MEET MELISSA

 Hi, I’m Melissa, the artist, educator, and mom behind Find Your Niche, a mobile art studio where creativity, curiosity, and connection come to life.

Creativity has always been part of my story. I grew up baking and sewing with my grandmother and crafting alongside my mom. Those early experiences taught me that creativity isn’t about perfection, rather, it’s about joy, curiosity, and the connections we make along the way.

As a certified art teacher, I spent 13 years teaching students across Chicagoland and studied the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education in Italy. Those experiences shaped my passion for process-based art and child-led creativity.

During the pandemic, I found myself creating simple, meaningful art experiences for my toddler and sharing project ideas with local moms. What began as a passion project quickly reminded me of the magic that happens when families create together.

When I was expecting my youngest daughter, I knew I wanted more flexibility for my own family while continuing to do the work I loved. I dreamed of creating a space where families could slow down, get messy, make memories, and celebrate the creative process. So, I took a leap of faith, left the classroom, and founded Find Your Niche.

Today, I bring joyful, process-based art experiences directly to young artists through creative classes. You will often hear me tell my students, “You’re the artist so you get to choose,” because I believe every child is and artist and deserves the freedom to explore, experiment, and create with confidence.

Whether we’re painting, building, sculpting, or simply embracing the mess, my hope is that every child leaves feeling inspired, capable, and excited to create again.

Creatively yours,

Melissa