What We Do

Art Factory Studios is a community-centered artistic hub. Facilitating creative experiences through education, and events since 2009, Art Factory Studios creates impactful, artistic opportunities for corporations, adults and children – at in-person, destination and virtual locations. Corporate clients include; Apple, Adobe Systems, Applied Survey Research, Cabrillo College, Premiere Capital One, Safeway, County Park Friends of Santa Cruz County, Live Like Coco Foundation and many more. Whether you are seeking a corporate team building event or youth art instruction we bring you the gift of incredibly thoughtful services that usher you into the vast possibilities of the creative sphere.

We are thrilled to announce that we have a NEW STUDIO SPACE in the Aptos Village Square!

Art Factory instructors bring cross-curricular experience to art education, using art as a medium to explore everything from history to mathematics to science. With an emphasis on art history, technique and creative expression, students will develop or expand their art practice. Our classes are held in a positive, non-competitive environment.

Yvette Contois; Founder/Director and Art Instructor

With an early love for Art and Art Education, Yvette began her formal education in Philadelphia, starting as a high school student attending Moore College of Art. She went on to receive her Degree in Visual Communications & Graphic Design at The Art Institute of Philadelphia and soon after, received her BFA & K-12 Art Teaching Certification from Rosemont College, PA.

Yvette has been giving art lessons to adults & children since 1990. Her guiding passion is bringing art into the lives of her students and building strong creative teams in the workplace.

The Art Factory has been Yvette’s creative vision, long before it opened in the Spring of 2009. She enjoys the studio’s continual growth and looks forward to the future expansion of its programs, to serve more of our county’s youth, teen and adult community.

When not in the studio/classroom, Yvette continues her freelance career as a technical illustrator and commercial artist and creative team builder.

Visit Yvette here.

Meet our Staff

Our instructors are professional artists and experienced art teachers that can't wait to bring more creativity into your life.

Danielle Lewis

Studio Art Instructor

Danielle has graduated from Cabrillo Community College with three degrees in Studio Art, Liberal Arts and Science and Art History. She has been selling her whimsical ceramic pieces in the gallery A Sense of Place in Fresno, CA.

Danielle has a lifelong passion for art and art history and loves sharing her knowledge with others. “I love that moment when I see a child's face light up when they see their creation come to life.”

Jason Matthews

Character Illustration Instructor

Jason earned his Studio Art degree from Cabrillo College in 2020, and began his role at the Art factory shortly thereafter. He currently teaches Character Illustration, a remote drawing class that introduces students to the magical world of visual storytelling. His professional endeavors have included graphic design, storyboarding, game development and caricature art. In his downtime, he broadens his creative horizons by capturing illustrious nature photography.

Kalil Mitchell

Drawing & Painting Instructor

Kalil received Associates degrees in Fine Arts, Art History, and Liberal Arts from Cabrillo College in 2019 and her BFA in 2021 from San Jose State University. She specializes in pictorial arts, focusing on drawing, painting, and printmaking. She has exhibited works at Sweet Lorraine Gallery NY, Theta Belcher Gallery CA, and the Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center CA. Kalil loves teaching art to all age groups. Kalil regards art as a beautiful modality for self expression, healing, belonging, and problem solving.

Autumn Kobayashi

Studio Art & Fiber Art Instructor

After studying at Cabrillo College to receive their Associate of Arts degree in 2019, Autumn began working from San Francisco graduating from SFSU with their BFA in 2021. They have taught art education to artists of all ages and have developed a passion for encouraging young creatives to explore their interest in the arts. With a focus on figurative imagery, Autumn works with both digital and traditional mediums to blend observations with fabricated concepts influenced by Anime, Surrealism, and naturally occurring patterns and textures.

TIINA SEPPALAINEN

ARTFUL ADMINISTRATOR

Tiina is a self-taught landscape artist and painter of nature. A native of Finland, she grew up exploring the natural world and doing art from a young age. Retiring from a tech career allowed her to dedicate time to her painting practice and continue her art education. She uses water-based media to represent our unique coastal areas. Tiina was selected to participate in the 2023 Capitola Plein Air. She regards art as a never-ending journey that teaches us how to really see, soothes our souls, and brings beauty into the world.

Website and IG

https://www.tiinaseppalainen.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tiinaseppalainen/

Because community matters... Here at the Art Factory we feel the ripple effect of deep community connections. We believe in the goodness that grows as we join forces to strengthen our neighborhoods, beaches, schools and communities. Since 2009 we have donated more than 200 art classes and events to local school and non-profit fundraisers.

Live Like Coco:

We treasure our long history with the Live Like Coco Foundation. From beach clean ups to our Free Little Library in the Polo Grounds County Park to countless art projects in the park at the annual fun run in Pinto Lake, we love partnering with this foundation founded in love, literacy and community. Learn more about the Live Like Coco Foundation here.

County Park Friends:

Another cause near and dear to our creative hearts is County Park Friends, an organization who we love to develop and deliver content for. Please follow their exciting new project "Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park". This will be a play environment for children with and without disabilities to foster compassion, acceptance, connectedness and joy. You can donate to this project here.

Strock Real Estate:

We love our neighbors at Strock Real Estate. Their generous donations help fund a student to attend our weekly after school program all year long. Thanks Strock Real Estate for supporting art in our community in so many ways!

Pajaro Valley Unified School District Expanded Learning Program:

Every week brings something new... We value our ongoing partnership with PVUSD Expanded Learning where we bring art lessons to both elementary and middle schools throughout PVUSD each week. Whether we are drawing, painting or creating collages, we find there's no better way to wind down the school day than engaging in relaxing, creative art exercises. Learn more about PVUSD Expanded Learning here.

Upcoming community projects to be excited about:

Live Like Coco Fun Run, April 20, 2024 - Live Like Coco
A Bookmobile for Watsonville Charter School for the Arts - Read more about this project at Live Like Coco.

Treasure Cove at Jade Street Park - County Park Friends

*Now Open* Children's Reading Garden at the new Aptos Library

Your creative retreat since 2009

Yvette Contois; Founder/Director and Art Instructor

Meet our Staff

Community Connections