Amber Scardino is the Founder and Director of Figment Creative Labs. She started teaching art and providing process art experiences out of her garage when her boys were very young in 2012. She loved watching the children’s amazement when they did fizzy experiments, their excitement when they tinkered and created “their greatest inventions”, and was constantly inspired by the children’s wonder and exploration when at play. This fueled her to continue her work and want to give those experiences to more children. As Figment has grown, so has the menagerie of animals that are cared for at Figment. Amber believes that caring for the animals teaches the children empathy and responsibility and is a calming welcoming part of the work done at Figment. When she is not at work Amber is home with her family on her mini farm which includes cows, goats, a pig, peacocks, chickens, and two dogs and two cats. Amber has a degree in business administration, painting and drawing and art history from LSU, but her passion is providing children with creative experiences that spark exploration, wonder, and play. As a mother of two and coauthor of the book series STEAM Kids, she believes that art should be a stress-free process that promotes self esteem and confidence. She hopes that Figment will inspire creativity in people of all ages, bring families together through art and encourage learning through play.
Heidi Lowell is a local artist who creates her own watercolors with Texas soils and pigments. You can find her art over at www.HeidiLowell.art. She comes to us with an abundance of teaching experience including awards like Teacher of the Year and the District Innovation in Education Award. She is equally passionate about her own art and sharing the creative process with students of all ages.
Jennifer Perkins is an artist, writer and creative content designer who has lived in Austin for over 25 years. Much like many people here after graduating with her degree in psychology she never left the area. She also never used that degree and instead has worked in the craft industry for over 20 years. During that time she has hosted television programs, was the editor-in-cheif of a magazine called Kids Crafts 1-2-3 and authored 5 books 4 of which are about children’s crafts. She still works regularly with HGTV and has created content for Michaels, the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Amazon and more. She also teaches creative workshops around the country.
Jennifer started at Figment teaching adult craft classes in the evening sharing her love of all things vintage and kitschy with everything from felt tree skirts and bookbinding to Easter egg dioramas and shell covered mermaid heads . After occasionally substitute teaching for AISD when her two children were younger Jennifer realized she missed working with kids in a creative capacity. Recently at Figment she has transitioned into afterschool teaching and will also be a summer camp instructor.
When not at Figment Jennifer can be found chauffeuring her two teenagers around, roaming the aisles of a flea market or at home in South Austin with one of her art journals covered in paint.
Bonnie Brushwood is a ceramic artist, educator, and all-around creative sparkplug who believes that art is best when it’s a little messy and a lot joyful. A graduate of Texas State University with a BFA and all-level art teaching certification, Bonnie brings a rich blend of studio practice, playful exploration, and deep community involvement to everything she does.
Her journey into art education began in earnest after years on the road as part of her husband’s magic show, where she first met him backstage—he was on sound, she was assisting a magician, and the rest is showbiz history. While her husband’s popular YouTube series Modern Rogue and Scam Nation grew, Bonnie was raising three wildly creative daughters (plus two dogs and a very opinionated lizard), and steadily building her own body of work in ceramics.
At Figment, Bonnie combines her love for teaching, parenting, and studio life into experiences that help kids tap into their own creativity. Whether she’s sculpting with students, crafting with her girls, or walking the dogs while dreaming up her next project, Bonnie is always looking for ways to bring a little more beauty—and a little more magic—into the world.
Hanny Marin is an artist and teacher from Trinidad, Cuba. She speaks Spanish fluently, and can implement it in the classroom. She has a degree in Film-Making and worked at Haligon Fine Art in Miami where she helped artists realize their creations in 3D. She came to Austin in 2015 to restore a sculpture at Dimensional Place and it was during this trip that she fell in love and moved here in 2017.
Just a few years ago she started working with children as a creative instructor in a bilingual Montessori school. In this setting, she found her passion! Hanny’s favorite thing about process-art with children is seeing them exploring, expressing themselves, and enjoying the process and experience of art.
You will find Hanny teaching in our Creative Pre-k, Hola Arte Spanish Immersion, and Toddler Play Group programs.
With over a decade of experience in Early Childhood Education, Alexis brings a nurturing, creative spirit to every classroom. She recently relocated from California to Austin and is very passionate about helping children discover the joy of self-expression through art.
Alexis specializes in hands-on, process-focused arts that spark imagination and confidence in little artists. Her approach combines patience, playfulness, and a deep understanding of Early Childhood Development.
Outside the classroom, Alexis enjoys making jewelry, exploring new creative projects, and spending time with her little pup. She’s excited to share her love of art with the next generation of makers and dreamers at Figment!
Laura is a Cuban multidisciplinary artist and educator. She graduated from the San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts in Cuba, specializing in sculpture. She’s passionate about installations, photography, and art in general. Creating is her passion.
