Our

STORY

FROM ART TEACHER TO CEO

We’re an art education company dedicated to giving art teachers, business owners, and parents a path to creating beautiful and engaging art experiences for children.

That’s where we are today, but here’s how it all started...

My First Classroom: A Trial Run

I still remember the day I held my trial class. It served as an interview for an art specialist position in my community, which I desperately wanted. The art room was a small, makeshift portable, crammed with supplies, tables, and a tiny sink. In the back, the hiring teacher took notes, deciding if I’d return the following week. As the kids sized me up, my heart pounded. I had no formal teaching experience—only the perspective of a parent volunteer.

But as I taught, I tapped into my childhood love of art, which brought calm and clarity.

HOW IT STARTED

Growing up with Art

Raised on a 20-acre farm on Prince Edward Island, I spent afternoons caring for horses before retreating to my room with my sketchbook. I recreated scenes from my imagination: fashion shows, figure skating competitions, and dreamt of what it would be like to be a gymnast. Though I had no art instruction then, these moments formed the foundation of my love for creativity.

Discovering Art Instruction

It wasn’t until I went to art college for fashion design that I experienced formal art training. My instructors, actual artists, taught me the fundamentals of illustration, from rendering tweeds and plaids and how to sketch taffeta (yes, it was the 80’s!).

This period reminded me of the joy and freedom in art—possibilities felt infinite.

From Teacher to Entrepreneur

After that first trial class, I realized I’d found my calling. Years of teaching art classes followed, and as my methods evolved, so did my vision. Eventually, I took a leap, creating Deep Space Sparkle to support art teachers and inspire young artists. What started as a blog grew into a thriving business, and today, as CEO, I’m honored to continue expanding our mission to empower teachers, parents, and children around the world..

From Teacher to Entrepreneur

KEY MOMENTS

of Growing the Business

2004

Started Teaching Art

I began teaching art in Goleta, California, traveling between two schools to share art with 700 children. It was a fast-paced start, full of lessons and learning.

Resources for You:

2008

Deep Space Sparkle Blog Begins

Named after a Crayola crayon color, the blog started as a way to share my students’ artwork with parents. But it was other art teachers who reached out, asking for ideas and insights. Writing about teaching art became a creative outlet, as I shared the highs and lows of each school day.

Resources for You:

2009

Sold my first art lesson!

Demand grew, and I found myself answering the same questions from teachers over and over. To save time, I packaged my first PDF art lesson plan—based on Eric Carle’s Mister Seahorse—and sold 30 copies. This simple idea was a turning point for me and my family.

2010

The Family Business

My husband Neil, a computer engineer, joined me in managing the business’s backend. His support freed me to focus on teaching, creating, and expanding our vision for Deep Space Sparkle. He soon became known as Mister Sparkle.

2015

First Workshop & a Book Deal

Hosting my first in-person workshop was thrilling—an opportunity to connect with the teachers following my blog. That same year, I signed a book contract and decided to retire from classroom teaching to write Draw, Paint, Sparkle and run Deep Space Sparkle full-time.

2016

The Sparklers' Club is Born

Joining a Mastermind group, I realized a membership could help us reach even more teachers. We launched The Sparklers’ Club, welcoming 1,800 members within two months! Soon after, Neil and I expanded into a small studio above a pizza restaurant, forming our first official team.

Behind the Scenes:

2018

Release of Draw, Paint, Sparkle

In that cozy studio, I held in-person classes for kids to test ideas for my book. The launch of Draw, Paint, Sparkle was a proud moment, reaching families and teachers nationwide.

Resources for You:

2019

Growing in Santa Barbara

We moved to a larger studio in downtown Santa Barbara, filled with creativity and collaboration. This space became our hub for filming video lessons, live art tutorials, and recording podcasts, all while serving our expanding community of educators.

2020

Pivoting through the Pandemic

In that cozy studio, I held in-person classes for kids to test ideas for my book. The launch of Draw, Paint, Sparkle was a proud moment, reaching families and teachers nationwide.

Behind the Scenes:

2021

Online Art Courses Expand

With in-person events on hold, we launched online art courses, offering 3-4 week programs for teachers and parents to learn new techniques. Workshops like Creative Juices and Wild for Watercolor became favorites in our community.

Check Out the Art Courses:

2023

Primerry PRO for Art Business Owners

With a strong team in place, we launched Primerry PRO, a membership to guide art educators and studio owners on building successful art businesses, inspired by the steps I took to grow Deep Space Sparkle and Primerry. Launched our online membership, Primerry PRO for Biz Owners

Resources for You:

2024

A Fully Remote Team

As production became more streamlined, we transitioned to a fully remote model, with team members across the U.S. continuing our mission from their own creative spaces.

Thanks for visiting!
- Patty