Sawyer partners with hundreds of educators who are stars in their communities. From inspiring class content to engaging teaching style, these educators are known for their enriching activities that empower both children and parents alike.

We got the opportunity to chat with Private Picassos, an art studio in Brooklyn, NY offering art and cultural experiences for children and adults.

I’d love to hear a bit more about you and why you started your business.

Valeen received her BFA/MS in Art and Design Education, with a minor in Art History and a concentration in printmaking from Pratt Institute. After working at various educational facilities, including museums, early childhood education centers and community centers, she founded Private Picassos in the spring of 2006. Her main goal was to create a process-oriented art program that valued skill building and exploration over the final product. 

Valeen crafts the core values and philosophy of Private Picassos, drawing inspiration from her education, experience, and background, especially the influence of her two artist parents. After 10 years of bringing art classes to children and adults throughout the tri-state area, Valeen created a home for Private Picassos at their first bricks and mortar art studio in Park Slope, Brooklyn! Since opening in the fall of 2015, PP art studio has become a mainstay in the community, offering an engaging space for kids and adults to create art and memories side by side. Valeen lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband and son. 

What’s the most rewarding thing about teaching children?  

Seeing the amazing and unique ways they approach each art material project. The Private Picassos team is always getting new ideas from their students!

Why is after school/extracurricular enrichment and camp so important for children?  

Kids work so hard academically during the school day and they need to stretch the other muscles in their brain after school. Extracurricular enrichment allows kids to try new materials, experiment, get messy, make mistakes and also use some of the skills learned during the day in real world situations. 

What is your favorite Sawyer feature? 

Private Picassos uses Sawyer’s custom widget embedded on their site to display the class schedule and registration buttons. The widget allows for an easy user experience for Private Picasso’s families and staff. 

Have you discovered new customers on the Sawyer Marketplace?  

Private Picassos lists their classes on the Sawyer marketplace which is visited by millions of families. Yes, it has helped the business discover new customer!

How has Sawyer helped your business? 

Sawyer had helped Private Picassos expand their reach throughout NYC.