Laura left Cuba and traveled extensively to be here, leaving behind everything she knew. She is grateful to be able to share her experience with children, as she loves working with them and they are always a source of her inspiration. Laura also studied at the 23rd and C Experimental Art Workshop in Cuba. She attended an Artistic-pedagogical exchange program with the Dora Alonso School and has collaborated on film productions as an assistant art director in San Antonio de los Baños Film School in Cuba.
Laura enjoys working with different materials and media such as painting, printmaking, sculpture, installation, and video art and has collaborated on independent projects and theses.
You’ll find Ms. Laura teaching in our “Llamas” Creative Pre-k class.
Kelsey Bryant is a born and raised Austin-ite who enjoys creating with different mediums from acrylic paint to crafting to makeup artistry. She found comfort in creating from an early age and wants to share that with her community.
She graduated from Austin Community College with a degree in studio art in 2022 and hopes to use that to continue her artist career. In her free time, she likes exploring Austin’s ever-changing food scene, exploring the Greenbelt and outdoor trails, playing video games and listening to stories of true crime.
Melissa Stimac is a multidisciplinary artist from Southern California, who has spent several years teaching children’s art workshops. Additionally, she has extensive experience working as a Paraeducator substitute teacher for preschool and K-12 grade levels.
Her favorite aspect of teaching visual art is helping children to bring their own creativity and vision to life.
You can find Ms. Melissa teaching in our “Monkeys” Creative Pre-K Class.
Elizabeth grew up on a little sheep farm in rural Illinois, where her days were filled with the sound of chickens in the morning, the smell of fresh gardens, and the soft rhythm of spinning wool into yarn. She learned early that making things by hand—whether knitting a scarf or painting a canvas—was a kind of magic. Her creative path led her to earn a BFA in Photography from Webster University and an MFA in Combined Media from the State University of New York. She began teaching at the university level in graduate school, and after moving to Austin, found her calling in STEAM education. Elizabeth loves getting hands messy, imaginations buzzing, and ideas growing wild. When she’s not in the classroom, she’s in her studio creating colorful works in combined media and painting.
Adriana was born in Bogotá, Colombia where she graduated with a Marketing and Advertising degree. She grew up on a farm on the city’s outskirts and spent her childhood connected with nature and surrounded by animals. After raising her two daughters, she realized she enjoyed coming up with creative hands-on activities as a way for them to learn and explore. Adriana loved witnessing their progress, nurturing their curiosity, and discovering that she wanted to share her experience with others.
Adriana has worked with families and their children for over 14 years designing personalized activities tailored to each child’s interests. She often uses an immersion approach to teaching Spanish and uses the outdoors as her classroom. She has been described by the families she works with as being “a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend!” In her free time, Adriana enjoys hiking, cycling, camping, or playing pickleball. She is always adventuring and enjoying these moments surrounded by her friends and family.
With a background rooted in both art education and museum work, Kalia brings a unique, student-centered approach to the classroom. As a former Teaching Artist at the UMLAUF Sculpture Garden and a longtime educator and docent at the Blanton Museum of Art, she specializes in creating inclusive, emotionally supportive art experiences. Her teaching emphasizes process over perfection, encouraging students, especially those from underserved communities, to explore their creativity with confidence.
She is currently pursuing a degree in Religious Studies with a minor in Art History at The University of Texas at Austin. As a self-taught artist, Kalia is deeply passionate about championing self-taught art and helping others discover their creative voice, regardless of background or formal training. This passion, combined with her academic studies, allows her to weave cultural, historical, and philosophical depth into each lesson. Through a blend of hands-on practice, humor, and thoughtful dialogue, she aims to make art accessible, meaningful, and personally transformative for every learner.
Stephanie is a fun & energetic multidisciplinary artist who graduated from Pratt institute with a BFA in art education in 2010. She is an accomplished aerialist, yogi & Rollerskater! Her favorite medium to work is currently ceramics, but she also enjoys any form of sculpture, mixed media, printmaking, stained glass etc! She loves blending her all of her loves together as often as possible!
Adriana Cantu, a Latina writer, socio-political advocate and creative writer, was raised in the Rio Grande Valley and later attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas. After college, she returned to Austin and started a blog and website on parenting, which furthered her journey in art and crafting.
Currently, Adriana is a valued member of our party team at Figment, where she can be found on weekends leading birthday parties. She loves every aspect of her job, from helping families create lasting memories to being creative and exploring with the children and pets at Figment.
René is a versatile artist, educator, and studio manager with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Pictorial Arts and an Associate of Arts in Painting. Growing up in the dynamic San Francisco Bay Area, René’s creative work and career have been shaped by the region’s diverse art scene and innovative spirit. An accomplished artist, René’s work has been featured in Content Magazine in Silicon Valley, reflecting her unique voice and the depth of her practice. With a love for travel, she draws inspiration from global experiences, constantly seeking new cultural and creative influences that enrich her work.
