Our Founder

Cathy Spencer was born in Henderson, North Carolina and has lived in Atlanta since 1990. Cathy has been working with children in various capacities for the past 20 years. She attended Georgia State University from 1991-1997 receiving degrees in Psychology, with a focus in Early Childhood Development and Art History. Throughout her college career, Cathy worked as a long term childcare provider for families in the Decatur, GA. area. This experience proved invaluable and greatly influenced her education and career path. Upon graduation, she traveled in Europe, South America, Australia and Japan.

In 1998, she accepted a position at the High Museum of Art. Here, she spent four years in the positions of Supervisor in the Membership Department, Assistant Manager of Retail Operations and Coordinator of the Folk Art and Photography Galleries. In September of 2000, Cathy married Michael Spencer.

While at the High, she gained valuable experience in the art industry and recognized the funding challenges and struggle for the continuation of the arts in our society. In her work with children, she had recognized the challenges facing working parents to provide quality after-school care for their children.

Combining her education, experience and passion for child development and art, in July 2002 Cathy founded the Color Wheel Art Studio. She strongly believes that the opportunity for self expression and increased self esteem provided by consistent and quality art education is integral to the development of the young mind and increases the capacity and passion for learning in all areas. To this end, she currently acts as hands on Director of the Color Wheel Studio.

“Color Wheel has exceeded my hopes. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the children create and develop. I am amazed day by day by the incredible people they are becoming and the wonderful parents and teachers who form our “village” to help them”

Cathy Spencer