What you’re about to read is a locally rooted look at a new Marin-based art space that’s turning conventional kids’ art on its head.
Creative Practice Studio (CPS) is popping up in Ross with a community-focused event called Live at The Commons. They’re inviting families from across Marin County to meet the team, try hands-on activities, and see how CPS’ process-driven approach can nurture flexible thinking, focus, and confidence in young creators.
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This post spotlights CPS’s pop-up, its philosophy, and what this could mean for families in Ross, San Rafael, San Anselmo, Mill Valley, and beyond.
A Marin-based approach to children’s creativity
In the heart of Marin County, CPS treats creativity as a skill you can practice, not just something you’re born with.
The studio leans into hands-on making, play, and experimentation as the way to stronger problem-solving and a more adaptable mindset.
They also highlight social-emotional learning and a growth mindset, which fits right in with the values of Marin towns like Ross, Larkspur, and Corte Madera.
Families here want meaningful, play-filled learning experiences for their kids—and honestly, who can blame them?
Live at The Commons: Event snapshot
On April 17 from 5–8 PM, the Ross community gets a chance to connect with CPS at The Commons.
You can meet founder Shari Paladino, check out CPS programming, and jump into open-ended art activities designed to get imaginations moving.
This event welcomes learners from all backgrounds to a space where ideas get room to breathe, and where creativity is practiced with intention—not just rushed to the finish line.
Programs and philosophy behind CPS
CPS stands out in Marin for its deliberate, process-oriented framework.
Instead of pushing toward a single outcome, CPS gives children space to experiment, revise, and reflect on their ideas.
This approach feels right at home in towns across Marin, from the waterfront in Sausalito to the hills of San Anselmo and Kentfield.
Families here seem to value arts experiences that put curiosity and exploration before the final product.
What CPS offers
The studio builds its programming around classes, camps, Friday Creative Date Night, and Girl Pods.
Each one centers on open-ended activities that let kids test ideas, collaborate, and build creative confidence in a supportive setting.
Parents and caregivers in Fairfield-adjacent Marin neighborhoods will notice that CPS’ schedule lines up well with busy family calendars in Tiburon, Mill Valley, and Novato.
It’s nice to see regular opportunities for creative “exercise” that actually fit into real life.
- Classes that nurture process-based making, patience, and sustained attention
- Camps that blend play with focused project work, keeping energy high and minds curious
- Friday Creative Date Night—a supervised, hands-on evening for kids to explore new media and ideas
- Girl Pods that empower girls through collaborative art experiences and leadership challenges
Shari Paladino: The founder and vision
Shari Paladino is an artist and educator with three decades of experience in Marin County classrooms and community programs.
She grounds CPS in a philosophy that values learning through doing.
Her approach mixes artistic practice with social-emotional growth, making sure every child in places like San Rafael, Fairfax, and Sausalito can find a space where creativity feels approachable, inclusive, and—maybe most importantly—joyful.
Paladino’s focus on regular creative “exercise” echoes how Marin parents talk about building resilience and curiosity in their kids through daily habits, not just one-off talent showcases.
A Marin community resource
Live at The Commons in Ross is just the beginning. CPS wants to become a fixture for families all over Marin.
You’ll find them everywhere—from the village centers of San Anselmo to the suburban stretch of Corte Madera. Even the coastal crescents of Tiburon are on their radar.
CPS focuses on hands-on play, flexible thinking, and a growth mindset. They try to match the needs of Marin’s diverse students and create a space where anyone can build creative confidence with process-based art.
As the pop-up event unfolds, families in Marin—whether you’re in the foggy hills of Mill Valley, the busy streets of San Rafael, or the cozy neighborhoods of Larkspur—will get a chance to see how CPS does things differently. They really honor curiosity, collaboration, and brave experimentation.
If you’re in Ross or nearby towns like Novato and Corte Madera, it’s worth checking out. It’s not every day you see an art space that feels this inviting or this rooted in community.
Mark your calendars for April 17. Bring the kids, wander in, and maybe leave with a new take on creativity—one that treats making as a skill you can practice and celebrates the spark that’s alive in Marin County’s towns.
Here is the source article for this story: Local Event: Live at the Commons I Ross
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