We recently connected with Alana McFall and have shared our conversation below.

Alana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

In early 2020, just after purchasing a business with no prior experience, I encountered an unexpected and monumental challenge: the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With my business relying heavily on in-person operations, the sudden global shutdown left me grappling with financial uncertainty and the impracticality of utilizing a poorly insulated building, originally a horse barn, during the winter months. Despite lacking both steady income and business expertise, I found myself contemplating bankruptcy as a possible solution. However, even that option seemed out of reach due to insufficient funds. The suggestion to simply relinquish the business to the bank struck a deep chord within me—it felt like admitting defeat, a failure I was unwilling to accept.

Driven by a determination to persevere, I made the bold decision to pivot my business model from an art studio to a micro-school in response to the challenges posed by COVID-19. Embracing this new direction, I took on the responsibility of supporting 12 students, five days a week, in their online learning endeavors. Recognizing the limitations of my individual efforts, I enlisted the help of additional staff to ensure the success of our venture.

Inspired by historical precedent, particularly the practices employed during the 1800s flu epidemic, we devised innovative solutions to overcome the obstacles presented by the pandemic. Drawing from this wisdom, we transformed our educational environment by conducting lessons outdoors, mirroring the health-conscious approach of past generations. Despite the biting cold, we equipped ourselves with outdoor heaters, individual blankets for each student, and a steadfast commitment to our collective well-being.

Through our perseverance and adaptability, we not only weathered the storm but flourished amidst adversity. Our outdoor learning environment fostered a sense of wonder and camaraderie among our students, culminating in a truly magical experience. By embracing creativity, resilience, and a spirit of community, we not only navigated through the most unexpected of challenges but emerged stronger and more united than ever before.

Alana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I an enthusiastic educator with over 30 years of experience. Although I have not always taught, I have always used art as a teaching tool. My background ranges from Special Educator in Baltimore City to teaching Artists’ Books at MICA and most recently, a decade teaching teachers how to teach as a Full-time lecturer at Towson University in the Department of Special Education. Now, I use my years of acquired knowledge to help my students bravely embark on their own personal art adventures using watercolor, pen & Ink, colored pencil, and Acrylic Paint. I have taught learners of all ability levels ranging in age from 5 to 105 and beyond. I am delighted to bring my talents to classes at The Painting Workshop.

My artistic style is darkly whimsical. I use a multitude of mediums to capture the essence of the Irish countryside and the wee people who inhabit it. Look closely at the faces of my characters. If they have features, they are the faces of loved ones past and present. My most recent body of work has been described as hauntingly beautiful.

When not painting faerié folk and selkiés I strive to ensure that my students and staff feel valued and free to be their bravest most creative selves. I am particularly proud of the work I do in mentoring and teaching my teachers to meet the needs of all learners in a universally designed and inclusive manner. I wholeheartedly believe that art is for everyone.

At The Painting Workshop we offer super fun classes & summer camps …no experience necessary. We have classes that range in ability, medium & type of art exploration. From parties for children and adults, to our Libations & Creations (a paint and sip event), to workshops and professional development and school’s out art camp days, The Painting Workshop is a place were community and creativity thrives.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Not everyone is an autonomous worker or creative. Sometimes teachers don’t actually enjoy freedom as much as one might think. And freedom within structure can actually be more freeing than unlimited freedom.

I learned this lesson the hard way. In the beginning, I kind of tried to force a round peg into a square hole. I made the assumption that all teachers would like to have complete control of their curriculum, how they lead their class, how they supported their assistants, and how to upkeep the space they were working in. What I learned by teachers being unhappy was that they felt overburdened and under supported in part because my expectations of what they would come up with and create without being dictated to was higher than what their comfort level was. There was a miss-match.

After being confronted with this discrepancy, I realized that I had gone from one extreme, for example the restraints of the public school’s art curriculum, to the other extreme, which is unlimited freedom. There had to be a middle ground. This was a painful lesson to learn. I questioned myself and my competence until I was able to recognize the issue from some brave teachers who were willing to have candid conversations with me about how this made them feel, and I was unintentionally creating an unbalanced environment. I thought I was doing a good thing by giving teachers what I would have wanted early in my teaching experience. And I had to learn that not everybody is not like me. This is a hard lesson to learn, but once I understood, I could do something about it, and I am a person of action and a problem solver. Although this was a big problem to solve, I was able to solve it with support and through conversation and brave feedback that led to a happier work environment, which meant happy students, happy experiences, my own personal happiness and a new found joy of being a business owner.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I had almost no social media following until I decided to take a risk and put myself out there. I created a challenge to practice what I preach and that is doing art everyday. Everyday I post an image or video of me creating art. This was a daunting and revealing exercise that lead me to tears more than once. However, the engagement was more than what I would have expected. I found support from complete strangers, I gained new followers as people enjoyed watching the challenge, seeing vulnerabilities, and celebrating successes and commitment to my goal.

My motto is art as a process over product. I teach this in my classes for children all the way up to adults and this challenge forced me to practice what I teach. It is not about being right or wrong, it is not evaluative, it is about doing and creating, not the creation itself.

What started as a way to do get myself back into doing more art, not just running a business, turned into growing a following of supporters, people who were inspired, and people who wanted to watch the journey..

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thepaintingworkshop.com
• Instagram: thepaintingworkshop
• Facebook: thepaintingworkshop
• Linkedin: thepaintingworkshop