Love this place! We've been going for years and have a very full collection of works our kids have painted. We're slowly building a collection of vases and dishes that my spouse and I have decorated too! Painting our pieces outside is such a peaceful experience. One of our favorite parts of coming here is seeing Nina - she's always so friendly and energetic. read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Green vase with sgraffito - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

My wife and 10-year-old niece had fun painting pottery at Brushstrokes Studio in Berkeley. This is a neat little place/concept. My sister told me they used to come here, then stopped for a period of time but have recently returned for multiple visits because my niece's friends got them back into it. This is a cool spot because you can drop in without a reservation and paint pottery. The studio fee was $18 per person (includes all the paint and supplies you need) plus the cost of the pottery item you choose. My wife chose a Small Nesting Tray ($23) and my niece chose a Rectangular Pen Cup ($18). After 10.25% sales tax, the visit cost $81.20 total. You have to come back at least a week later to pick up your finished pieces. We sat outside on the back patio. This is a humble studio. The complimentary water ran out so I walked to a nearby cafe to get some. There was also complimentary Kirkland Signature green tea. The restroom, located outside, is tiny. Nice staff. The vibe is inclusive and family-friendly. read more

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We recently went to Brushstrokes Studio to make clay imprints of our son's hands and feet, and overall it was a mixed experience. We scheduled an appointment through their website and specifically mentioned that we wanted hand and foot clay imprints. When we arrived, the staff member told us it would have been helpful to include that information in our appointment request, which was a little frustrating since we had already done so. Thankfully, they were still able to help us, and the appointment itself went really well. The staff was patient and kind, and the process was easy and enjoyable. We made a set with both hands and feet together, along with two separate hand and foot imprints. As parents, these kinds of keepsakes are really special, and we were excited to get them back. The reason I'm giving a lower rating is the turnaround time. We were told the pieces would be ready within three weeks. When three weeks had passed, I called to check in and was told they still weren't finished and would need a few more days. In the end, it took almost a month. Normally that wouldn't be a huge issue, but I was hoping to give them as a birthday gift for my son's grandparents, so the delay was disappointing. The finished keepsakes are lovely, and I'm glad we did it. I just wish the communication and timeline had been more accurate so we could have planned accordingly. read more

Came here after the rave reviews and I can see why! The staff is so incredibly kind, there's plenty of paints and designs to choose from. The seating is plentiful and it's just overall such a good location highly recommend! I mentioned to the lovely girl at the front it was our first time there and she took her time explaining the stations, the different items to paint, the paints and seating in great detail. I wasn't afraid to ask further questions and never felt rushed. Price was really good too for the quality of the products. They do have plenty of seating and even saw them help set up a party upstairs. Out pottery wasn't ready in the one week that was promised, but when I called to inquire about it they let us know they had to refire a plate my sister made to ensure it was food safe so I really appreciate the attention to detail! read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Seasonal pottery! My favorite holiday! - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had so much fun at Brushstrokes Studio! The second you walk in, you're greeted by the very friendly staff. There is an array of pieces to choose from, as well as a great selection of underglazes, stencils, and painting tools. They do the glazing for you! You just drop in, paint, and pick your piece up a week later. It's a great experience that I highly recommend! read more

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If you're looking for something to do with your kids on any given day or need some adult time to relax and paint this place is it! My niece and I had a great time. Staff is friendly and helpful. Pricing is decent for the experience! 10/10 would recommend! read more

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This place is so cute and fun! We walked in on a Saturday afternoon and it was quiet al with a few groups there. The staff was friendly and very helpful. They have lots of pottery to choose from, which makes us want to come back! read more

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I had so much fun painting pottery here! The outdoor seating area feels both intimate and communal, and felt like a perfect date spot. The staff was helpful with our questions. read more

