Christi Belle is a Santa Ynez Valley local, the founder and co-owner of Art Spot. She is passionate about art and believes that creating is what we were all made to do. Ultimately, Christi hopes to inspire others through the creative process. Fun, energetic and encouraging as an instructor she lives for the moment when students light up as they step back and look at what they’ve created. Art Spot was born out of a desire to share her passion for painting and gifted ability to teach students leaving them comfortable with a paintbrush and proud of what they’ve accomplished. At the inception of Art Spot, Christi, as a natural born explorer, was unready to put down her roots in one location and thus began Art Spot to satisfy both pieces of her passions. After two years as a mobile business she and her wife Maria opened Art Spot “The Landing” to offer a space for ongoing classes, workshops and kids camps. In 2019, they opened up a larger studio that would serve as a community art center where kids and adults alike could drop in to create on their schedule.

Maria Belle is co-owner of Art Spot and has an insatiable desire to try her hand at any and all art mediums she can. She grew up helping her father in the wood shop and learned stained glass working alongside her grandparents creating beautiful window panes for their home. Maria first became acquainted with Art Spot when taking a 6-week acrylic course where she fell in love (in all the ways). She operated and later owned a children’s consignment store in the Valley for 8 years and comes to us with knowledge of business that can only be learned with experience. Maria is a self proclaimed “Jack of all trades, and master of none” and has begun developing a place for youth focused classes, workshops and camps with Art Spot.

Sandra Dotson is our newest team member at Art Spot. Originally from Germany, Sandra now calls California her home. With a background in virtual reality and retail sales, Sandra brings a wealth of expertise to our marketing efforts. Her experience as a small business owner has equipped her with invaluable insights into social media and email marketing strategies, enhancing our online presence. Sandra is not only a skilled marketer but also a passionate crafter, as demonstrated through her jewelry business. Her love for art transcends mediums, whether it’s watercolors or needlepoint. Sandra’s enthusiasm shines through in every project she undertakes, reflecting her dedication to creativity. Thrilled to be part of the Art Spot team, Sandra is excited to embark on this new creative journey with us, bringing her unique perspective and skills to further our mission of fostering artistic expression and community engagement.