Welcome to Big Circle Art Studio!
Big Circle Art Studio is a place where adults, families and children come to create, play, and explore. For kids, we offer age-appropriate classes and events in the "expressive arts" which includes the interplay between visual art, movement, theater, improv, writing/poetry music, and more. Sometimes we throw in a little science! Our focus is on the process of creative exploration and expression. While children and adults often end up producing amazing art, sometimes the creation is temporary such as drawing on windows, or the result of a shared discovery such as a splatter paint mural. We keep our class sizes small because we want to get to know each student as an individual.
At Big Circle Art Studio we create a safe space for students to develop new skills, explore and discover each person's unique inner artist, and have joyful fun. The studio is a longtime dream of Jessica Richter's and has grown from a back bedroom studio in her home to a (larger) garage studio--still in her home! All classes for kids are drop off unless otherwise indicated and are held at
Jessica's home studio on Hilow Court, on the corner of Shannon near Blossom Hill Park and Blossom Hill School.
Adult classes in Soul Collage and Painting from Within are coming soon. Even a blog and articles on creative expression. Please sign up for emails if you are interested! Stay tuned!
Our Teachers
Jessica Richter is a teacher, artist, expressive arts facilitator, and mom to a sixth grader. In the past few years, with the experience of teaching in my home studio for multiple years under my belt, I have been teaching art in multiple Bay Area schools (my dream job) through the Community School of Music and Arts and the San Jose Museum of Art. I also teach classes through the Pacific Art League in Palo Alto (and online) and taught art for the Go Girls Camp. These jobs have kept me so busy that I haven't had much time to teach at my home studio over the past 4 years. Unfortunately, many community based art teachers were laid off due to the pandemic and I was one of them, so more remote and in person classes may be coming!
If you are interested... Many moons ago I earned a MA in Education and have been a middle school teacher, museum educator, and manager/coordinator of programs linking schools, students, and teachers with community resources. I have taught kids from ages 2-70! While I always did art and theater as a child and young person, in my 30s I realized that something was missing for me on a soul level, which was a deeper connection and engagement in my artistic and creative self as an adult. My journey led me to re-discover myself as an artist through painting and training with Aviva Gold creator of Painting from the Source™. I then taught art in grades K-5 at a public school in San Francisco's Mission District. I have facilitated a range of adult expressive arts workshops, and have taken many wonderful art, theater and writing classes around the Bay Area.
I earned a MA in Expressive Arts Therapy at CIIS in San Francisco, and finished about half of the 3000 internship hours needed to be licensed as a MFT before becoming a mom in my 40s--the hardest and most joyful job of all! I'm also a LGUSD Art Docent and love it!
Jessica Richter
Marcella Yvarra is the owner of Bizzy Bodies, an extremely fun and motivating movement, fitness, and yoga program for children. Through Bizzy Bodies children make new friends and get jazzed about being healthy, strong and active! I encourage kids to explore fitness through play, yoga, hip hop, and dance while also learning about their bodies. Bizzy Bodies is offered at many area pre-schools including the Shir Hadash Early Childhood Center and the JCC. Jessica and I started Move it and Make it in 2014 when Jessica's son was in kindergarten. Bizzy Bodies was his favorite activity during pre-school! You can reach me at http//www.Bizzy-Bodies.com or bizzybodies 06@yahoo.com.
Marcella Yvarra
Would you like to teach with us? I am looking for like-minded, and mindful, teachers in the arts to join us as independent contractors and collaborators! Email Jessica to discuss!