The place itself is cute, but on my visit the staff made the experience slightly unpleasant. Two of the employees were arguing with each other and talking about their personal lives--super uncomfortable. The music was super loud in the building and felt more like a house party than a painting studio. On our visit, they were running a summer program for kids. Not an issue in and of itself, but at one point all 3 workers were talking to each other inside for 15-20min before we overheard one say something along the lines of "wait, there aren't any more campers outside right?" there weren't, but definitely a worrisome thing to not be sure about. overall a very sweet experience, and maybe the staff were just having a hectic/bad day. not my first choice anymore though. read more

Found this place through TikTok and went on Thursday with a friend! It was so fun and relaxing. I recommend this place to every one of all ages!! There is also a discount for college students so it's perfect for a chill day away from studying. read more

My boyfriend and I came in yesterday after learning about their fall evening special and it was such a great experience! The staff were so friendly and helpful especially with getting started on your pieces. If you don't finish, they let you hold on to it and come back to finish. We will definitely be back for more pottery painting dates! read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

This cute studio has got it going on - especially if you are trying to entertain a crafty kindergartener. My little girl spent a full hour here just painting and enjoying the space. They are wonderfully encouraging and inclusive here, all staff are excellent and kind people. I highly recommend an afternoon at the studio. read more

Did this as a fun/simple birthday activity and it turned out great! Staff was really friendly and approachable while letting you take free rein on your project. A little pricey but worth it! read more

One star because the experience painting was decent and the studio is nice, but I went a year ago with my family and made some tiles with my baby's footprint on them. I paid for the tiles and some frames for them, but when I went to pick them up they said the frames are out of stock and they would call me when they get them in. Months went by with no call - I started calling every 2-3 months and kept getting the same answer about them being out of stock and back-ordered. It's now been one year and I requested a refund on the $80 in frames that I never received and was told I would have to come in person to pick up cash or wait a week until the owner is back in town. I wasn't planning on being in Berkeley so I waited. I just called again and got hung up on twice before leaving another voicemail. I don't understand why they never called me, why they never offered me a refund or even just ordered some frames retail (I saw some on Amazon) to make things right. No offer of a discount or gift card - nothing... just me having to feel like I am harassing them for items I paid for. Clearly I will have to go down there in person now - with two kids and a full time job I just don't have a lot of time for this, but $80 is a significant amount of money. Awful way of doing business, awful customer service. I would definitely recommend going elsewhere - they don't seem to really want your business and don't deliver on what you pay for. read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Came here for the first time to catch up with a friend and we had a great time! The staff was super friendly and helpful and walked us through prepping our ceramics to paint and checked in on us to make sure everything was going smoothly. The paints are all stacked up against the wall and show what each color will look like after being fired. It takes about a week for them to finish firing and glossing your ceramics so we're excited to see how ours turn out! read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Love this pottery painting spot where you pick an item paint it at your leisure, then pick it up after firing a week later. They charge a $18 or so sitting fee plus your pottery. It's about the same as Color Me Mine but you're supporting a non-chain. If you get a membership for $50/pp, the sitting fee is waived for 3 months. There's a good selection of colors and items. I'd love some classes on techniques and painting. Like if they had a design and showed everyone how to do it step by step. We love going here as a family and relaxing. Indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Super fun, my daughter loves this place. Feels expensive IMO so for us it's more of a special occasion place. read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love this place so much that I went twice in 2 weeks. My partner took me here as a Mother's Day outing and I had the best time. The staff is super nice and helpful. We painted mugs and imprinted our daughter's foot and hand on them. The second time I took my mom and painted mugs for her and my dad. Best gift ever! read more

3 years later, and it's still my favorite place to do art (outside of my art studio). They're pretty Covid safe. Masks are mandated. Though, the tables were filled up. Ambience was relaxing. Prices are still reasonable. Didn't feel rushed too. read more

This place was the sweetest little adventure. Took my 4 year old, artist in the making, niece to make something on a special aunt/niece day. We got there right when it opened and even though the purveyor (maybe owner?) Jenna was cleaning up, she came right to our side and explained everything in a really accessible and unintimidating way, which was great because my niece can be a little shy with new faces. She ended up choosing a vase to make for her family, and I think loved the process and is looking forward to seeing her creation in a week. The deets: - It's $14 per painter + the cost of the item. Not cheap, but you could spend a long time here if you are a planner/perfectionist. Items range from $10-$60 - you can bring snacks. We did. This aunt is learning that kids (and adults) need snacks at all times! - they will keep your item for 2 months if you can't get there right away. I was tempted to paint something as well, but 1. Decluttering and 2. Not local. Enjoy! read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Painter at play - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

