Christie Slater Hubley

(she/her)

Christie founded Tinker Art Studio and opened the doors in January, 2012. Prior to starting the Tinker, Christie taught third grade at The Studio School, an arts-integrated magnet school in Northglenn, CO, from 2009-2011 and was the founding grade-level teacher. She then established a ceramics program at The Studio School and continued teaching in the Ceramics Studio through 2014. Christie is also an arts-integration specialist--collaborating with classroom teachers to plan arts-integrated thematic units of study. She holds her Masters of Education in Integrated Teaching through the Arts, and her Colorado State Teaching License with an endorsement in Elementary Education as well as Art. She has a BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder. When not teaching or managing the business, Christie enjoys Colorado activities and adventures with her husband, two children, and dog.

Email: christie@tinkerartstudio.com

Mariah Stotsky

(she/her)

Mariah is a Boulder-area native whose passion for teaching is only rivaled by a life-long love of art and creativity. Mariah began her teaching career in general education before transitioning to teaching art full-time to merge her greatest joys. In just a few short years, Mariah has had the opportunity to teach in many different capacities. Mariah taught preschool, kindergarten, and first grade in a variety of different contexts from Fort Collins to Denver. Mariah then spent a blissful year as a K-6 Visual Arts teacher in the great state of Washington until she was called back home to Boulder by the Rocky Mountains and the blue skies. She is thrilled to be returning to her favorite teaching environment of them all, Tinker. In her spare time, you can find Mariah painting, creating art, hiking with her dog Otis, and soaking up the sun.

Kathy Martin

Kathy has spent most of her career working with children in various arts settings. Earning her BA in dance, Kathy taught ballet, creative movement and contemporary dance for many years. After returning to school, she earned her MA in curriculum & instruction and education leadership. She has further training in arts integration and the impact and power of learning through the arts. Kathy has taught at the elementary level since 2009, with most of her time spent at The Studio School, an arts magnet school in Northglenn, CO. 

Kathy loves being a part of the Tinker team, and loves fostering creativity and community with her students. She has taught a variety of children’s classes and camps over the years.  Whenever possible, Kathy can be found in her garden or creating something with nature.  She also loves hiking and exploring Colorado with her hubby and family. 

Julia Zuniga

(she/they)

Julia is an educator and ceramic artist with a passion for all things art! She studied at FAU where she graduated with a BFA in Ceramics and a Bachelors in Education, along the way earning awards and scholarships for the dedication to her work. After graduation, Julia worked at Atlantic Community High School in Delray Beach, FL and taught IB Visual Arts for 5 years. As an engaged educator, Julia organized Mindfulness student gatherings and Art club events. Julia moved to Colorado from Miami, Florida and is an apprentice at the Boulder Potter’s Guild. She is very excited to be here in Boulder and to be a part of its growing artistic community. When Julia is not teaching or in the studio she enjoys hiking, reading, journaling, and spending time with her husband Shawn and her pets Ruca and Sly. 

Jalaina Felker

Jalaina grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she took all the art classes and dance classes she possibly could. She attended CSU where she received her BFA in Art Education with a concentration in painting in 2019. Jalaina began her career as a middle and high school art teacher as well as a dance instructor. She is currently in grad school at Lesley University and will receive her MFA in January 2024. As an MFA candidate, her work deals with the female experience and disorienting the male gaze through figuration and abstraction. When Jalaina’s not creating or dancing you can find her in nature, playing with her dog, or trying new restaurants downtown. 

Erica Podwoiski

Erica is a figurative artist who was born and raised in Metro Detroit, Michigan. In 2010, she graduated as Valedictorian from the Columbus College of Art & Design in Columbus, Ohio, where she majored in painting, drawing, and printmaking. As a BFA student, Erica gravitated towards figure painting and portraiture, which remains at the center of her artistic practice today. Podwoiski's work has been featured nationally, in pop-up shows at the historic Belle Isle Conservatory in Detroit and the Newhouse Hotel in Denver, in traveling exhibitions with the Ann Arbor-based Gallery Project, and most recently at the Gallery of Contemporary Art  (GOCA) in Colorado Springs. Erica received her MFA in painting & drawing from the University of Colorado at Boulder in August of 2017. As an MFA candidate,  she taught undergraduate classes in figure drawing and painting, introductory oil painting, and introductory drawing over a course of six semesters. As a teacher, Erica strives to instill a fearless approach to art making, encouraging personal growth through media exploration and experimentation. Her goal is to foster a bridge between art and the outside world while helping each individual student develop their own technical skills and artistic voice. Erica currently lives and works in Boulder, where she enjoys running, hiking, hanging out with her cat, and frequenting rock concerts, galleries, and 24-hour diners in her free time.

