Andrea Diamond

Nancy Needham

Magnify

When third generation artist Andrea Diamond and her husband, Richard Borland, were both laid off from their jobs last year they decided to turn the negative situation into a positive one: they opened an art studio. With her 25 years experience of teaching math, science, and art; and his background in business at companies like Amgen and Disney it seemed like the perfect solution. It turns out that it was.

Programs After School is located across the street from the Lakes in Thousand Oaks and offers art classes to children of all ages. Diamond uses her skills as a former math teacher in the class Baby Van Goo Goo to introduce 18-36 month toddlers colors, shapes, and numbers in nature. Science and geography are emphasized in Junior Van Goo class for children ages 4-6. Children ages 7-14 have so much fun they don't even realize they are learning cultural history, geography and (gasp!) even science when they take the class Di Vinci's World.

Read our interview with Andrea Diamond to find out more inside the creative mind of this wonderful entrepreneur and artist.

24/7 with...Andrea Diamond

My work:  Director of Education for art/science enrichment company and Director of art studio

My family:  husband; daughter - 17 1/2; stepsons  - 14 & 10; 2 big doggies and 1 fish!

My favorite posession:  my brain (I've been enjoying it while I possess it!)

Words I live by:  "If you fail to plan, you will plan to fail."

I can't live without:  French fries with mustard, lemonade, my lip liner

I am most proud of:  my loving marriage, my daughter's sensibilities, mystudent's achievents

I'm inspired by:  children and nature

What keeps me awake at night:  HOT FLASHES!!!

If I could be totally wild I would:  I am totally wild and I am doing exactly what I want.

I am guilty of:  eating a lot of chocolate when no one is around

One thing I never want to do age gain:  giant water slides

Right now I'm reading:  The Elegant Universe by Brian Greeene

The one item that has changed my life:  a cell phone

Favorite website:  I like to Google Dumbo Octopus

The most important thing I ever lost:  confidence in myself

My best friend says I am:  crazy and hyper

I still can't get the hang of:  acting my age

The world would be a better place if only:  junk food were nutritious

Something most people don't know about me:  I get stage fright before every class I teach.

The worst idea I ever had:  spray painting my white standard poodle hot pink for Halloween - it didn't wash out!

Whose diary would you most like to read?  my teenage daughter's

Best one-line you ever heard:  "You are assuming I care."

At the end of a long day, the first thing I want to do is:  get a bear hug from my hubby

Always...Act class.

Never...Lose your cool.

Programs After School is located at:2219 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.Suite 105Thousand Oaks, CA 91362Phone:  (805) 404-8240