Tia joined Pixar Animation Studios in 1993 as a Digital Painter during production of the studio’s first feature film, Toy Story. She has subsequently held the Shader Art Director role on five other films, including Pixar’s Monster’s Inc., A Bug’s Life, Brave, and others. As a Texture Art Director at Pixar, Tia was responsible for specifying the color and texture of every object modeled for a film. As the Manager of Art & Film at Pixar University, the educational branch of Pixar, Tia helped to foster the continuing education of Pixar employees; teaching art classes and offering writing, film, and a wide variety of related classes to its 1300 employees.
Prior to Pixar, Tia was a background painter at Disney Feature Animation from 1980 to 1994, where she worked on a variety of acclaimed animated films including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast, Tron, and others.
Her paintings for films have been in exhibits around the world: MoMA, Japan, England, and beautiful Oakland, California, among other exotic locations. Currently Tia is working as a Visual Development artist at Walt Disney Animation, and is on a project in its early development.
When she’s not at work, Tia spends her time painting watercolors—doing her best to keep computers as far away as possible. She is a signature member of the Northwest Watercolor Society and California Watercolor Association.
Tia is a graduate of Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. She currently resides in Moraga, California with her husband (and co-Holton Studio artist) Paul Kratter.
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Face the Camera and Say Cheese
Watercolor on paper, 12″ x 9″. Painting only: $800.
Framed in a No. 408 BC—1 5/8″ in walnut with clear oil wax finish. With museum glass. (Inquire for other frame options.)
Painting framed as shown: $1,275.
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Guarding Alcatraz
Watercolor on paper, 6 1/2″ x 10″. Painting only: $400.
Framed in a Custom Mitered—3/4″ in walnut with Nut Brown stain. (Inquire for other frame options.)
Painting framed as shown: $775.
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Things Are Looking Up
Watercolor on paper, 16 3/4″ x 21 1/4″.
Framed in a No. 238—2 1/2″ in walnut with Nut Brown stain. Gold wax finished slip.
$1,975 framed.
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Lonely Boulder
Watercolor on paper, 5 1/2″ x 8 3/4″. Painting only: $350.
Framed in a No. 440—1 7/8 in walnut with clear finish. (Inquire for other frame options.)
Painting framed as shown: $725.
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Tower Bridge
Watercolor on paper, 16″ x 21 1/2″. $1,200 unframed.
Filigree
Watercolor on paper, 17″ x 11 1/2″. $1,200 unframed.
Nature’s Comb
Watercolor on paper, 16″ x 11 1/4″. $600 unframed.
Grand Palais Staircase
2019. Watercolor on paper, 11 3/4″ x 15 3/4″. $1,500 unframed.
Peachy
2019. Watercolor on paper, 7″ x 12″.
Framed in No. 1.22—3/4″ with fancy corners. Mahogany with clear finish.
$475 framed.
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Harvest
Watercolor on paper, 10 1/4″ x 13 1/4″. $700 unframed.
Sitting Pretty
2019. Watercolor on paper, 11 1/2″ x 18 1/2″. $1,000 unframed.