About Bonsai Art Academy

  HOW DID THIS GET STARTED AND WHAT IS THIS PLACE ALL ABOUT?

     Bonsai Art Academy was started by me, Sarah Shuler.  I have been teaching art to children, teenagers, and adults for over 25 years.  I have worked at an elementary school, 3 different high schools and taught community art classes.  I have taught beginning art, drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, calligraphy, printmaking, AP art, and concurrent enrollment classes for UVU.  I just love art!  But my greatest love is to help others reach their creative potential!  For years I have had a dream to create a space where people could come together and explore their creative potential through the visual arts but being a full-time high school teacher and a part-time online art teacher took all my time and energy.  However, this year I decided it was time to retire from public education and follow my dream! 

   WHAT'S UP WITH THE NAME?

     Many people have asked about the name "Bonsai Art Academy".  So, I have to tell you the story.  When I lived in Japan, I lived next to an older gentleman who practiced the art of "Bonsai".  Bonsai is the art of growing certain trees and shrubs in small shallow containers and through careful, precise training and pruning it is slowly shaped to give the appearance of a miniature, mature tree.  He owned over 100 trees and he worked on his trees almost every day.  I would often stop and admire his work.  When I was trying to decide the name of my new art school I kept seeing, in my mind, the image of a Bonsai tree.  It seemed like just a weird random thought, so I just dismissed it.  But it kept coming back.  One night, after seeing this same image in my mind for the 5th or 6th time, I got up and went to my computer and typed in "what is the symbolic meaning of the bonsai tree?"  These are some of the comments I read:

• "The bonsai tree represents the idea of a perfect balance between nature and art."

• "Bonsai trees are valued for their symbolism, representing patience, effort, and the appreciation of the beauty of nature."

• "Bonsai trees are associated with harmony, inner peace, balance and positivity."

• "Bonsai trees represent the attributes of balance, harmony, and simplicity in life." 

• "The art of Bonsai is intricately linked to promoting relaxation and balance. It is all about enjoying little things."  

After just a few minutes I realized why a Bonsai tree was the perfect symbol for the place I wanted to create.  Think about the Bonsai, it begins as an ordinary, unremarkable plant.  But with patience, effort and care it is transformed into something remarkably beautiful.  Each session of pruning brings more balance, harmony, peace, and an appreciation of the beauty of nature to the tree’s creator.  Most of us start out with creative abilities that are ordinary and unremarkable but with patience, effort and care we transform our abilities into something remarkably beautiful.  Each time we draw or paint or create something we can experience that balance, harmony, peace, and we learn to appreciate nature and the world around us!  The Bonsai symbolizes that creative journey.  I am excited to invite you to start your journey with us at Bonsai Art Academy!​