We recently connected with Amber Scardino and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Amber, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I come from a family of hard working entrepreneurs. My parents and grandparents always set good examples of what a strong work ethic looked like, and they always expected a lot from me. When I went off to college, I was only interested in taking art classes. My parents insisted that I take a more well rounded selection of classes and stood firm that I take business courses. In the end, I majored in General Studies with minors in Business Administration, Painting and Drawing, and Art History. Today I am very thankful for their guidance and the push to study business. I would like to think that I would work hard at anything that I do, but in all honesty I love the business that I have created so much that working hard doesn’t feel like working most of the time. Seeing the children’s faces when they enter Figment is such a reward to me. Kids often cry when they have to leave Figment. This is not ideal for their parents, but it is a bit validating to my amazing staff and myself that we are providing a great experience for their kids. We often hear that Figment is a child’s “happy place”, or that they want to live at Figment. All of these things keep me getting up, motivated and ready to start the day. We continuously strive to improve, so there are always things to be done.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Figment Creative Labs is an art space for all ages, but we specialize in working with children. With the littles we focus on process art where children develop creativity and risk taking. With process art, the focus is placed on the process of creating, rather than the end product. They are gaining confidence and finding their own creative vision. As the kids grow with the program we introduce more Maker Ed projects and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education to keep them engaged and growing as learners.. The projects always vary and they get to work with different mediums, so there is something for everyone. We recently added a kiln to the studio space, so we now offer clay classes as well. The kids are always learning through play, building relationships, and problem solving. Students are developing empathy and responsibility while playing with and caring for Figment’s furry friends (the animals at Figment). We offer Toddler Playgroups, a Creative Preschool, Homeschool Classes, After School Classes, we do Home Visits, host Art Birthday Parties, Holiday Workshops, Summer Camps, Clay Classes for adults and children, Spanish Immersion Art classes, Parent’s Nights Out… Our capacity and our offerings keep growing as I add staff that bring new skills to share with our community. Figment is a creative space where anything can be dreamed up, skills can be nurtured, messes are made, fun is had, and children feel heard and empowered.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I am not afraid to make a mess.
This is something that is very hard for some parents. I get it. Luckily they have a space like Figment where they can send their children to if they appreciate the process, but don’t want the mess in their own home. I suggest that kid’s have a designated art space in their home whenever possible. It could be as simple as pulling out an art cart and throwing a tarp over the kitchen table, setting a creative space up in a closet, or taking it outside where things can be hosed down. Kids need space to be creative, explore different materials, and tinker. Washable paint can be washed away, messes can be swept up, but the memories created can last forever.
I follow the children’s lead and encourage exploration and discovery.
I really listen to children and I build flexibility into the lessons so that I am able to switch things up quickly to go in a different direction if that is what would make the learning experience more engaging for the group.
Sometimes teachers and parents are very set in their plan, so letting go of it can be a hard thing to do. I believe that children are our best teachers and we are only creative guides here to help them figure things out, keep them safe, and answer questions along the way. One of my previous employees, Sarah Lantz, used to say “Meet the need and the need goes away.” This is a powerful concept during early childhood because we don’t always understand why a person has a need and they might not be able to communicate why. Understanding isn’t really necessary – if we can soothe a need it softens. I believe this applies in nurturing a child and when cultivating their creativity.
I want Figment to be an art studio that is truly for the children. I want them to feel comfortable to take things off the shelves and create freely if they feel inspired. When they have a spark of an idea I want our creative guides there to nurture that spark, ask questions, and enable that idea to come to fruition. Figment is where imaginations run wild and where creativity is found.
I remain dedicated to keeping my career and my passions aligned.
What I would tell my own children or anyone that would listen is: Follow your interests. Don’t just take a job to fill the hours or make a buck. Even when you are young and just trying to get experience and want something to put on your resume. All of the little things lead you to where you are meant to be in life. You will do things and meet people along the way that will take you towards your next opportunity. Make sure you are doing things that bring you joy and that you are always developing skills that will make you a better fit for the next opportunity that comes your way. Life is too short to work day to day at a job you don’t like. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that we all need to make a buck to get by, but fill your time being surrounded by people that inspire you and bring you joy, and do things that bring you or others happiness.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My family. I started my business because I was home with my boys and doing process art with them. They inspired me to create projects that kept them engaged. The excitement they got from the invitations to create, sensory play, and experiments fueled my excitement to keep offering them new exciting challenges. My husband Jeremy has always been there as a great supporter of what I do. He has always been there to listen and give good advice whether it be financial advice, technical guidance, or advice about managing my team, as well as listening to me about daily struggles. He has a strong, steady way of being, lots of knowledge, about everything honestly, and ethically he can not be matched as a human being. He is very patient and helps me think through challenges and find solutions. When I struggled with public speaking he coached me and helped me gain confidence to put myself out there no matter how terrifying it was for me. He reminds me of Robert Duvall’s character in The Godfather. He plays the Don’s Consigliere, a level-headed adviser. Jeremy is my most trusted friend that guides me in many of my hard to make decisions. It is very similar to that, minus the “taking people out” aspect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://figmentcreativelabs.com
- Instagram: @figmentcreative
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/figmentcreative
- Linkedin: Amber Levis Scardino
- Yelp: Figment Creative Labs
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/FigmentCreative/
Image Credits
Melissa Stimac, Crissa Fisher, Hanny Marin, Amber Scardino