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This is a lovely art studio! Came here with some girl friends to paint pottery. There was ample street parking. The ambiance in the studio was nice and quaint. I loved how there was indoor and outdoor seating available. The staff was super accommodating and patient with us as we were all beginners. We spent about 3 hours painting in the studio and it was a great time. Overall, it was a relaxing way to spend a Sunday. read more

Friendly staff, fun pieces to paint, great for parties. I'll defnlinitely be returning.

Color Me Mine but Berkeley - and better! Adorable ceramic painting studio in West Berkeley. They have a $14 studio painting fee and then the price for what you actually paint starts at about $8, if I remember correctly, for smaller bowls and glasses. I picked out a $12 flower vase (which I still use today!) that was great for its price and is something I hopefully will treasure for years to come. Brushstrokes is kid-friendly, but also great for all ages in general. When I came in on a Saturday evening, a kid's birthday party had just finished wrapping up and a group of middle-aged women walked in with wine and charcuterie and started making mosaics, so definitely anyone can come here! The instructors are helpful and their guidance is simple. There's never any rush from the management to clear out or speed up, and they also offer small snacks for sale. Once you're done painting your item, you wash your brushes and dishes outside, and hand off your item to an employee, who takes down your information. After that, it's a one-week turnaround to be glazed, fired, and read to pick up! read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Flower vase - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Kids-friendly ceramic painting studio with so many colors and pieces to pain with! I went here with my boyfriend to paint ceramic pieces for each other. I painted a sushi bowl for him and he painted a snowman-shaped candle burner for me. The instructions were simple and they have a wide selection of ceramic pieces to paint! I went in November and they had Thanksgiving pieces like turkey shaped ones, and Christmas ones like Santa, reindeer, snowman and more. There were so many kids painting, and loved how the people working here are so kids-friendly. They even have small snacks on sale in case you get hungry while painting :) Also, I've seen several parents come in with their babies to do the hand/foot printing, if you are looking for that. Lastly, the pieces are glaze-fired and ready to pick up in 1 week :D read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Candle burner - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

At first, we though that this was a little pricey considering that it was a $14 studio paint fee. Discovered quickly that it was worth every cent because they don't rush you (it's not by the hour with a minimum). My daughter LOVED it here and frankly, so did I... I'm even considering taking one of their fine art classes. The vibe was fun and creative and the owner made me feel right at home with a lovely cup of green tea. I've attached a photo of the fox - my 7 yo thought he was missing a little something, so we knit him a scarf. read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Looking for a great little studio to get your paint on? Come to Brushstrokes! Learned about this place through a Baby's Day Out event organized by 510families.com. They had all kinds of different ceramics to paint and also glass fusing which I'm definitely going to go back and try. They offer various classes and even offer a Parent's Night Out where you can drop off your kid there and go out for the evening. We ended up getting our son's footprints on a tile as a keepsake as well as making Mother's Day and Father's Day presents for the grandparents using his footprint. It was really special and I can't wait to get the finished product in a week. I had a ton of fun and was really happy to come across some place that is so family friendly and specifically has events to accommodate parents with kids of various ages. Super cool! The staff there was super helpful and friendly. I definitely had no qualms about asking for assistance when needed. We also got to meet the owner who was there helping parents put footprints on tiles. Only gripe is parking in this neighborhood is a pain in the butt so expect to be circling for at least 10-15 minutes and walk to get there. read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Getting baby feet on a mug! - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Super fun spot to create art. Also great to make a memorable piece with your little ones hands and/or feet. Have fun!

