Studio in Strawberry Creek Park
Teen Summer Workshops
Painting & Drawing
Crochet & Fibers
D.I.Y. Fashion (Sold Out)
Comics
Animation
Watercolor Classes for Adults Creative Techniques Wednesdays
Watercolor Vacation Sundays
Still Life Fridays
Mini Weaving WorkshopsFamily Workshop (Ages 10+ & Adults) - May 10 (Sold Out)
Adult Workshop - May 16
About Berkeley Painting Club
Join Mailing List
Spring Teen After School & Weekend Classes
(Registration Closed)
Animation
Creative Drawing
Berkeley Painting Club
Teen Summer Workshops
Week long art camps for kids entering 6th-10th grade
Berkeley Painting club provides authentic art-making experience for teens and tweens with a strong interest in art. Students learn new skills and techniques in an environment that supports their creativity and artistic progress. All levels welcome. Our studio is located in beautiful Strawberry Creek Park. Students have lunch and break out in the park every day, and some outdoor art projects are incorporated into the schedule each week. All programs are taught by practicing artists.
9am-3pm Monday-Friday $550 per week
June 8-12 - Animation
June 15-19 - Crochet & Fiber Arts (waitlist only)
June 22-26 - Visual Arts Mix - Painting, Drawing, Printmaking
July 6-10 - D.I.Y. Fashion (waitlist only)
July 13-17 - Animation
July 20-24 - Comics
July 27-July 31 - Crochet & Fiber Arts
Aug 3-7 - Visual Arts Mix - Painting, Drawing, Printmaking
Watercolor Vacation
Each session will start with a short demo of an easy to follow watercolor technique. The rest of the class will be a relaxing space to work on watercolors from your own photos or mine. All materials provided. All levels welcome - complete beginners & more experienced painters. The demo will be on the theme listed below but participants can work on any subject they choose.
Creative Techniques in Watercolor
Wednesdays 5:30-7
April 22, 29 & May 6, 13
4 classes $175 or $50/class
Watercolor Vacation Sundays
(Realistic Techniques)
Sundays 4-5:30
May 10, 17, 24, & 31
4 classes $175 or $50/class
Watercolor Still Life
Fridays 10:30am-12noon
May 8, 15, 22, & 29
All 4 classes $175 or $50/class
Join the Mailing List Here
Let me know what classes you are interested in for the future here
Animation Summer Workshop
Lije MorganIn this week long animation workshop, students will explore a wide range of animation techniques from character movement and environment design to effects, compositing, and beyond. We’ll experiment with both physical and digital mediums, playing with hand-drawn animation, cut-outs, stop motion, and computer-based tools to understand how motion can shape emotion, meaning, and story.
During the first half of the course, students will build core animation skills through guided projects and playful exercises. In the second half, each student (or collaborative group, if preferred) will develop their own short film using the techniques and mediums they’ve grown excited about.
This class is rooted in experimentation and play: trying new materials, imagining new worlds, and learning how animation can transform the simplest shape or gesture into something full of life. This class uses provided iPads and Apple Pencils. Lije’s previous students’ work
Monday-Friday 9am-3pm $550
To register click on the selected session below:
June 8-12 - Animation
July 13-17 Animation
Crochet & Fiber Arts Summer Workshop
In this immersive summer workshop, students will explore the tactile world of fiber arts, transforming thread, yarn, and fabric into unique 2D and 3D creations. We’ll experiment with a wide range of traditional and contemporary techniques, from the structure of weaving and knitting to the playful possibilities of crochet and soft sculpture.
Each morning, we’ll dive into guided demonstrations and exercises, covering everything from making your own looms to crafting three-dimensional plushies and filet crochet. We’ll even take a brief step into printmaking to explore cyanotype, using the sun to create beautiful blue-and-white prints of our textile work.
In the afternoons, the studio becomes an open lab. Students can choose to embark on a long-form project or continue exploring the morning’s medium at their own pace. Whether you’re interested in functional craft, creating characters, or experimental art, this week is all about the joy of making by hand.
Monday-Friday 9am-3pm $550
To register click on the session below:
June 15-19 - Crochet & Fiber Arts
July 27-31 Crochet & Fiber Arts
Visual Arts Mix
Painting, Drawing, Printmaking
In this immersive summer workshop, students will explore two dimensional visual art media including painting, drawing, printmaking, and collage. We’ll experiment with a wide range of traditional and contemporary techniques - from drawing from life and color mixing to open ended projects using collage and paint.
Each morning, we’ll start with guided demonstrations and exercises, providing instruction and prompts to get students started with various media.
In the afternoons, the studio becomes an open lab. Students can choose to embark on a long-form project or continue exploring the morning’s medium at their own pace.
