by Blake Herzog, photos courtesy of Judy Brinkhurst
Want to paint your first masterpiece, despite having no discernable talent? Have you not only discovered but developed that talent and want to take it to the next level? Do you have a kid who wants to put a little more magic into his or her life?
In any of these cases, you should check out the offerings at Be Creative Art Classes, on Florentine Road in Prescott Valley.
Owner David Brinkhurst has been an artist for more than half a century, earning his art degree in 1971 after studying in Oxford, England.
“I’ve been doing that for a long time just on my own benefit, I didn’t really think about teaching until I started displaying my own art,” he says.
After he started hanging his swirling, abstract paintings at Prescott Fine Art, a gallery inside Pine Ridge Marketplace, owner Tamara Halcom asked if he could teach the technique to others at the gallery, he replied, “‘I certainly would like that.’ And it took off.”
He started teaching classes on the “pour painting” technique at the beginning of 2025. Also known as fluid art, it involves pouring thinned-down acrylic paints onto a canvas, either separately or together, and then tilting or spinning the wet canvas to create organic, abstract patterns highlighting interactions between colors and textures.
Sometimes other tools are used, like sponges, straws, chains or even blowing on the paint or using a hair dryer.
His classes and “paint pouring parties” for groups proved popular enough that the sessions kept filling up, and he began to want to expand beyond what he was able to do at the gallery, because of availability.
As art classes were limited in Prescott Valley, David started to consider setting up shop there.
David opened Be Creative Art Classes in November and has brought his paint-pouring parties there, which he describes as, “People come, take a two-hour class and take home their own masterpiece with absolutely no skill involved.”
Even though refreshments, and sometimes even wine and charcuterie boards are served, he says, “This isn’t a paint-and-sip where the expectation is you’re going to copy one painting.
With my fun classes, anything can happen, and it usually turns out pretty cool.
There are no expectations, you’re not under any pressure.”
Students pick out the colors they want to use, David teaches them the basics of the technique, and they go on to create their own unique, vivid image.
He has brought in more instructors to help budding artists explore other forms of painting or media at the studio. Terri Schuler is making a splash with watercolors while Catrina Haberman shows how she recycles trash into jewelry, ornaments, yard art and more. Oil painter Josh Cheney is teaching classes for more advanced students, and Mike Brown teaches stained glass.
David sees more coming in the future — and is considering Zentangle, pencil drawing, macramé, stained glass and eventually pottery and metalworking.
“Anything to do with the arts, we’ll be doing,” he says.
And that does include the art of magic, another longtime passion of David’s. He is teaching magic to kids and teens.
Most fees at Be Creative Art Classes run from $50 to $70 and include all supplies, in most cases.
For more information visit www.becreativeartclasses.com or call 928.463.0438.
The studio is at 8197 E. Florentine Rd., Ste. A in Prescott Valley.
We hope to see you soon!