In addition to her artistic practice, René has held leadership roles such as Program Manager for a nonprofit organization, where she was instrumental in developing and managing arts-based initiatives that engaged diverse communities. In addition, she created an extensive art and cooking curriculum that empowered students to explore their creative potential and gain confidence through artistic expression.
With a rich background in studio management, René has worked across a variety of creative environments, from tattoo shops to art studios and galleries. This hands-on experience has provided a strong foundation for her understanding of the inner workings of the art world, making her adept at curating and organizing spaces where creativity can thrive.
Originally from Los Angeles, Yesenia has been living in Austin for over ten years. Her journey in early childhood education began when her boys were little, and it became a deep passion of hers.
With a degree in Child Development and years of experience nurturing young minds, she has always loved being part of environments where kids can grow, explore, and express themselves.
Yesenia is thrilled to be able to watch her youngest daughter thrive in this creative space and says being able to join the Figment community has been such a special experience.
When she is not surrounded by art and imagination, you’ll most likely find her with a good book in her hand.
Meet Jessie, our enthusiastic and creative party guide who brings a wealth of experience and a whole lot of heart to every kids’ birthday celebration. After graduating from The University of Texas at Austin with a degree in education, she moved to Smithville, Texas to try out small-town living. With nearly ten years as a first-grade teacher there, Jessie has a deep passion for nurturing creativity, building relationships, and helping children embrace the artistic process no matter how messy it gets!
In addition to her teaching experience, she has led art programs in after-school settings and summer camps, where she’s inspired kids to explore their imaginations and express themselves through fun, hands-on projects. With over seven years in the event industry (mostly helping to craft unforgettable weddings), she knows how to make any event extra special.
When she’s not running parties, she can be found painting, drawing, baking, or diving into whatever creative project she’s currently obsessed with. Recently back in Austin, Texas, she’s drawing endless inspiration from the city’s vibrant, artsy atmosphere.
With her passion for creativity, her background in education, and her event expertise, Jessie is the perfect guide to make every party a unique and unforgettable experience!
Maggie hails from Virginia—Northern Virginia, specifically (think Washington, D.C., not rural farmland). She has a B.A. from The College of William & Mary and an M.Ed. from George Mason University. In 2015, Maggie and her husband moved to Austin “for a year or two” and, like many others, fell in love with the city—they haven’t looked back since.
When she has a moment to herself (aka when she should be sleeping), Maggie creates and sells colorful jewelry and accessories, runs a bookstagram account where she reviews mostly thrillers and romance novels, and recently started a business offering her services as a special education parent advocate.
Maggie spent a decade as an elementary special education teacher but chose to leave the classroom after the birth of her daughter in 2021. She hasn’t once regretted the decision to stay home with her daughter—and now her son, too. After sending her daughter to Pre-K at Figment and falling in love with its creative and nurturing approach, Maggie joined the Figment team as a birthday party guide.
Rochelle is an early childhood education enthusiast who has been working with preschoolers and in the child development field for the past 26 years. Open-ended children’s art and following interests & curiosities of the heart are her jam. She comes to Figment Creative Labs to share in the magic and joy of birthday celebrations and to bring smiles and helping hands to each and every party she encounters.
Rochelle enjoys eating her way through local food spots with her family, raising her plant babies (carnivorous plants are her newest loves), practicing the dance of hula and learning about Hawaiian language & culture with her Kumu and hālau sisters. She currently runs an in-home preschool program that is centered on all things play-based, artsy, and imaginative.
Brooke Nelson is an accomplished Strategic Event Coordinator with a proven track record of planning and executing successful events, consistently achieving 100% customer satisfaction. Her expertise spans event planning, client relations, team leadership, and project management.
Brooke’s career highlights include coordinating numerous events for 40 to 300+ people simultaneously, facilitating communication with clients, and ensuring compliance with demanding timelines. She served as the sole sales and onsite event manager at Cedar Street Courtyard and Malaga, and managed social media content at Speakeasy and TenOak – GDI.
Brooke currently lives in Austin with her partner and two daughters, both currently attending Figment.
Hello! I’m Ms. Kris.
I’m thrilled to join the Figment team as the Birthday Party Coordinator. If you’re looking to plan the perfect birthday party, I’m here to help! Figment offers a magical setting for celebrations, where children can immerse themselves in a unique, creative learning environment.
After many fulfilling years teaching PreK, First, and Second grades at Austin ISD, I recently retired. Now, I feel fortunate to spend my days with our wonderful staff, crafting exciting birthday celebrations, exploring new places through travel, creating memories with loved ones, and taking leisurely walks with our dog, Stella.
