MAKE STUDIO - About Us

Our Story

Our studio is designed to promote exploration, play, and artistic independence with easily accessible materials, comfortable workstations, and lots of great art tools. It is an inspiring place to make art!

Make Studio began in downtown's historic Squire Building in 2010 as a co-operative art space for emerging artists. Christie held the first 'Make Studio' Summer Art Camps in 2014. After a fun and successful debut summer, she set out to continue Make Studio as a place for young artists and families to create. We LOVE what we do, and are passionate about providing positive art experiences for kids. Make Studio will always be a welcoming place to be creative.

Art Education Philosophy:

We promote a choice-based approach to art education. Choice-based art education regards students as artists and offers them real choices for responding to their own ideas and interests through the making of art. Children learn traditional process and techniques during demonstrations, and are encouraged to experience the work of the artist through authentic learning opportunities and responsive teaching.

Through our doors you will find a working art studio, children playing and creating together, student work on display, and an inviting space to spend time. By creating together, side by side or through collaboration, children learn that art is BIG, it's meant to be shared, and it's about community and making discoveries together.

Christie Stepan, Owner + Director

Christie holds a BA in Studio Art from Colorado College, MFA from San Francisco Art Institute, and is a CO certified K-12 Visual Art teacher. In addition to operating Make Studio, she is the Art Teacher at Soda Creek Elementary, and served on the Colorado Department of Education Visual Art Standards review committee. Previously she was an Adjunct Art Instructor at Colorado Mountain College, managed the fine art publishing studio at Riverhouse Editions and worked as a fine art printer at Oehme Graphics and Fancy Ink Press.

My approach to teaching art comes out of my own fine art practice, and my experience in teaching movement and specific techniques through dance and soccer. Another influence has been my parents, who are both teachers. They taught me the importance of play in learning and development, and that children should be nurtured through positive and varied experiences. One of my greatest successes in opening Make Studio has been to witness the enthusiasm for discovery that each child brings to the studio and to their artistic practice. As a mom to two curious and active boys I am so grateful to provide a place for their creativity to grow.

Sierra McKee received a BS in Art Education from the University of Vermont, where she focused on pursuing her own artistic endeavors in efforts to better inspire creativity in young artists. Sierra is especially drawn to capturing the world through photography using color film and antique cameras. She is additionally fond of working with mixed media; taking advantage of recycled materials, found objects, and natural materials. Sierra's greatest passion is encouraging others to get in touch with their creative side, helping them realize that art is all around us! After a year teaching a class of fabulous Preschoolers in Burlington, VT, Sierra spent the summer exploring the US in search of art, culture, friends, and new outdoor adventures. She settled in Steamboat in 2015 with her fiancé and their puppy, Hugo. In addition to teaching at Make Studio, Sierra is the Art Teacher at Steamboat Mountain School, coaches snowboarding at SSWSC and loves to spend time mountain biking, camping, and creating art.

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