NOAH'S ART PAIR AIDS LITTLE PICASSOS IN BAXTER VILLAGE GWEN KODAD, Special Correspondent

Things have changed since Wendi Bojanowski and her parents moved from Louisiana to Fort Mill's Heritage USA when she was in third grade. Heritage is now Regent Park, and the area population has exploded. Wendi stuck to her plan to become a preschool teacher and even married a teacher. But to her surprise, instead of teaching school, she and her husband operate Noah's Art in Baxter Village, an art studio for children.

Her husband, Brian, is not surprised; he always had the "itch" to operate his own business. Brian and Wendi love working with children; they had seen the impact that art had on children in their classrooms. Brian, an artist himself, agrees with Picasso's statement that all children are artists. So seven years ago, they decided to create a place where children could explore art in an environment designed for it, a place where they could get as messy as they wanted.

Just when Brian and Wendi thought they were set with a Tega Cay location, everything fell through. They couldn't find another location in Fort Mill that was right, so they opened their first studio in south Charlotte. Brian says: "Maybe it was a blessing in disguise. Maybe Fort Mill wasn't ready for us yet."

But they found their perfect Fort Mill location when Baxter Village's Market East building opened about a year ago.

Wendi says: "We love Baxter. We love the atmosphere. We're right in the heart of things." As for Noah's Art, Brian believes it's a new concept in Fort Mill. He says, "There are dance studios, sports camps but no art studios for children. The response has been wonderful."

When they started out, they were newlyweds. "We were young and didn't have a lot to lose," Brian said. "Maybe that was good."

They knew they wanted to be together but discovered being together and working together were two different things. Wendi says: "He's the dreamer. I can put the structure to it." Or as Brian puts it, "Put the two of us together - we're a great team."

Now with two young children and Noah's Art locations in south Charlotte, Ballantyne and Fort Mill, life is a little more complicated.

Despite their parents' cautious reactions to their plans to quit steady jobs to open the first studio, Wendi and Brian agree they would be lost without parental support. Brian's father ran the numbers and decided they could make it. Brian says, "He's been an awesome business adviser and mentor." Wendi's parents help care for 3-year-old Blake and 7-month-old Wyatt.

Brian says the creative effort has been both a struggle and a reward.

"People think we are a franchise, but we're not. We created everything, the curriculum, the format, the studio design."

They've learned what works through trial and error. Wendi says some of their most successful ventures happened accidentally, like their once-a-month "parents night out" movie and craft parties. Others, like the full-service birthday parties with coordinated art projects have been big hits with children and their parents. Wendi says, "We take care of everything. Parents don't even cut the cake unless they want to."

If you want to know more about Noah's Art, the Web site is www.noahs-art.com, or you can contact them at 803-547-6212. Depending on the age of the child, the schedule includes classes that emphasize art around the world, or highlight the work of various artists and different art forms. Summer camps and after-school programs allow children to create art on a schedule that works for families.

And just in case you're wondering, Noah is their dog.