Lydia Russell

Lydia is a lifelong artist and musician with a passion for teaching and exploring the cultural significance of the arts. She studied painting, drawing, and ceramics from a young age, and taught for 3 years alongside her childhood painting teacher (and dear friend) Nancy Bunnell. This was a wonderful experience which taught Lydia to love connecting with young artists - creating art as a child had always brought her great joy, inspiration, and healing, so it was deeply fulfilling to help others develop some of those same creative tools. Lydia is very grateful for the opportunities she has had to develop her identity and practice as an artist, and believes that access to supportive arts education is deeply important for all people and communities. Lydia recently moved to Boulder after finishing her degrees in Anthropology, Music, and Art History from Tufts University, and is thrilled to be part of the Tinker community. When she’s not assisting classes or working at the Tinker front desk, Lydia loves painting, playing the piano, singing, cooking, and exploring her new home in the Rockies!

Kaitlyn Shirley

(she/her)

Kaitlyn grew up in San Diego, California. She began her Bachelors in Art Education at San Diego State University and was able to teach art as a volunteer to both school-age and adult students. Kaitlyn recently moved to Boulder, Colorado to finish her Bachelors at CU Boulder and graduated with a degree not in Art, but in History. Her artwork focuses on the divine feminine and the reclamation of woman's power through mixed media collage and oil painting. When she isn't working or painting, she enjoys camping, hiking, exploring new places in Colorado, and spending time with her Dog, Deanna Doo.

Ashley Kim

Ashley is a student at CU Boulder who is pursuing a degree in Elementary Education. She is a Colorado native who grew up in Longmont, just a few minutes away from Boulder. She enjoys working with kids and has spent time working in after school programs, nannying, and volunteering as a summer camp counselor. Her love for creativity and art manifested in many years of playing violin and piano, and has now led her to Tinker! Ashley is so excited to be joining the team at Tinker this year and is looking forward to bringing the skills she learns here into her future classroom. When she's not at the studio, you can find Ashley reading, scrapbooking, and exploring all of the wonderful things that Boulder has to offer. 

Alexis Bambach

Alexis made the move to Colorado last year from Asheville, North Carolina. She is new to Boulder and is eager to immerse herself in this vibrant community. Alexis graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors in Mass Communications and Leadership Distinction in Community Service. During her college years, she undertook internships at three distinct art organizations, uncovering a passion for leveraging her communications studies to advocate for the arts. Post-graduation, Alexis dedicated her efforts to the nonprofit animal welfare sector, where she took on the role of a volunteer coordinator. She is thrilled to join the Tinker team to reignite her commitment to fostering the arts within the community! In her free time, Alexis enjoys hiking, traveling, reading, concerts, and spending time with her beloved cat, Snow, and dog, Rosie. 

Amelia Parcell

Amelia is a student at the University of Colorado, Boulder studying psychology with a minor in anthropology and fine arts. As an alumnus of New Vista High School, she is familiar with the way exploration-based learning cultivates inquiring and passionate minds. With regards to her studies at CU, Amelia is especially interested in studying the human dimension of environmental justice as well as curating educational spaces that foster growth and creativity in students. Within her studies of developmental psychology, she is interested in creating positive learning environments focused on engagement with the natural world and exploring relational authenticity. She is a passionate advocate for outdoor education and hopes to encourage curiosity, wonder, and imagination in students. In her free time, Amelia enjoys adventurous activities such as hiking and camping as well as creative channels such as gardening, painting, and reading. 

Livi Craner

(she/her)

Livi is an inspiring young artist that enjoys sharing her passion for creativity with those around her. She fell in love with art at a young age and has continued to pursue her passion for creative expression. After graduating from Weber State University with an Associates Degree in general science, studying psychology, she found her calling to study Art Therapy at Naropa University, earning academic scholarships along the way. Livi gravitates towards painting, ceramics, and charcoal drawings but loves exploring new art techniques and projects. She recently moved to Boulder from Salt Lake City, Utah, and has enjoyed every second of her time exploring the outdoors, creating art with friends, practicing mindfulness, expanding her art portfolio, and studying hard! Her goals at Tinker include encouragement of individual art styles, smiles, confidence, and self-expression. She plans on using her degree to help provide support and opportunities for children/teens struggling with mental health in the community. She believes art heals, encourages fearlessness, protects, and motivates. When Livi isn’t in the studio, she likes to spend her time creating, traveling, laughing, and making a positive difference.