Meet Amanda Fennell | The Art Nanny

We had the good fortune of connecting with Amanda Fennell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Amanda, how do you think about risk?
Risk – entering the unknown can be discouraging, but a risk not taken is an opportunity or stepping stone to the next- lost. Every part of my career was a risk. When I was in college and enrolled into graphic design, I had no idea what I was entering – only that I had a love for art. Once I learned the skill to communicate visually, the base set for everything to evolve in my career. It gave me the ability to perform tasks needed to send my visions out into the world. I created The Art Nanny single handed, from designing the logo to teaching the sessions, I do my own marketing, & all implication of  The Art Nanny. Having no outside sourcing lessened the risk. I had to count solely on myself, I knew what I wanted to communicate and didn’t have to depend on an outside source to convey it for me, no interjections.  I built the brand, I am the brand! Having complete control  & fueled by the public interest to push on further – but at my pace. Control &  doing what you love, makes the risk seems less intimidating.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

My schooling actually created the “perfect storm” of creativity knowledge &  The Art Nanny was inevitable.  It was 2015, I quit my position as a full time art teacher  when my second child was born & I decided to become a stay at home mother. I lasted about 6 months before I longed for something to do. I mocked up a logo and decided on the name The Art Nanny. I was making scribble art with the baby but still longed for something a bit more recognizable to theme &  The ColorShield was born.
Because Greyson was only six months old when he made first work of art, of corse – I had to frame it and hang it up. As an art teacher, I watched many  students spend a lot of time creating. Once it’s time to go home they shove it into their backpack, it gets crinkled, eventually ending up in a pile  parents of keepsakes, perhaps never to be seen again.  My concept was for children to make a piece of artwork directly inside the frame, in a quick period of time that they would cherish forever as a memoir.
There was a local fair in a town nearby, I bought a booth space and about 30 frames to start. On the day, I realize I was onto something as a table was a 4 participant at a time, 4 deep line awaiting their turn.  Onlookers stopped to comment, & joy filled the air about the table as all emailed as they witnessed or took a part. Children walked up to a simple table & created a piece of artwork,  when they were done,  both parents & participant beamed with delight!  – everytime. They were so overjoyed that   parents asked to put it into their bag for safekeeping, most children would not let go of their artwork.  I depleted the frames I had, handing out the last batch to customers awaiting on line, “ Hold on to your frame – its the last ones I have for today”.
This is when the hustle began. I went home and prepped another 50 frames, only to run out the next day and repeated again for the last day.
It was then that I realized I should pursue The Art Nanny along with the ColorShield process to make art. I was able to acquire theartnanny.com. I trademarked the name, along with my logo that I designed.  I built the website myself. At this point, the only thing that I had to outside source was materials. I have no expenses or services that I output & this makes a big difference with the start up.

I did not/ do not  advertise. It grew by word-of-mouth and became beast of its own over the years. It no longer was a beast I could wrangle as I began to be pulled up and down Long Island  for public libraries,  countless private events, and shipped thousands of ColorShield kits across the United States.
It became challenging to juggle, raising a family, and being the sole proprietor of a woman business. Not until 2023 did I realize I was being burnt out- and declared a break from the public library system to spend time with my family while the kids are young and to regroup the next adventure as The Art Nanny.

In 2023 I went to drop my kiddo off at school, when the principal asked if I could fill in for a STEAM science teacher. It is 2024 & I am still awaiting her to find a new replacement! I took a break form The Art Nanny, but have spent the time researching STEAM activities & implementing new ideas that merge science with art.

A new version of The Art Nanny is emerging!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

I live in Southampton New York in the summer. There are endless museums, community events, wineries, live music beach time and the list goes on…….

In the winters, it’s a bit dreary, but the museums are still open and restaurants are constantly revamping to meet the needs of an exciting weekend.

Long Island is full of fun things to do that cover probably every aspect of fun besides a snow mountain.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Of corse the effort & support of my family as I took time away from them to get & stay in motion. I have had mentors form The Score Program on Long Island – an entrepreneurial club. There I was able to tie into other groups and met up Brian Fried, Founder, National Inventor Club. I was showcased, mentored and needed up at the NYC Toy Fair to witness possibilities. Across Long Island – I was fueled by the Public Library System, hosting countless classes for adults, toddlers and school ages children. Liberians are amazing, and have huge reach when it comes to networking, if something works well – they tell each other and before you know it- the emails come in with requests. Being able to witness the joy in the faces of all that participated in one of my ColorShield art sessions encouraged me to keep going. Children would send me their home galleries filled with all the framed art we created together – they deserve the credit!

Website: Www.TheArtNanny.com

Instagram: The.art.nanny

Facebook: The Art Nanny

Youtube: @theartnanny

Image Credits
– The ART NANNY , Amanda Fennell