ideal for anybody who wanted to learn to play an instrument to help with their praise or worship team because we can teach them all the instruments they would need to help. We tend to have a heavy focus on Christian music, so we can help people who want to improve or do something like that for their church.”
When it comes to vocal lessons, she works closely with each student to determine what their goal is and creates a plan to help them achieve it.
“Every voice lesson is individualized to each student,” continued Kelly. “I don’t just say that we’re going to do the same thing for everyone. You get a unique experience. If you say you want to improve your vocal range, I’ll make a lesson for you specifically. If you just want to learn how to sing a specific song and do it well and be on pitch, then I’ll create a unique lesson for you. It’s customized for each individual, so then you know you’re getting what you pay for.”
Spaces are limited for the classes, so people will need to call or text them to register for a class. Times, prices, and any materials that will need to be purchased will be discussed during the registration process.
To register for an art or music class with Painted Melodies Studio, contact Kelly Mathis at 601-513-5201 or email kellyvoiceteacher@gmail.com.
