FPHRC Art Department Spotlight: The Gift of Fine Arts - Tracy Gregory

Welcome to the Firmly Planted Arts Department! My name is Tracy Gregory and I’m honored you’re interested in learning more about our Fine Arts community here at FPHRC. I’ve been leading workshops for five years here at the Center and this will be my fourth year as the head of the Art Department, as well as my fourth year coordinating our semi-annual Handicraft Markets. I’m a homeschool veteran myself–my husband Scott and I were on the Steering Committee that became the Board of Directors for First Class Friday School West (the OG Friday School Co-op here in Clark County, WA) and First Class Homeschool Ministries, the 401K predecessor to what is now Firmly Planted Family.

With God as our omnificent (all Creative) guide, our art instructors truly have a heart for encouraging their students with the creative gifts bestowed upon us by the one and only Creator. That last sentence sounds profound, but the actions are wholesomely simple. The art department strives to meet every student where they are and nurture the art their hearts yearn to express. It’s as simple as “Well done” or “You’ve got this” or my favorite “Does your head hurt? Great! That means you’re learning”. We use that last one A LOT in ceramics!

My vision for this department is to keep the class offerings fresh, enriching and affordable. Our instructors have a multitude of skills including watercolor, sculpture, oil/chalk pastels, sewing, ceramics, faces, storyboarding, comics, photography, acrylics, oil paint, collage, 2-D Art, perspective drawing, crochet, color basics and advanced and so much more. We offer instruction from PreK to High School to help meet our members' academic needs. 

FPHRC has been abundantly blessed with an exceptional team of art instructors who have a heart for those in need, love Jesus and love sharing about all the ways students can explore their artistic gifts.  Many of our instructors even offer additional 1:1 training in their free time.

We keep class costs low and enrichment high.  We are so grateful for the space we have for instructing, yet our needs are still great.  We currently share spaces in our Art and Ceramics Studios that don’t have fully formed walls and proper flooring. Instructors compete with noise and containing dust and messes, and other aspects that can detract from the learning experience.

We know God sees our needs and those of other classes that share our building, and we wait in faith knowing He will provide as our needs grow and burgeon. Thank you for your faithfulness to support FPHRC in prayer, donations and volunteering. 

Wiping the clay off my hands and bidding you a blessed day! 
Tracy Gregory 
Art Department Head | Ceramics Instructor | Handicraft Market Coordinator