Monday-Friday 9am-3pm $550
To register click on the selected session below:
June 22-26 - Visual Arts Mix - Painting, Drawing, Printmaking
Aug 3-7 - Visual Arts Mix - Painting, Drawing, Printmaking
D.I.Y. Fashion Summer Workshop
In this five day camp, students will find unique garments at the thrift store and learn a range of textile manipulation techniques to customize them! We will play with color and texture using fabric dyes, sun prints, embroidery, and patchwork applique with hand and machine sewing. Each morning we will learn a new technique, and have the afternoon to practice it in individual and personalized ways. Students will gain an appreciation of textile arts, a better understanding of what goes into making the objects surrounding them, and fun ways to express their personality with their wardrobe
Monday-Friday 9am-3pm $550
To register click on the session below:
July 6-10 - D.I.Y. Fashion
Comics Summer Workshop
In this workshop we will explore the fundamentals of comics with prompts and exercises designed to build skills and introduce students to new ways of approaching comics and drawing.
Each day will start with a drawing/comic lesson and then students will learn how to apply those skills to their own work. Instruction will cover:
- Character design and character writing
- Environments and world building
- Perspective drawing and using different points of view and camera angles
- Thumbnailing, storyboarding, and panel layout
- Coloring comics: explore techniques using markers, color pencils, and possibly watercolor
- Putting together the skills of storyboarding, penciling, inking, and coloring to make your own amazing comic
Students will receive individual support to move forward with their personal vision. They are encouraged to bring forward their own characters, voices and stories while they hone their craft. Students will create a finished small comic/zine of their work by the end of the session.
Monday-Friday 9am-3pm $550
To register click on the selected session below:
July 20-24 - Comics
Image by Dean Stuart, Instructor
Creative Drawing
Annie WongIn this class, students will explore a variety of art-making techniques — drawing, collage, stamping, and more — all brought together to create work that allows them to express their ideas visually. Students will develop both technical skills and creative confidence as they experiment with different materials and learn to combine images, textures, and words into their own works on paper and zines*. Each student will leave with a collection of original artwork they made themselves — something real and tangible to keep.
Click on the session below to register:
April 14-May 19
6 Sessions $300
Tuesday 4pm-5:30pm | 7th-10th grade
*Zines (pronounced "zeens") are small, handmade booklets that artists and storytellers have used for decades to share their ideas and artwork.
Animation
Lije MorganIn this weekly animation workshop, students will explore a wide range of animation techniques from character movement and environment design to effects, compositing, and beyond. We’ll experiment with both physical and digital mediums, playing with hand-drawn animation, cut-outs, stop motion, and computer-based tools to understand how motion can shape emotion, meaning, and story.
During the first half of the course, students will build core animation skills through guided projects and playful exercises. In the second half, each student (or collaborative group, if preferred) will develop their own short film using the techniques and mediums they’ve grown excited about. This class is rooted in experimentation and play: trying new materials, imagining new worlds, and learning how animation can transform the simplest shape or gesture into something full of life. This class uses provided iPads and Apple Pencils.
Lije’s previous students’ work
This is a mixed level class with instruction for both new and continuing students.
Mondays 4pm-6pm | 6th-10th grade
April 13-May 18 $350 click here to register
Saturdays 10:30-12:30| 6th-10th Grade
April 11-May 16 $350 click here to register
2121 Bonar Street, Berkeley
Berkeley Painting Club was started by Rene Smith to host art programming for teens and adults. Students learn new skills and techniques in an environment that supports their creativity and artistic progress. The studio is located in Strawberry Creek Park in the same building as Hidden Cafe so there is access to both indoor and outdoor space for artmaking. During our full day youth programming kids spend time outside at the park every day.
René received her M.F.A. in Painting from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and her B.A. in Painting from Bennington College in Vermont. She has taught portfolio preperation classes for high school students at Tyler School of Art and Moore College of Art and beginning undergraduate through MFA painting classes at several institutions including St. Thomas Aquinas College in NY, Temple University in Rome, and Chiang Mai University in Thailand. She recently had a solo show of her pastels at Et Al Gallery in San Francisco.
Location
Our gate is just south of the main 2121 Bonar St entrance - please see photo.
Contact: rene@renesmith.net
Future Class Interest Form
Instructors: Lije Reed Rene
René Smith
Berkeley Painting Club is run by René Smith. René received her M.F.A. in Painting from Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia and her B.A. in Painting from Bennington College in Vermont. She has taught portfolio preperation classes for high school students at Tyler School of Art and Moore College of Art and beginning undergraduate through MFA painting classes at several institutions including St. Thomas Aquinas College in NY, Temple University in Rome, and Chiang Mai University in Thailand. She recently had a solo show of her pastels at Et Al Gallery in San Francisco. René started Berkeley Painting Club to provide more access to art programming for older kids, teens, and adults.
Rene’s Website
Rene’s Instagram
Lije Morgan
Lije is a nonbinary artist and educator who has taught animation, game design, 3D modeling, and illustration at the university level across Parsons, NYU, CCA, the New York Film Academy, and more. Their work centers on gentleness and soft aesthetics, exploring how “cute” imagery can disarm an audience and operate as a powerful tool for persuasion, subversion, and unexpected impact.
Previous Student Work
Lije’s Website