What is The Art Spark?
The Art Spark is a women-owned creative children’s classroom, opened in September of 2010 by Emily DiNardo and Jacquelyn Hoffman. Our first home was in the basement art room of Rockwern Academy in Montgomery. In 2016 we moved to a studio in Symmes Township where we spent seven and half wonderful years. As of September 2024 we moved back to Montgomery, right in the heart of beautiful downtown! We are now off Cooper Road, above Elizabeth Grace Home. Our studio offers children infinitely many ways to explore art. We also offer afterschool classes to school in need of an art program throughout the city. As professional art educators, we know learning and art is beyond specific skills and tools. Our studio encourages students to ask questions, solve problems creatively, and utilize art materials to achieve unique solutions. Whether painting large scale murals, sculpting food and dishes from around the world, or deciding what it looks like inside of a rainbow, imagination is ignited for every child who has the opportunity to learn and grow at The Art Spark.
Who Are We?
The Art Spark works to nurture the child as a whole by fostering a creative environment where children use unique brainstorming techniques to develop their individual ideas, and work as a team. We truly believe our classes offer children the best quality art classes in the city.
What is a spark?
A spark is the most valuable moment of a child’s creative experience. When children create art in our classroom, they will constantly ignite “sparks”, or ideas. As the sparks develop, your child will:
- Solve problems creatively
- Learn to value cultural diversity
- Gain confidence
Emily DiNardo
Co-Owner
Graduated with her BFA in Art Education with a focus in 2-D Studies from Bowling Green State University. She is passionate about helping children explore the creative process and develop an appreciation of art that can last a lifetime. Her favorite thing about The Art Spark is that it allows space for children to solve problems using their imagination! When not at The Art Spark, Emily loves throwing on the wheel, cooking, and snow skiing. Emily is also a mother and loves watching her kids grow and explore the world around them.
Jacquelyn Hoffman
Co-Owner
Graduated with her BS in Art Education with a minor in Educational Leadership from Miami University. She has refined her skills in painting and printmaking, but she is most passionate about teaching different art forms to children of all ages. Her favorite thing about teaching at The Art Spark is providing children with lasting memories that will instill imagination and creativity into their future endeavors. Being a co-owner of The Art Spark is incredibly rewarding and makes every day exciting and educational. Jacquelyn gains inspiration from her student’s ideas and is continually amazed by the art created by young artists. Jacquelyn is also a watercolor artist and sells her pet portraits all over the USA! When she’s not teaching or painting, she’s spending time with her husband and two cats, gardening, cooking, reading, or enjoying time with her family!
Terri Graff
Teacher
Graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BA in English Literature and a minor in Creative Writing. She had a a great career being a Montessori Assistant Teacher for over sixteen years and is influenced by her Montessori background while working at Art Spark! She enjoys the spontaneity and joy that children find at our studio. She finds it incredibly rewarding to see the confidence that the children gain by using their creativity to problem solve and express themselves in so many ways at the studio. When Terri is not teaching, she enjoys gardening, reading and having fun with her two silly dogs, Phoebe and Phaedra. She’s also Jacquelyn’s (co-owner’s) mom!
Karley Holdeman
Teacher and Birthday Leader
Karley graduated from the University of Cincinnati in Architecture. After a few years as an architect, she shifted to the Summer Camp world and worked as a director at YMCA Camp Kern. Now she runs her own creative freelance business focusing on fantasy scenes while working at The Art Spark. Karley loves watching Sparklers break boundaries and make things they didn't know they could make. When she's not at The Art Spark, she is usually playing with her dog or out on a hike with her husband. She loves being outside and finds a lot of her inspiration from there.
Abby Sheard
Teacher and Birthday Leader
A sophomore at Sycamore High School, who loves creating art projects with a variety of mediums from clay to watercolors. So far in her high school career, she has taken many art classes and hopes to continue to take more. Abby loves to watch students at The Art Spark express their creativity and discover a love for art, just like she did when she was their age (she herself was a Sparkler from age 5-10!). When she is not at The Art Spark, Abby enjoys running cross country, spending time with friends, and being outside.
