Today we’d like to introduce you to Andria Burchett.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Years ago, a friend nudged me to teach her daughter how to draw. At the time, I had steady commission work and didn’t feel equipped or particularly interested in teaching, but her persistence encouraged me. That was a pivotal point in my midlife career.
I was horrible those first few lessons. I didn’t have a clue how to instruct someone else. I spent hours reading books from the library on how to teach children to draw and eventually realized that there was something appealing about this. I started breaking down my own process of how I approach my work. I built a curriculum, adjusted it to an adult audience and began to offer classes in drawing and colored pencil in my basement. A few people were interested and I invited some of my neighbors to fill in the empty chairs.
Around this same time, my husband planted a tiny “Charlie Brown” tri-colored beech tree in our front yard and its brilliant colors turn dramatically as the seasons change. Just as that tiny sapling has matured into a gorgeous shade tree, Beech Tree Studio has grown into a successful small business where dozens of colored pencil artists gather weekly.
Three more Beech Tree Studio locations have been established up and down the Fox River Valley to accommodate students who live a long distance away. Through the years, I have had the great pleasure of coaching hundreds of fellow colored pencil artists with their own drawings, and I am constantly blown away by the work that they create. By listening to what others are struggling with or by observing where some concentrated instruction might be beneficial, I have developed a number of curriculum studies for special focus areas.
One of the greatest benefits of the classes for me and many of the students are the friendships that have been formed as we draw together each week. We are a real mixed bag of artists with a broad range of expertise and experience, and that gives the studio space a great vibe. We often get together outside of the class for the pure fun of it!
Has it been a smooth road?
Beech Tree Studio has evolved slowly and steadily over the years and I’m fortunate to have space, financial stability, and encouragement from my family to keep growing. Bookkeeping and marketing are not skills that come naturally to me, so I have had to learn these along the way. Consistent social networking is more important than I first realized, and it keeps changing!
Perhaps, the greatest struggle is finding the right balance between running the business, studio time and home. Too often my own art suffers because of deadlines or administrative tasks that need to be done. It can also be difficult to work on a new curriculum when there is a luncheon I’d like to attend or the laundry needs to be folded. But that’s also the beauty of the whole thing! What a privilege it is to be able to walk my dog right in the middle of the day, knowing that I can just pick up where I left off when we get back.
My degree is in neither art, business or teaching so I smile a bit when I think about where my career has led me. Saying “yes” to opportunities as they emerge, and shaving off those components that no longer serve me or my students have been critical to the success of Beech Tree Studio.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Beech Tree Studio – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Beech Tree Studio provides in-depth instruction for those who have an interest in learning the colored pencil medium. Most students begin with the “Learning to Draw” class where they train their eyes to see line and space accurately, build values correctly and gain an understanding of the techniques used to achieve a seamless pencil stroke. There is a curriculum for both the “Learning to Draw” class, as well as the “Introduction to Colored Pencil” class, and artists will be applying the learned skills in each curriculum to a project of their choice along the way.
We instructors are pretty good at assessing where a newcomer is in their drawing ability, and we can quickly get the right level of instruction that will challenge them to grow as an artist. And while we teach our own approach to working with colored pencil, we also recognize and encourage each artist to incorporate their own unique style in their work.
I believe that it is important that these pencil artists have an opportunity to show their work if they choose, so we have the “Drawn Together Colored Pencil Art Show” every November. The show is professionally exhibited, with food, live music and of course amazing art.
It is most rewarding to recognize the growth and confidence of artists as they devote themselves to their projects. Most continue to register for class sessions time after time, not only because they love the colored pencil medium, but they love their time spent with their “art buddies” every week.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Chicago is a beautiful city! The sidewalks are clean, the flower beds (or Christmas lights, depending on the season) are stunning, and the miles of beachfront right here in the midwest still catch me by surprise a bit.
I’m pleased that there are so many cultural events and venues that are free to the public. I have taken advantage of a first-class symphony concert as well as a Saturday morning yoga class at Millennial Park. We have visited Lincoln Park Zoo and the Cultural Arts Museum without dipping into our pockets.
The diversity of its population and the colorful history of its growth are fascinating, but the neighborhoods are where the “roots” are. There is an intangible component to each that adds flavor to the whole stew.
What don’t I like? The fact that Chicago is less than desirable when it comes to city debt, an inadequate public school system and high violent crime rate. Also, parking costs too much.
Pricing:
- One 5 week class session- $155
Contact Info:
- Address: Studio Locations:
500 S 3rd St, 117, Geneva, IL 60134 (day classes)
2219 Kings Ct., Geneva, IL 60134 (evening classes)
3647 Hyde Park Ct., Elgin, IL 60124
3022 Gaylord Ln. Montgomery, IL 60538
759 Pleasant Drive, Shorewood, IL 60404 - Website: http://www.beechtreestudio.com
- Phone: 630-845-3325
- Email: info@beechtreestudio.com
- Instagram: andie burchett
- Facebook: Beech Tree Studio.com
- Other: Andria Burchett Fine Art in Colored Pencil
Image Credit:
Simonetti Photography, Osio Brown Editions, Linda Phillabaum
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
