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. She then established a ceramics program at The Studio School and continued teaching in the Ceramics Studio through 2014. She holds her Masters of Education in Integrated Teaching through the Arts, and previously 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

Alexis Bambach

Alexis made the move to Colorado in 2023 from Asheville, North Carolina. 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. 

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 taught at the elementary level from 2009-2022, 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. 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. 

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.

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.

Susannah Welch

(she/her)

Originally from Tennessee, Susannah moved to South Boulder in the winter of 2020. She has had a variety of experiences working in education: teaching within the US and internationally, conducting wildlife educational outreach, and serving as an academic advisor. She loves working with people and has always been passionate about art, taking courses and pursuing her own explorations in painting, ceramics, jewelry-making, and decoupage. In her free time, she enjoys arts and crafts - of course! - and spending time with her family and dogs, especially outdoors. 

Grey Grimm

(she/her)

Grey grew up in Boulder with a strong passion for sidewalk chalk! A graduate from the University of Colorado Boulder, with a dual major in Fine Art and Art History, Grey’s passion for chalk became a passion for everything art and creativity related. While in school her focus was oil painting, and she has most recently returned from an Artist in Residence with Chateau Orquevaux in France, where she spent three weeks honing her craft and mingling with international artists of all trades. Grey worked in restaurants and hospitality from ages 17 to 30, using her artistic eye to create chalkboards as well as food photography for the (former) Walnut Restaurant Group. Changing paths during the pandemic and finding her niche with Two Hands Paperie on Pearl Street, Grey is currently the merchandising manager and social media content creator, as well as teacher of pastels for the wider Colorado community. You may recognize her window displays the next time you’re downtown!

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. 

Mackenzie Reinhart

(she/her)

Mackenzie is a student with a life-long passion for creating. She is currently working towards a BA in Visual Arts at Naropa University. She has been working closely with kids as a private art tutor to develop their artistic voices and skills for over five years. She has a passion for sharing the wonder of art with anyone who will listen and hopes to spend her life doing just that. Ever since she could hold a crayon Mackenzie has been producing art. Whether it’s crocheting, drawing or sculpting, you will never find her hands void of a project for long.