I don't consider myself to be very artistic, so painting ceramic mugs was actually more stressful than I would've liked it to be. I was hoping for more of a therapeutic, paint-your-stress-away session, but ended up worrying about if the colors would turn out the way I wanted them to or the way my brush strokes were going in all different directions. They have a large shelf with a variety of pottery pieces to choose from. Once you've made your selection you're free to let your creative juices flow. There were a lot of rowdy kids when our group first arrived. Once they left, it was amazingly quiet -- we were actually able to hear the classical music playing in the background. In the end, I just ended up with a ugly mug. read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

The people who work here are incredibly patient and helpful, even when it's busy. There are nice spaces both indoors and outdoors. You do end up paying kind of a lot for a finished piece, but it's worth it to have something handmade if you like that sort of thing! read more

What a fabulous pottery place to hold private parties upstairs. Upon reservation, you get the entire room to your group, tons of pieces to choose from, huge table for up to 12 comfortably and lots of paint colors. There's always a staff person around to answer any questions. There are extra tables to hold food/beverages and gifts. The place gets lots of sunlight, but if it gets too warm, there's a oscillating fan to cool you down. Great place for kids and adults. We paid about $30 per person which includes the 3hr room reservation and up to $16 valued piece to paint. Plenty of street parking. Staff are super nice and accomodating. read more

We LOVE Brushstrokes! We're lucky enough to have it within walking distance from our house so it's become one of our go to places for creative play. The staff is super friendly and helpful. They have a ton of pottery painting options and their always offering different deals and discounts. The deals are great because most places don't offer any & you can easily pay up to $100 for just two kids to paint. We usually go to Brushstrokes on Mondays or Tuesday when they have their Can Food deal. If you bring in 3 cans per person, your studio fee is free! (between 5-8pm) They also have an upstairs studio for classes and parties. My daughter had her 4th birthday here and loved it! The party fee covered the space, an instructor to help, any pottery piece per kid to paint, and a custom bday plate with the childs name and each guests handprint. We love having Brushstrokes in our neighborhood! Great place for families! read more

The cutest place with the most helpful and nicest people. We have gone there to make our baby's hand and feet clay impression and Also made a mug w his feet ink print. For the first session we had to make an appointment which was very easy. They were very flexible w the baby. We didnot feel pressure about time once we were there. We took our time and had fun with the process. The second session was the coloring session which was more fun for us than the baby ! The staff were very helpful with giving us tips to how to paint etc since my husband and I are not artsy at all. We have not seen the final product. So far 5 star in my books! We love this place and we drive from SF to it. read more

Super nice and helpful staff. They are so great with toddlers and go out of their way to make sure you have a fun experience. I drive a bit further just to come here. Added plus is the outdoor paint space. And they have booster seats! Yaaa! And a bathroom read more

We just had our Christmas staff party at Brushstrokes and oh what fun it was! I'm glad we had a private room and the personal help from Kristen - she helped out so much and gave us great tips! We painted pottery and was definitely an activity that brought out our creativity. Looking forward to going back and trying glass fusing! read more

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Reason for visit: spontaneous painting adventure! Visit date: November 15, 2011 First time? No. I love it here! There's always a little bit of anxiety at the beginning of my visits because I have no idea what to paint, but there is a ton of inspiration on the walls. The ceramics selection is grand; there are some 'usual' items and some 'specialty' items which change with the seasons. There is a great selection of paint and brushes (and all other supplies) and the staff is very helpful. This place is slightly addicting...in the best of ways, of course. read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Wall o' brushes and paints. - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

This is an amazing place, Penny did an amazing job and really supported me. What's her snap?

