Meet Megan Schiller | Owner of The Art Pantry

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Schiller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a creative, I’ve always had hobbies that would occasionally turn into side jobs. After college, my passion for video production and editing led to a few side gigs while I was starting a career as a preschool teacher. In the years that followed, my jewelry making hobby turned into a side business as well. I took time off of teaching preschool when I had my first daughter. When she was a toddler and it was time to go back to work, I wanted to pursue something that would allow me to stay home with her. So I combined my creative background and my love of teaching young kids and began teaching toddler art classes out of my home. My neighborhood was full of toddlers eager to get messy and explore art materials so my business took off! My daughter participated in every class and I was able to stay home with her while also working and pursuing my passion for art. After having my second daughter a few years later, my business pivoted from teaching art classes to helping parents set up art spaces in their homes and I’ve continued with that for 10 years now.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I pivoted from teaching toddler art classes to helping parents set up art spaces in their homes, I didn’t know that it would take off in the way that it has. I was interested in interior design and, as an art teacher, I knew how important it is to have creative tools and materials accessible to kids. I saw how the kids in my classes and my own kids were thriving when they would learn how to use the materials safely and could access them independently. They would have an idea to make something (or just want to play with the materials), they would head over to the shelves and pick out some supplies, and then they would bring them to a table and explore. Parents saw this and began asking me to help them set up an art space in their homes. Sometimes parents were remodeling their home or designing a playroom and the interior designer would make it look beautiful, but it wasn’t practical or useful. So they would bring me in to either work with a designer or design the entire space myself so that I could weave in the additional expertise as a preschool teacher and art educator. What resulted were beautiful play spaces that were also creatively engaging and worked well for the whole family. This combination of interior designer and art educator is a very niche business, which has made it both challenging and yet at times very helpful to grow professionally. I put a lot of effort into spreading the word for years, but I always seemed to have a steady wait list of clients because there was nobody else doing what I do!
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned along the way is that it takes time to grow. If you put in consistent effort and are willing to connect with people in an authentic way, then one day you will look back and marvel at the growth. One of my favorite things about having this business is all of the incredible people I have met along the way. From other art teachers, to clients to creative entrepreneurs, to families who reach out to appreciate my work. These connections truly fuel my creative spirit.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Mill Valley, just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. It’s a small-ish town nestled at the base of Mt. Tamalpais so it is full of gorgeous natural beauty. My favorite thing to do around here is hiking along the trails that overlook the ocean and the San Francisco Bay. If someone were visiting for a week, I would take them out on at least one hike, spend a day at a hidden beach, head into San Francisco for the day to visit the SF MOMA or the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park, eat fish tacos at Hook Fish, grab a drink at Watershed in the Mill Valley Lumberyard, and catch some live music at the outdoor beergarden at HopMonk Tavern in Novato.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people who have been an inspiration or who have supported me in my career as a creative entrepreneur. But I don’t think I would have thought to start those first toddler art classes if it weren’t for Jean Van’t Hul of The Artful Parent. She was the first blogger I followed and her post about hosting toddler art groups with friends was what gave me the “aha!” moment that led to my career. And because this is an LA publication, I have to also give a shoutout to Meri Cherry, who runs the Meri Cherry kids art studio in Encino. Meri has been an inspiration and friend for many years and blows me away with her joyful creativity, drive, and knack for business.

Website: https://www.theartpantry.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artpantry/

Other: https://www.meganschiller.com/