Roots And Wings Podcast: Conversation With Paige Covello Of Create Space

Welcome to Roots and Wings, the podcast from the Fox Hill School. I’m Melanie Little, director of the Fox Hill School, and today I’m so excited to introduce you to Paige Covello.

Paige is the owner of Create Space, a mobile art studio based in Danvers that she started after 30 years of teaching art in the public schools. You may have seen her incredibly beautiful art van driving around town—sometimes it even looks like glitter is flying out the back. Paige is also an alumni parent at Fox Hill School and currently teaches art classes here on Mondays.

Melanie: Hi, Miss Paige. Thanks so much for coming on the show.

Paige: Thank you for having me, Melanie.

Growing Up Fox Hill

Melanie: You’re an alumni parent of the Fox Hill School. Tell us a little bit about your kids and what they’re doing now.

Paige: All three of my children went to the Fox Hill School. My youngest is Leo—he’s 19 and a freshman at Ithaca College in upstate New York. We just got back from parents’ weekend and he’s doing great. He really loves it.

My daughter Lauren is 22. She just graduated from Northeastern and is working in finance at a company in Newton. She lives in Boston and is loving that too.

And then there’s David, our oldest. He’s 24, graduated from UMass Amherst, and is working at the Discovery Museum in Acton, which he really enjoys.

Melanie: Wow, that’s amazing. I love hearing about all these overachievers coming out of the Fox Hill School.

Paige: Well, they got a good start. They got a good start at Fox Hill.

From Public Schools to Create Space

Melanie: I always loved hearing about all the amazingly creative things you did as an art teacher while your kids were at Fox Hill, when you were teaching in the public schools. Tell us how you decided to start Create Space.

Paige: When I left the public school setting, I knew I was ready for a change but still wanted to teach art and create art with people. I started Create Space to provide those kinds of experiences for people of all ages—from preschoolers, which I do with you, to adult students as well.

The mobile model allows me to go to libraries, schools, shelters, or even do a birthday party at someone’s house. I’ve really loved the flexibility of being able to bring the creative setup to where people are able to access it.

Melanie: I love that.

Art Classes for Kids and Adults

Melanie: I also know you do a lot of classes at the Danvers Art Association, which is near and dear to my heart. Tell me a little bit about what you offer there.

Paige: The Danvers Art Association is a great setting for art classes. We have two big studios, sinks, and parking. I offer after-school classes for kids on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

They’re very individually focused mixed-media classes. The kids really determine what direction their work is going to take, and I provide the tools, the setting, and the guidance they need.

I also teach adult classes under an umbrella of art for mindfulness and relaxation. These classes are about tapping into your creativity and using art materials as a tool in everyday life—whether that’s to relax or take your mind off a stressful job. I really enjoy the variety of working with so many different ages and groups of people.

Melanie: That sounds right up the alley for parents of preschoolers. A little mindfulness and relaxation sounds great.

“I’m Not Creative”… or Are You?

Melanie: Some people think they’re just not creative. Can you explain, especially in preschool, why art is so important?

Paige: I hear that a lot—mostly from adults who have told themselves that story over and over again.

Melanie: Me included.

Paige: Well, now look at where you are, creating this big, beautiful sculpture in your schoolyard. That’s actually a great example of what people can discover if they allow themselves the time, space, and freedom to explore different ways to create. You finally had the time—when your kids left the house—to take a pottery class. You became comfortable with the material, you had an idea, and you had someone to guide you technically. Now you’ve created a real show-stopping piece of art.

My belief is that all people are inherently creative. They just need the opportunity and the tools to tap into that creativity and express it. That’s what I try to provide in my classes and workshops: all the materials, the encouragement, and hopefully the removal of judgment. Just try it. Experiment.

Fox Hill does a great job of giving kids a safe and fun environment where they can play with and experience all kinds of materials—from nature, different textures, and different feelings. When I come in on Mondays, I carry that over and design experiences where kids can practice self-expression and make connections through art to their everyday lives.

What Art Looks Like at Fox Hill

Melanie: Paige shows up on Mondays and the kids are so excited. They all stand at the window watching the big, beautiful van pull in. She brings in all kinds of materials, usually reads a story, and then suddenly there are ideas everywhere.

Over here we’re doing this, over there we’re doing that. There’s no strict direction—just a suggestion—and the kids take it from there. The things they make are incredible. They feel such ownership because they’re the ones gluing, persevering, filling the paper with color, and making the choices.

When they’ve done the work themselves, they feel proud and confident jumping into new art experiences.

Paige: I totally agree.

Talking to Kids About Their Art

Melanie: Parents often ask how they can engage their child and talk about their artwork. Do you have strategies for that?

Paige: The best starting point is to sit with your child, look at the artwork, and say, “Tell me about this piece.” See what they say.

You can ask guiding questions like: How did you create it? What materials did you use? What were you thinking about when you chose that color or put that there?

As adults, we often want to know what everything is. But for a child, art is often about the process—how the paint moved, how the clay felt squishing between their fingers. Asking them to name what it is can take away some of the power of simply creating for the sake of creating.

If you want to give a compliment, try to notice something specific: how they used line, how they mixed colors, or a detail that stands out to you. Then see what they say. Kids usually have a lot to say about artwork they’re excited about, and you can see the pride bubbling out of them when they explain what they made and how they made it.

Melanie: I love that.

Wrapping Up

Melanie: There’s so much more we could talk about, but this feels like a great place to end for today. I hope you’ll come back another time so we can talk more about art—one of my favorite topics.

Paige: I would love to.

Melanie: Thank you so much, Paige, and thank you to everyone for listening to Roots and Wings from the Fox Hill School. For more resources and upcoming episodes, visit foxhillyenschool.com. You can also find a link to the Create Space website in the show notes. See you next time.