Back when local artist Mary Taggart was applying for colleges, she first thought she’d go to Boston University for pre-med.

Instead, she went to Massachusetts College of Art to follow her passion for art.

“I wanted to make art since I can remember,” Taggart said. “I started taking neighborhood art classes when I was a young girl.”

Taggart graduated from MassArt with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Education and eventually became certified in K-12 art education.  Over the years since her degree Taggart has raised her own family, taught art at Masconomet High School for four years and also worked as a Mary Kay sales representative for twenty years. 

Now, through teaching classes at her own studio, Taggart has the opportunity to target her passion for art on a broader scale.

A Variety of Options
Back in 2008, when Taggart was considering teaching art classes, she wasn't sure if there was enough interest. Taggart sent out a preliminary email to network of friends and clients to see if there would be interest if she started teaching classes from her studio.  There was. 

Nowadays, Taggart teaches one children’s class a day, Monday through Thursday, as well as an adult class one morning a week. 

The children's classes, for elementary-school-aged children are $20 per class and Taggart provides the necessary materials.  Students come with varying levels of art experience and many of her students continue to come back for more classes.

  “I wanted to teach the principles of making art, and not just complete a craft project," Taggart said.  "I wanted parents who wanted their kids to learn to create something.  For example, we will do acrylics with canvas with 8 year olds.” 

Even at a young age, Taggart said her students understand the concept of perspective.  As they draw their winter scenes and penguins, they draw some small to indicate they are farther away, while larger penguins are in the foreground,  because they are closer.

 “I think these kids get to feel really good about what they create, and that in turn makes them feel good about themselves," she said.

Adult classes are $25, and students need to purchase their own supplies.  Students can pay class by class but Taggart said she also collects money for several classes up front.

Every so often, Taggart does a special 'Girl’s Night,' class for $25 per person.

“One night a month I do a girls night where a group comes in, they bring wine and we enjoy ourselves while crafting something," she said. 

Taggart  said she is open to doing more and different types of classes in the future, and will enjoy seeing where the classes take her.

Artwork of her Own
At a workshop a few years ago, Taggart had written down that her goal was to own a studio.

“I had always dreamed of having my own studio,” Taggart said, adding that she never though it would actually come true.

Her personal studio allows her a place to work quietly.

Taggart primarly does her work with oil paints and is most often inspired by beautiful scenery, which she paints"en plein air." This means she paints artwork featuring outside scenes, a form of art that is particularly challenging, because an outdoor scene has a lot of detail and the artist needs to simplify it, she said.

“You have to zoom in and put down the beauty that’s front of you and it often still feels it never measure up,” said Taggart, who said she often finds her inspiration in beautiful places or scenery.   

The private studio also allows Taggart somewhere to host shows where she sells her artwork as others sell jewelry and other crafts.  Taggart’s most recent art show was right before the holidays and she said she hopes to have another soon.

In addition to shows, Taggart takes commissions to complete particular pieces for clients, including murals in others' homes.

Beyond the Studio
Aside from her regular classes, Taggart has also taught art classes during a summer camp through the Unitarian Universalist Church of Wakefield.  These classes are theme- and literature-based.  Students read a text based around a particular theme and later they complete an art project on it.

Taggart also teaches yoga classes in Boxford and Reading and is on the board of Gathering Change Inc., a local charity group.  Currently, Taggart’s art students are creating artwork that will be used on notecards sold through Gathering Change to raise money for local food pantries. 

Taggart said she's excited that her passion for art has evolved in such a way. 

“My favorite part is the kids,” Taggart said. “They come in smiling and eager to show you what they can do.  I love it.”

To learn more about Mary Taggart, her classes and artwork, checkout her website http://www.taggartstudio.com/.  Taggart also occasionally give private lessons by request.