Founded, owned, and operated by artists
Brushstrokes was founded in 1996 by the ceramic artists Nancy Selvin and Kevin Nierman (of Kids ‘n’ Clay). In June 1998, Jessica Williams took over the business from Kevin and Nancy.  She is a graduate of the Ceramics Department of the California College for the Arts. Karin Dahl is a graduate of Mills College and runs our kids' programs including all of our camps and our after school programs.

 

 

 

 

Our mission is to create an atmosphere that is beautiful, inspiring, relaxing, and hospitable in which customers can express their creativity. To be a positive part of our wider east bay community by being involved in schools and other civic organizations and by being a drop-in storefront space where the community, friends, and families can connect through the process of making art.

What people are saying
"The Creativity Workshop encompassed so much more than I had anticipated! Jessica continually went above and beyond with inspiration for our projects. Besides a wealth of books on various artists and exhibits relating to our projects she had an over-reaching cache of  literature, poetry, and film recommendations. I always left with not only creative inspiration, but also often knowledge of a completely new medium. It was so wonderful to connect with artists of all levels, share work and have great feedback. I love my Thursday mornings at Brushstrokes!" - Tam

"Going to Camp Brushstrokes was incredibly important and fun for me. I loved being at Brushstrokes generally, but getting to be there all day with other kids my age was like heaven! Being able to make friends outside of school was great and, of course, Jessica and the counselors were everyone’s idols. Going to Camp Brushstrokes as well as being a counselor and a staff member of Brushstrokes has taught me invaluable lessons and skills and created great memories. I can definitely say that Brushstrokes and Camp Brushstrokes have made a huge impact on my life as an artist, strongly influencing me to become a Studio Arts major in college." - Dina

read a review / write a review:  Berkeley Parents Network    {510} Families    Berkeleyside     Yelp

About the owner
Jessica Williams is a graduate of the ceramics department of the California College of the Arts in Oakland. She has owned and operated Brushstrokes for 16 years. Her line of tabletop ceramics have been featured at SFMOMA Museum store, the Palo Alto Art Museum Gift store, Vertigris Gallery in San Francisco, and the Gardener in Berkeley. Jessica has been awarded several public art commissions including a nautical theme fountain for San Diego Children’s Hospital Healing Garden. She also created large-scale ceramic vessels and paintings which are permanently installed in the Urgent Care Reception Room of Highland Hospital in Oakland, California. The bold, colorful paintings and pots are inspired by African textiles. Jessica took her interest and experience in public art to Brushstrokes. She received a grant from the Swanson & Shevlin Charitable Foundation to work with children at Brushstrokes and in the local schools, creating mosaic and tile artwork and donating it to Highland Hospital. The planters and benches donated to Highland adorn all the main entrances to the Hospital and add color and beauty to a community much in need of it.

 

Brushstrokes is proud to support Girls Inc. “Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.”
Brushstrokes is proud to sponsor the Art for Epicures auction at Girl's Inc.'s annual fundraiser Women of Taste.

Brushstrokes is a member of Buy Local Berkeley. We encourage you to shop local and support the businesses that make Berkeley unique.

Support the Alameda County Community Food Bank: Donate three cans of food and get free studio time on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 5–8pm. Limit: one per person. Offer not valid November and December.
Brushstrokes works with local schools to create all the bowls for the Empty Bowls annual fundraiser for the Alameda County Community Food Bank