Dancing Paintbrush Studio

My daughter just finished her «drawing» camp, which when we signed her up we assumed she would receive some direct drawing instruction. I’m happy that she had a good time and came home covered in paint everyday, but as a teacher and former fine arts student I feel that for the price a tad more structure and skill development could have existed. I’m not expecting Mary Cassatt to come home, but for the price a little more instruction and less laundry could have transpired. My child did enjoy the outings to the Vivarium and park as well.

My daughter has done summercamp with Beth two years in a row and she loves it. The atmosphere is relaxed but very creative. The kids are so engaged in their art and at the end of the week they have an open gallery where they can show of their master pieces and it, s great to see the creativity. Some amazing art for sure. Beth is so great with the kids. Very encouraging and positive. We, ll be back for camp for sure.

I studied with Beth for around 4 months on weekends.
She is for real.
Stands atop a mountain of both Fine Arts and life experience.
Her classes prepared me for my foundation year of a fine arts education.
More importantly, working with Beth taught me more about artistic passion and integrity than a life spent in a college institution could.
Do you want to nurture your passion for art? Follow Beth’s lead and you will go far.
I plan to study with Beth every time I return to the Bay Area from school.

My daughter had always loved to draw and when she was seven years old, she hit a rough spot where she was regularly crumpling and shredding her work. We took a chance and sent her to Dancing Paintbrush for a week-​long camp. During that week, with Beth, my daughter found happiness in art again and gained lots of confidence. Now, at 12, going to Dancing Paintbrush and working with Beth is one of the highlights of her summer. Studio owner/​artist Beth Hird, is a human treasure. Yes, she is a trained professional artist (and her paintings and photography is incredible) but she is also a teacher, dancer, naturalist, world traveler, film maker and more. She knows and loves kids of all ages and she has immense patience and understanding for everyone that enters her studio. Each Camp session is organized around a theme and throughout the week Beth manages to expose and support the children in trying out various techniques, styles, and media while also allowing them the freedom to do it their way. If you ask my 12 year old, she will tell you that one of the best things about Beth and Dancing Paintbrush is that everyone’s art is there own. At the end of the week, there is an Art Show where the students’ display and share their work and the pieces are always inspired, beautiful and different. Beth realizes the need for kids to move and have a change of scenery too, so she breaks up the day with walks to the park, Vivarium, dancing, yoga and more. The worst part about Dancing Paintbrush Camp for us is, getting my daughter to leave at the end of the day. As long as Beth is there, we will be back, summer after summer…