I’m Carrie Leeb, an artist/designer/teacher/entrepreneur/Bay Area native, and I love making things. I feel most alive when I’m creating, and I want to impart this same passion for exploring, experimenting, and making to as many people as I can (like you!). Spark Studio’s a place where this happens.

As a teacher and a mentor, I’ve inspired and encouraged many adults and kids to tap into their creative side and experience the joy that goes along with creating. I believe the essence of making is learning to trust the unique inner voice that’s in each of us, combined with a lot of experimentation and play. I love hearing people say, “I didn’t think I was creative, but I had so much fun making this!” Connecting creatively to ourselves and making new discoveries is energizing - no wonder it’s fun! Spark Studio is a place where people of all ages are free to express themselves creatively. It’s a place to discover the masterpiece that each of us is.

And now...a little about my background. Before opening Spark Studio, I had a three different careers, all of which involved creativity (actually four – parenting is super creative, too!). First I was an award-winning graphic designer and illustrator in New York, and then San Francisco. After a successful 10 year run, I took a year sabbatical in Paris where I studied photography, learned French, and - most importantly - decided to pursue fine art. As a mostly self-taught painter and sculptor, I worked primarily in San Francisco, and also spent time practicing my art (and Spanish!) in Mexico and Argentina. I was represented for years by galleries in Santa Monica and New York, and showed and sold work nationally and internationally. Then, in 2013, inspired by my love of nature, I invented, designed and distributed a product, ReTree - a reusable, modern, wood holiday tree. After 5 years of single-handedly running the business, I sold the company so I could get back to my passions - making art and teaching - and Spark Studio was born!

As a maker, I like making anything and everything, and love teaching what I know. I’ve made furniture by bronze casting, welding and wood working. I’ve made sculptures with cast glass, wood, ceramics, lint, found objects, and I continue to experiment with new materials. I love to paint and draw, and am constantly inventing new techniques using all kinds of media. I continue to have an active practice of taking pictures and I’ve done extensive print-making. I also love doing all kinds of crafts. As a naturally curious person and self-described make-a-holic, I’m always open to learning, and then teaching, more!

Please go to carrieleebstudio.com to have a look at my design, illustration, photography, fine art and ReTree. And to see an article in The San Francisco Chronicle about me and my home I renovated, click here.