SPRING 2018 30 | FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM Spring Arts & Culture Directory After a successful career in graphic design, Kansas City-based artist Tina Garrett was ready for something new. She was eager to pursue the career in fine art that she’d always dreamed of — but knew she had to consider her husband and two kids. “I had to make a decision about going back to school with kids that were 10 and 11 years old,” Garrett said. “It was really weird trying to figure out how to reinvent myself while I had responsibilities here. I looked into going to school for art in Kansas City and there just wasn’t anything that could teach you actual fine art.” Luckily, Garrett learned about Scottsdale Artists’ School and made the decision to travel to Arizona to pursue her fine-art aspirations. A nonprofit organization founded 35 years ago, the school now offers more than 200 different arts programs. The classes, which focus on fine art, and the impressive scholarship offerings immediately appealed to Garrett. “The Scottsdale Artists’ School was the only one that offered any kind of scholarship,” she said. “So here I was, making no money and taking a risk of trying to learn something that I had always dreamed of doing but never really had the opportunity to do.” Fortunately, it was a match, and Garrett was able to master her artistry while enjoying her time in Scottsdale. “I keep going back to the school. That’s because when you walk in, it’s warm, it’s inviting, it’s friendly,” she said. “They don’t treat any student any less than they treat every teacher that’s there. They all have the potential to be great artists and they’re all there doing the best they can at the journey that they’re on.” While Garrett is now busy traveling the world to create and teach fine art, she continues to be involved with Scottsdale Artists’ School. She was recently featured in the school’s Beaux Arts Event and has even been asked to return as a guest instructor. “I was really shocked to discover how much I enjoyed teaching adults,” she said. “I love, love, love when they get something and when they do better than when they first got there. They feel happier and more confident in their own work. It’s fulfilling for me.” SCOTTSDALE ARTISTS’ SCHOOL ALUM Jamie Killin | WEB EDITOR RETURNS TO EDUCATE

SPRING 2018 FRONTDOORSMEDIA .COM | 31 Figura No. 1 by Tina Garrett Artist Tina Garrett credits much of her career success to Scottsdale Artists’ School. Ginger and Johnnie by Tina Garrett