Creative Intuitive Painting Class Series

🎨 Join our weekly painting series to explore your inner self and creativity in a supportive and inspiring environment. Whether you're an absolute beginner or a continuing student, this series is perfect for all! Space is limited. Reserve your spot now! ✨

Event Details:

• Date & Time: Check schedule for specific dates/times
• Duration: 4-weeks or 8-weeks
• Location: In-studio classes are held at our painting studio in Glen Park, SF at 300 Chenery Street. All classes can also be taken online.

🧑🏽‍🎨What is intuitive painting? In our painting, there is a lot of permission to explore and create. This is not a typical ‘art’ class in which you will learn techniques and methods of painting; instead you will be expertly guided to tap in and listen to your intuition and paint from your heart. We learn to pay attention to our own intuitive voice that is free from beliefs and concepts. In this way paintings happen spontaneously, unplanned and unexpected!

🖌️ All materials provided (high quality paint, brushes, paper, smocks) - just bring yourself! Our experienced instructors will guide those new to intuitive painting and/or new to painting at home.

💻Painting via Zoom: For those interested in painting from home, we have found the creative force is present no matter where we are! For your painting setup, you can keep it simple and use whatever paints, brushes and paper you have on hand, even crayons, markers, oil pastels (craypas), pens, pencil. For more information, please visit our link on Painting From Home.

About us

Established in 1999, the painting studio is a lively place filled with light, color, and the warmth of a community sharing a space in which to explore the creative process. The Center for Creative Exploration is a nonprofit organization that values freedom of expression with brush in hand and beyond. We are committed to creating a sense of community in our painting studio where people feel comfortable to be themselves in whatever way they choose. We are committed to providing an affirming, welcoming, and accessible studio for all people through co-creation and open communication.

We offer weekly adult classes, community classes, workshops, retreats and kids/family classes. Check out our upcoming events here! For questions, please visit our website www.intuitivepainting.org or email [email protected].

Our teachers

Claudia Erzinger is a teacher and the Executive Director at the Center for Creative Exploration. She started painting there in 2000, with Barbara Kaufman, one of CCE’s founders (watch her video here), and began teaching the intuitive painting practice in 2006. Claudia has also studied with Michele Cassou (the originator of the Point Zero Method of painting). Claudia brings experience from many traditions and practices to her work with painters at CCE. In her 20s, she began formal training as a nurse and soon decided to specialize in hospice care, which she continues to this day. She has studied meditation, Buddhism, and Yoga. Claudia also engages in Soulwork—a form of inquiry rooted in deep listening and stillness, and the way of love—with Michael Regan.

Maria Freebairn-Smith is a teacher and Family Program Coordinator at the Center for Creative Exploration. She has been painting and teaching the intuitive painting process for over 30 years. She participated in the first teacher training for The Painting Experience, facilitated by Michele Cassou and Stewart Cubley. Along with Barbara Kaufman and others, Maria was one of CCE’s original founders. She also helped to establish the nonprofit Drawbridge: An Arts Program for Homeless Children, and The Open Circle Cooperative Preschool, both in San Francisco.

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Along with her process painting training, Maria holds a degree in Psychology from Barnard College, Columbia University, and has a graduate Certificate in Restorative Justice Practices. Other advanced trainings include Waldorf Early Childhood Education, Middendorf Breath experience, and Motion Improvisational Theater.

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When Maria began raising a family, she moved to Sonoma County. Focusing on education for children in her new community, she founded The Creative Parenting Center and helped establish Sunridge, a Waldorf-methods charter school. Returning to the CCE painting community, Maria brings a lifetime commitment to body, breath, and inquiry practices that ground her teaching in a broad transpersonal perspective.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Center for Creative Exploration, 300 Chenery Street, San Francisco, United States