Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephenie Zapata.
Hi Stephenie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a Jersey City native, and my journey with Tiny Artisan Studio really began long before I opened the doors to our physical space. I’ve worked in early childhood education for over 10 years, and throughout my career, I developed a deep appreciation for how children learn through creativity, exploration, and hands-on experiences. I was especially drawn to process art—the idea that the experience of creating, experimenting, and discovering is just as important, if not more important, than the finished product.
That philosophy eventually became the foundation for Tiny Artisan.
I actually started Tiny Artisan by bringing art directly to children through mobile events. Before there was a studio, I was traveling to different locations and creating art experiences for children wherever I could. Starting this way allowed me to develop my ideas, connect with local families, and see firsthand that there was a real interest in the type of creative experiences I wanted to offer.
As Tiny Artisan continued to grow, so did my vision. Eventually, I decided to take one of the biggest leaps of my journey and open a physical studio right here in my hometown of Jersey City. Opening Tiny Artisan Studio was a huge milestone for me. It meant taking something I had started from the ground up and giving it a permanent home in the same community that helped shape me.
I wanted the studio to feel different from a traditional art class. Tiny Artisan is a process art studio, which means we focus on exploration, creativity, and the experience of making art rather than expecting every child to create the same finished product. Children are encouraged to experiment with materials, get messy, use their imaginations, make their own choices, and create in a way that feels authentic to them.
Making the transition from early childhood educator to entrepreneur has also been a journey of its own. I understood children and child development, but running a business required me to develop an entirely new set of skills. I had to learn to trust myself, take risks, adapt when things didn’t go as planned, and continue moving forward even when I didn’t have every answer.
Over time, Tiny Artisan has grown into much more than art classes. We now offer early childhood programs, camps, birthday celebrations, special events, and a variety of creative experiences for children. One of the most rewarding parts has been watching families return year after year and seeing children grow with us.
Building a small business hasn’t been a perfectly straight path. There have been challenges, uncertainty, long days, and plenty of learning along the way. But every stage—from hosting mobile events to opening the studio and expanding our programs—has shaped Tiny Artisan into what it is today.
At the heart of everything, my vision remains simple: to inspire children through art. I want Tiny Artisan Studio to be a place where children feel confident exploring, creating, getting messy, taking risks, and expressing themselves freely.
I’m incredibly proud of how far Tiny Artisan has come, especially knowing that it began with me bringing art experiences directly to children and eventually grew into a physical studio and community in the city I call home. At the same time, I still feel like I’m only at the beginning of what I ultimately want to build.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of my biggest challenges was transitioning from being an early childhood educator to becoming a business owner. I had years of experience working with children, but running a business meant learning an entirely new side of things—marketing, finances, staffing, operations, and everything in between.
Growing Tiny Artisan from mobile events into a physical studio was also a huge adjustment. Having a permanent space came with more responsibility, financial pressure, and a lot of learning along the way. In the beginning, I was doing almost everything myself, and one of my biggest lessons has been learning how to delegate, trust my team, and allow the business to grow beyond just me.
There have definitely been challenges, mistakes, and moments of uncertainty, but each one has helped me become a stronger and more confident business owner. I’m still learning as I grow, and I think that’s one of the most important parts of entrepreneurship.
As you know, we’re big fans of Tiny Artisan Kids Art Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Tiny Artisan Studio is a children’s process art studio in Downtown Jersey City designed to give children the freedom to create, explore, and express themselves through art. We specialize in hands-on, open-ended experiences where the focus is on the creative process rather than creating a “perfect” finished product.
What really sets Tiny Artisan apart is the combination of art and my background in early childhood education. Everything we offer is created with an understanding of how young children learn and develop. Our environment encourages independence, creativity, confidence, sensory exploration, and, of course, getting a little messy!
Over the years, Tiny Artisan has grown to offer much more than art classes. We offer our Toddler Prep drop-off program, summer camps, sensory art experiences, weekend art classes, birthday parties, special events, and other creative programming for children.
I’m especially proud of the community we’ve built around the studio. We have families who return for different stages of their child’s early years—sometimes a child will first come to us for a class or camp and later celebrate their birthday with us or join another program. Being able to build those relationships with children and their families is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
I want people to know that Tiny Artisan is a place where childhood and creativity are truly celebrated. Children don’t have to be “good at art” to belong here. We want them to experiment, make choices, get messy, use their imaginations, and feel proud of what they create. My goal has always been for Tiny Artisan to be a space where children feel comfortable being exactly that—children.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest advice would be to start with what you have and allow yourself to grow along the way. You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. Tiny Artisan started with mobile events before I ever had a physical studio, and looking back, starting small gave me the opportunity to learn, build relationships with families, and understand what I wanted the business to become.
I also wish I knew that you don’t have to do everything yourself. In the beginning, it’s easy to feel like you have to wear every hat and have control over every detail, but learning to ask for help, delegate, and trust others is such an important part of growing a business.
Most importantly, trust your vision but be willing to adapt. There will be mistakes, slow periods, unexpected challenges, and plenty of moments when you question yourself. You learn so much by simply doing. I’m still learning today, and I’ve realized that you never really reach a point where you have everything figured out—you just become more confident in your ability to figure it out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tinyartisanjc.com
- Instagram: tiny_artisanjc
