TEACHERS
PAULA DWYER
Mixed Media, 3D
Paula is a mixed media artist & teacher. Her recent work is a collection of pieces that have evolved from her passion and concern for the earth, mixed with her love of assemblage and working with found and up-cycled materials.
Active in the Santa Clarita community, Paula has been involved in a variety of events and Art in Public Spaces exhibits.
She enjoys teaching classes and workshops to build enthusiasm about environmentally conscious art.
PEIFEN LIAO
Mixed Media & Painting
As an art instructor, I am deeply in love with children's art and creating art with them.
Children possess so much spontaneity, expressiveness, and honesty in their arts. I believe every child has an artist inside them, and my goal is to help them find their artistic voice, trust their ideas and explore possibilities.
CHRYSTAL WALKER
Mixed Media & Fiber Arts
Chrystal was born in Afton, Wyoming - a small rural town with plenty of space to roam - allowing her imagination to take hold. She studied at Weber Statue University in Utah, and The College of the Canyons.
Chrystal teaches at ARTree, and runs her own summer workshops for young artists called, "Creating with Chrystal."
Currently she has been curating and co-running the SCAA Gallery.
SHERI CARLSON
Watercolor, 3D
Sheri lives in Valencia with her husband and daughter. Sheri has been very involved in the community, volunteering with Newhall School District, MOMs club, Metropolitan Educational Theatre Network, Santa Clarita Senior Center and most recently ARTree.
She is a member of the Santa Clarita Artist's Association and loves working in watercolor.
Sheri believes that art should be a part of everyone's life and hopes to bring more creative opportunities to the community.
MICHAEL POWELL
Drawing & Painting
Michael is an artist and musician. He co-owned an art studio in Saugus, CA. where he taught an after school art program.
He joined the ARTree because of how the other instructors seem to enjoy teaching the kids from the community.
Michael has been a resident of Santa Clarita for over 29 years, is married and has six grown children and three grandchildren.
KAREN MARTINEZ
Drawing & Painting
Karen has been an instructor with ARTree since 2016.
She really likes to see students creating art that they never could have imagined creating, by playing with techniques that use special technical tricks and formulas to create unexpected results.
Creatively, she works in watercolor, collage, and pen and ink.
KAY KAMINSKI
Collage & Printmaking
Kay has been an instructor with ARTree since 2013.
She believes that everyone can get into their own creative "zone" and be active, free thinkers and makers. She especially loves to see students on their feet, moving to make art, making it a multi-sensory experience and outlet.
Creatively, she works in collage, embroidery, printmaking, photography and jewelry-making.
MARIA FENELON
Art Journaling
María Fenelon is a bilingual (Spanish/English) Certified Expressive Arts Practitioner and owner of inantu Expressive Arts. Maria sees art-expression as a powerful tool in the journey of emotional healing and well-being.
Through simple relaxation techniques and various art-forms including drumming, visual art, and movement, she assists her clients in releasing stress and connecting with themselves.
JOSE BARBA
Painting
Jose has been a resident of Santa Clarita for 38 years. He is a member of the Santa Clarita Artists Association.
He is best known for his seascapes which are painted with pastels, acrylics and oils.
Jose has a passion for teaching. He loves to share his techniques with students of all ages.
He has a wife, 2 daughters, and 2 grandchildren.
JENNIFER LOPEZ
Drawing & Painting
Jennifer is an artist with a MA in art education from the Academy of Art University. She enjoys teaching children and adults, while helping them see things from a creative perspective. She also adores gardening, the theater, traveling and anything creative.
"My goal as a teacher is to help students develop their artistic skills which they can build upon."
IDELLE OKMAN TYZBIR
Clay & Drawing
I love teaching art and have been doing so for the majority of my life. I taught elementary school art with the Newhall
School District and a Junior High School Metal Arts summer program.
Currently, I teach watercolor to adults.
ARTree is providing a tremendous opportunity for our community, and I am very happy to be affiliated with this organization.
ALICIA DIANNE
Drawing & Illustration
Alicia Dianne is an award-winning artist from Brooklyn, NY. Her work has been featured in a number of art exhibitions. Alicia has been recognized with honor status at the School of Visual Arts, where she achieved her BFA in Traditional Animation. She has also received her MA in Illustration from CSU Northridge. Alicia writes and illustrates graphic novels and children’s books, and she has devoted the last several years to organizing workshops for artists in the LA area.
She currently lives in Santa Clarita with her husband, son and growing number of pets.
LESLIE ATIA
Weaving
I am passionate about weaving and teaching others to connect into this healing art!
Weaving is very therapeutic with its motion and rhythm. I personally found healing after an injury and I have been weaving ever since.
I weave with various natural fibers and I love to accent my work with beads.
I weave various fashion accessories, home and wall decor.
I have lived in Santa Clarita for over 25 years, and am a member of the Santa Clarita Artists Association.