Gideon Smiley
Teacher and Birthday Leader
Gideon recently graduated with a degree in art from the Ohio State University. While building experience in a variety of mediums, he gained an interest in education and community arts organizing. Having returned to Cincinnati, he is excited to help with The Art Spark’s after school art programs and encourage student’s creative expression. Outside of the classroom he enjoys gardening, biking, and kayaking - hobbies he tries to incorporate into his independent practice.
Amaya Gentry
Teacher and Birthday Leader
Working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Art Education Certificate at University of Cincinnati DAAP program. She enjoys trying out all kinds of new mediums, but her all time favorite is painting. She is a full time student who is excited to work with kids and gain more experience in the classroom and as a teacher. In her free time she enjoys working on personal art projects, writing poetry, shopping, and going out with friends.
Anna Forman
Teaching Assistant
Anna Forman is currently a senior at Sycamore High School, she plans to study interior and environmental design at Syracuse in the Fall of next year. She is also very passionate about ceramics, and loves anything involving creating! She is very excited to be assisting at The Art Spark and helping children to ignite imagination!
Esther Medlin
Teacher and Birthday Assistant
A senior at Sycamore High School, she has taken an interest in art from a young age and incorporates it into her every day life. While Esther loves making all kinds of art, she tends to lean towards oil painting and drawing when she sells her art. She works with lots of kids inside and outside of Art Spark as she babysits and coaches gymnastics each week. She enjoys watching kids creativity run wild and problem solve on their own. When Esther isn’t making art, she enjoys gardening, hiking, and spending time with her two cats, Sushi and Basil.
Maggie Blake
Teacher and Birthday Leader
Maggie is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts along with certificates in Art Education and Art
Therapy at the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program. Passionate about inspiring young
minds through art, she works with a variety of mediums but particularly enjoys painting and
drawing. Maggie is dedicated to providing children with a special space for artistic exploration
and creativity. Outside of the classroom, she loves camping, hiking, and spending time outdoors.
As a full-time student, Maggie is excited to gain further experience working with young artists.
Our Customers Love The Art Spark!
As Hulafrog’s award winner for the most loved by the Cincinnati Public for classes, and camps, The Art Spark continues to receive positive reviews from our supportive customers.
We were interviewed by Business Info Guide about our purpose for opening The Art Spark and how we started our business. Check out our full interview here to learn more.
Check out what people are saying:
“Just wanted to thank you for pouring your hearts, souls, creativity, hard work, and loveliness into my daughter’s party. Please thank your helpful crew, too. It was great to have so many people to make sure the projects went smoothly, and the kids were engaged. My daughter had a blast — one of her favorite parties ever. Truly, all the children looked like they had a great time and I thought you’d get a kick out the feedback. One friend just e-mailed me to say her SON said he wants his party with you next time. And everyone kept complimenting me on how unique and wonderful it was. The kids were so delighted when they showed their parents what they had made. I loved how you spoke to all the children and how you made her feel special. I also appreciated that you tried to learn so many of the kids’ names. They enjoyed the free play and the projects. I loved when you asked them questions, too, and allowed them to participate. I also appreciated the recognition you gave to Alana for her donations to the shelter. She was so proud. The little notebooks were a good idea, too. The kids were mesmerized and also quite busy — which I like. Nobody ever looked bored or antsy. In the end, the kids were far from ready to leave — sign of a good party, right?”
“When I asked my son if he liked The Art Spark, he said…I don’t like it, I LOVE IT!”
“After attending the first week of summer camp at The Art Spark, my child requested I cancel all other summer camps so she could attend more camps at The Art Spark.”
“My daughter loves Art Spark and asks me all week when she gets to go to class.”
“I asked my daughter if she wanted to come to class twice a week instead of just once and she said…I want to come EVERY DAY!”
Check out this great article we’re in!
