Meet Our Instructors

The Art Spot Silverthorne Makerspace works with a variety of independent instructors to offer classes for youth and adults. Check out the events calendar to learn more about drop-in classes and session based programs!

Erika Donaghy

Erika started painting in 2017 after taking a watercolor workshop with friends and was immediately hooked. Making art changed the way that Erika saw the world; and allowed her to find greater appreciation in the beauty of the tiny details along the trail, and that is the feeling she hopes to give viewers through her work. While watercolor began her artistic journey, Erika also creates functional pottery, murals and teaches art classes.

Pamela Churman

Pamela started making beeswax candles many years ago as gifts for family and friends and it became a life long love affair with all things beeswax. Recently, Pamela was looking for a fun art activity that anyone could enjoy with little or no experience when she discovered acrylic pour painting. She and her daughter starting experimenting with the medium and were quickly hooked. When Pamela is not in her studio creating, she is either on the lake or in the woods or dancing at a live music event. She is a member of the Silverthorne Art Board and a co-owner and operator of the Sausage Queen food cart.

Becca Spiro

Becca Spiro is the owner and founder of The Frosted Flamingo. Becca grew up in a creative household and she believes that art should be a shared experience, just like a delicious meal or an exciting vacation. Becca founded The Frosted Flamingo to bring joy and empowerment to people through creativity and artistic creation. The Frosted Flamingo provides children and adults with a rare hands-on experience—an opportunity to tap into your inner artist and make something that is uniquely yours.

Ben Whitmore

Ben Whitmore has been a carpenter, designer, and maker in the creative and theatrical spaces for 20 years. He was previously the Technical Director for Theatre SilCo where he honed his skills as a theatrical technician and artistic maker. Now he runs Bardic Mountain Workshop, a custom carpentry and woodworking business. Ben teaches woodworking and supervises the woodshop at the Art Spot. Outside of the woodshop, Ben enjoys board games, movies, and all things GEEK… especially Dungeons and Dragons! He has a YouTube channel called Peak D&D, dedicated to his love of D&D and being a geek in the mountains! Check out his website here.

Katie Salazar 

Katie Royce-Salazar is a fully licensed and insured Colorado Visual Arts Educator K-12. For the past 14 years, Katie has taught elementary art and she has run a private art enrichment program through the Town of Silverthorne since 2009. To learn more about upcoming art classes, please check out her Art Class website. 

Kayle Burns

Kayle has a passion for anything creative and loves weddings and events! Kayle began working in the floral and event industry by helping friends and family plan their special day. In 2014, she purchased Petal & Bean. Outside of Petal & Bean, Kayle enjoys the outdoors, coaching the Summit High School Girls Basketball team, hiking, golfing, and spending time with her family and friends.

Brittany Josie

Brittany is a lifelong artist who spends most of her free time creating and learning new mediums like recycled art and jewelry making. After writing a book of poetry during quarantine, she shifted her career from the corporate world to art and has never looked back. Brittany is a teacher and creativity coach who believes art is everywhere, and that it should be a fun, low-pressure experience.

Jill Gordon

Jill Gordon has been an artist for 30 years. Her interest in art began by attending workshops and lessons in watercolor. The turning point for her was her first acrylic class, she loved the bright colors and the many different things you can do with the acrylic medium. Jill's paintings have been shown all around Summit County as she was a member of the High Country Artisan Gallery for 10 years and has shown her work at Arts Alive and Summit Locals Art Market. Her paintings have also been featured at the La Jolla art society gallery in San Diego, California.

Amanda Jesse

Amanda received a Bachelor of Arts, in Visual Arts & New Media, in 2015. Amanda has multiple years of experience teaching drawing and painting, and has had countless works of art displayed around the country. Amanda's work began with a focus around figurative studies, but has since grown in the direction of landscapes after moving to the rocky mountains. She loves the malleability of oil paint and the expression of creativity it offers. She is the owner of "Your Positive Print", whose mission is to spread environmental awareness through fine art. The land around us is so much more than a setting for our vacations, or our day-to-day lives. Reduce your carbon footprint & strive to leave Your Positive Print".

Lisa Hueneke

Lisa is an artist and creative consultant that works in a wide range of mediums including drawing, painting, mixed medium, printmaking, and screen printing. Her background spans the art industry as a gallery consultant, arts writer, designer, and director of a community art center. Lisa has Bachelors degree in Fine Arts and a degree in International Studies from Iowa State. Through her social action project ‘Cause for Alarm’, Lisa screen prints messages on thrifted clothing to foster an awareness of our climate crisis and inspire change. She also runs L.Hue Creative, an on-call service for art curation, creative direction, and special projects. Her creative services may be accessed at l-hue.com.

Carrie Brown-Wolf

Carrie teaches, writes, edits, and plays with all things art. She’s an avid photographer and mixed-media artist, showcasing some of her work at the Art Spot and in local coffee houses.  In addition to creating art, she’s an award-winning author and former instructor at Colorado Mountain College. Carrie believes the art of creation is pivotal to mental well-being and builds classes to enhance personal expression. In addition to a masters in education from Columbia University Teachers College, she is certified in art therapy. Carrie's involvement in the community is important to her, and she donates 10% of art sales to Advocates for Victims of Assault, is on the SilCo Theater Board, and has been a mountain mentor for years. To register for any of Carrie’s classes or find out more, please go to www.carriebrownwolf.com