About Us

  It all began in art class...with Scott's dad as the teacher. High school friends turned sweethearts, Tracy and Scott started dating in November of their senior year. After a courtship of almost three years, the couple married mid-way through college while majoring in Art Education. Their teaching careers began in 1985 near Springfield, IL.  

 The Snowmans taught art full-time at local educational facilities after obtaining certifications through the Illinois State Board of Education in Art, Language Arts and Computer Science. The couple served a combined 65 years in the education field teaching grades kindergarten through graduate level college. Subject areas include drawing, painting, graphic design, web design, photography, ceramics, sculpture and art history. .

Snowman Studios was founded in 1989. Early clients included the U.S. Department of Agriculture, local schools and the Springfield Art Association. Scott and Tracy Snowman moved back to their hometown of Canton, IL after finishing their first master’s degrees at Sangamon State University (now University of Illinois at Springfield) majoring in Art and Children’s Literature. 

The couple continued to grow their business and family. They built a home near Canton Lake in the summer of 1993, where they raised their two children. The home was also where they established their business office as well as a painting/drawing studio and two separate sign and mural painting studios. 

In the fall of 2009, Scott and Tracy Snowman had a life-changing experience when they were introduced to Mr. Bill Cook of Bloomington, IN, for the first time. The late Mr. Cook was the founder of the largest private medical company in the world, COOK MEDICAL, INC. In his later years, he supported a number of massive restoration projects including several in his hometown of Canton, IL.  His son, Carl Cook, continues to run the business today. They were fortunate to win a commission to paint four large murals for installation on the south side of Fulton Square in Canton. The murals were completed in the summer of 2010. In 2011, the Cook group commissioned Snowman Studios again to create a 14’x20’ mural for the wall behind their new boutique hotel built near the square in downtown Canton. Snowman Studios Inc. also provides sign service and artistic specialty projects such as gold leaf work for properties owned by CFC, Inc. (owned by the COOK GROUP) in Canton, IL. 

  Snowman Studios became Snowman Studios Inc., an Illinois S-Corp. in February of 2011. Later that year, the couple published their first children's book titled Twas' the Night Before a Green Christmas. The book spurred their interest in reindeer, and they began research on the animals as a potential hobby. Becoming caretakers for real reindeer enabled them to observe and record the dynamics of reindeer behaviors, which became subject matter for future books including: Reindeer Kisses, Snowy Secrets, Reindeer Ruckus and Igloo The Baby Reindeer. The books are available through both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The next book is set for release in late 2025. 

   Snowman Studios Inc. owned and operated Canton's FIRST downtown art gallery. The location at 35 S. Main offered a wide variety of art services including art restoration, fine art commissions, sign design, framing and private art instruction classes. The building was sold in 2017 and all operations were moved back to home base so they could focus all attention on an unexpected new venture: reindeer farming and publishing their children's books. 

  In 2015, Scott and Tracy adopted two reindeer. They were empty nesters looking for a fun challenge that turned out to be the fastest growing business idea of their lifetime. They opened their farm to the public as an experiment in late November of 2015. People loved visiting and they saw an opportunity to develop the small family farm into an agritourism destination.  Snowman's Reindeer Farm was born under the Snowman Studios, Inc. umbrella. This new aspect of the business grew to serve 12-15,000 visitors a year by 2018 and employs between 30-40 staff members. The farm brings in visitors from hundreds of zip codes throughout the Midwest, helping to feed the local economy.  This venture also provided a framework for product development as the gift shop generated the 2nd largest income stream for Snowman Studios Inc. 

 Snowman's Reindeer Farm was sold to lifelong friends Jason and Dawn Parsons. Tracy and Scott remain as volunteers and consultants in addition to still having one reindeer under their care: the first-born reindeer, Miss Sugar Plum (born in 2018). Snowman Studios, Inc. continues. 

The Snowmans reside in rural Canton, IL most of the year. They also spend time at their home in Traveler's Rest, South Carolina. They continue to work and develop special projects as well as provide art services in their communities. Their love of art, education, animals, children, and Christmas continue to come together in interesting ways. Scott and Tracy Snowman don't believe in "retirement". Rather they choose to keep exploring and growing in new ways to make the world a better place. Their efforts have enabled them to support a wide variety of charities including: local schools, churches, YMCA, Humane Society, Fulton/Mason Crisis Center, American Cancer Society, St. Jude, United Way and many other local fund-raisers. Giving back is at the core of their belief system and caring for animals continues to be a daily exercise in humanitarianism.