We just had our daughters 4th birthday party there and it was a blast. Very clean and organized and Brianna was such a great host and even made me a cup of coffee when I mentioned I had not had a cup yet! Most important the kids enjoyed themselves. read more

Brushstrokes Studio - Thank you Brianna! Kaia had a blast! - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

Love Brushstrokes! Super family friendly environment with attentive staff. I have been coming here for years when creativity strikes and I want to paint. I think i will start participating in the classes they offer soon as well! read more

*taps fingers lightly on the keyboard* Where to begin. First and foremost I have to say...To the mom who yelled at her son - complete with scoffs, eye rolls, and "I can't believe it..."s - for stamping a few sharks on the frame that he made for his Grandma: You. Are. LAME. (as hell) If the kid thinks grandma wants some sharks, let him have at it! Who the hell cares?! Don't yell at the poor kid and tell the entire room that he just ruined the present and make him feel like crap. But whatever. The sharks were tight and were way more creative than the cookie cutter theme you had going on. With that said: I stumbled upon Brushstrokes after trying to find a local Color Me Mine. It was closer, the studio fee was a little cheaper, and yelp approved. I went with my 'niece' when my brother and his girlfriend had a last minute work meeting and we spent a good 3.5 to 4 hours there. The place is kinda on the small side - probably much cozier in winter than it was during the summer - and fairly crowded for a weekday. We must have come at a pretty busy time though because the place died down after hour #2. We walked in and were greeted with a nice Hello and went straight over to the wall to pick out our pieces to paint. Some of those tables need to be rearranged though because it's really hard to get down and thoroughly look at the ceramics when peoples chairs are less than a foot away from them. There was a lot of "excuse me" 's and awkward bumping into people and ughh: being crowded like that reminded me of one thing and one thing only. Muni. At Brushstrokes, no matter which way you turn, you're in someone's way; You can't really ask people to move from their seats because they're in their painting-zone and are totally tuning everyone out. And then you feel kinda bad that you're in their way just as much as they are in your way and... yikes. Kind of overwhelming. I ended up settling on a water bowl for Mochi and my niece picked out a frame to make for my brother and her mom. It took a little while for someone to come over a show us how to do things and I found it a little odd that in the middle of the explanation, the employee would leave and help someone else. She did that three times... It also would have been nice if we were given the "Do these things first" checklist BEFORE we started. I was a little thrown off that once we started painting, the employee walked from her desk and handed the checklist to us that was filled with a bunch of things that we were supposed to do, but weren't told to do and thus didn't do, before starting. That was kind of annoying... Also, I decided to go all out and paint some letters to have stuck onto Mochis water bowl. They were like $1.50 each (!!!) and theres a little sign on the basket of ceramic letters that says "These letters must be adhered to a surface!" So I picked out 5 letters - $7.50 mind you - only to be told (AFTER I PAINTED THEM) that "Oh I'm sorry, letters adhere to almost all surfaces....except waterbowls!" Super. So now I've got a water bowl sitting in my kitchen with a bunch of loose letters clanking around in side of it because I haven't quite figured out the safest way to secure them to the outside... :( Once the kid and I finished, we signed our names and turned our things in only to not be called back after a week. Once I called in, though, I was told that our things had been ready for a while. Greaat... So...I think maybe I'd go back again. But between the two of us, we spent $75!! Picture frames, although considerably small, are $30, Mochi's water bowl was $15, $10 (each) studio fees, and $7.50 for some letters. But whatever: my nieces mom and my brother liked the frame, Mochi hates her waterbowl (as expected) but we had a good time painting. At least we know the routine now and don't have to rely on anyone to tell us what to do! read more

Brushstrokes Studio - the water bowl that is full of letters and not water because Mochi hates it and I dont know what to do with the letters. - Art Classes Near Me - Berkeley, California

I came here with a friend to get her new baby's feet imprinted for a cute sign that says "shoes off please". Apparently, she needed to schedule an appointment, but it was totally worth it. She is specially assigned a nice lady assistant to help her roll out the clay, get the baby ready and decorate her sign. The upstairs is fantastic and baby friendly, with a couch and chairs for breastfeeding, baby toys and a changing table. Awesome. They were super kid friendly and very nice and tolerant of little baby's "I'm so tired I can't fall asleep" fussing. I love the vibe and will probably go back to paint something for this big kid (points at self). :) Update: The lovely business owner PMed me to tell me that pottery painting is not just for kids. (yea! I don't have to steal my friends baby to go!). There are nights that picnic baskets with wine are encouraged. Sign up for the email list. ;) read more