About Creative Practice Studio

About CPS

Creative Practice Studio (CPS) was founded by Shari Paladino, a Bay Area artist, designer, and educator whose work sits at the intersection of art, learning, and wellbeing.

With a background in Art Education and Disability Studies and an MFA from UC Berkeley, Shari developed a research-driven approach to creative learning—one that treats making as a powerful tool for growth, not just a way to produce artwork.

Over the past decade, she has taught and developed curriculum across higher education, including nearly ten years at UC Berkeley and California College of the Arts, and work with UC Berkeley’s Department of Art Practice in collaboration with the Jacobs Institute for Design Innovation. She later brought this work into school communities as a Social Emotional Learning Specialist with Peaceful Schools in New York, and is currently continuing advanced training toward licensure as a Registered Art Therapist.

CPS grew out of this full arc of experience—blending hands-on art practice with the skills kids need to feel capable, connected, and confident in a rapidly changing world.

CPS is built on a simple idea:

Creativity is a vital life skill—and it takes practice.

In a world shaped by technology, automation, and AI, kids have more tools than ever to create quickly—but fewer opportunities to slow down, get curious, and build creative stamina. CPS offers a full-inclusion studio where kids explore materials, learn real skills, and discover what happens when they try again.