About Us

Our founder, Tamara Clary, graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and later earned an Art Education Certification from Meredith College. She began her career as an art teacher, inspiring creativity in students across Wake County Public Schools, Mecklenburg County Public Schools, and Charlottesville City Public Schools.  

In the late 1990s, Tamara transitioned from teaching to founding TC Artworks, Inc. Here, she focused on creating stunning decorative finishes for ceilings, walls, floors, and cabinetry in both residential and commercial settings. As a commercial interior designer and lead construction manager, she successfully transformed over 53 commercial spaces. Her work, known for its artistic flair, has been showcased on the *Extreme Makeover* and *American Biker* TV shows, as well as in numerous local newspapers and magazines. For more than a decade, she served as the lead decorative finisher for The Cheesecake Factory, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of their restaurants in Raleigh, Durham, and Charlotte.  

In 2014, Tamara combined her passion for art with education by opening a full-time art camp and art school. She specialized in art camps for children, adult art classes, workshops, and artist retreats, creating a vibrant community focused on creativity and learning. In 2020, TC Artworks, Inc. faced a major challenge when the company had to close due to the global pandemic, marking nearly three decades in business. However, Tamara's dedication to art education remained strong. In the summer of 2021, she reopened her art school and track-out camp under the name Tamara Clary Studio, LLC, located in North Raleigh, NC. Since then, this initiative has grown into Creating My Art, a brand that reflects Tamara’s vision and passion for art education, classes, and creativity.  

We all love Ms. Lu! 

Lu is the mother of three wonderful children, Chris, Mathew, and Jill, and grandmother to Alex & Logan. 

For over twenty-six years, Lu and her husband Doug owned Certain Things, a beautiful & unique ladies' clothing boutique, located in Cameron Village. Doug battled cancer for several years, and sadly, he lost his battle. 

Lu began teaching with Ms. Tamara in 2016. She is an inspiration to us all, and our students adore her!

After visiting our city for over nine years, Maria moved to Raleigh in 2021 to be closer to her son and 5-year-old granddaughter. Raleigh is where Maria calls home. 

Maria was a teaching assistant for 20 years in Kindergarten, along with 11 summers as a Day Camp Director in Somers, NY, with attendance of 300+ Kindergarteners through 6th graders.  You can say that working and teaching children is her passion.  

Our students love Ms. Maria! She is loving and kind.