Those who know they learned everything they need to know in kindergarten know that painting ceramics is an explosion of creative awakening on par with building a popsicle-stick log out of googly eyes. With today's Groupon, $22 gets you $45 worth of studio time, pottery, and paint at Brushstrokes Studio in Berkeley.

Unless the ceramic-robot coup d'état comes to pass, fine pottery isn't going to paint itself. In order to become a decorated hero of ceramic lore, all artists pay a modest studio fee ($7.50 for kids under 18, $9.50 for adults) and then pick from a dimensionally diverse range of pottery shapes, priced from $3 for small ornaments to $60 for platters fit for a king who loves to host royal potlucks. Creatively stymied artists can either browse the samples for inspiration or mimic the enthusiasm of the nearest euphoric child lost in a paint-speckled universe.

Soccer moms and soccer-playing moms caught in the fast-paced workweek can stop in to select a piece of blank pottery to work on at home with Brushstrokes' to-go kits. Just handpick your paints ($4 per 2-ounce bottle) and whisk your tool kit away ($15 for a 48-hour rental). For artists who opt for to-go kits, they may return their pieces to the store for a glaze and fire process (finishing costs based on 25% of original pottery-piece cost).

Brushstrokes is a spacious, comfortable studio where friends and family can paint, stencil, and sponge imagery that's wildly innovative, beautiful, or commemorates the ancient Athenian victory at Marathon onto pottery ready to be filled with flowers, pencils, or just wishes. Let your brush do the walking and your fellow artists do the gawking at the brilliance of your design. A week after you drop your painted piece off, you may triumphantly return to receive the bounty of your labors. Grab multiple Groupons to take the first step toward filling the gallery space currently being used for racquetball tournaments.

Reviews

The Savvy Source listed Brushstrokes as one of the 99 things you must do in East Bay before your child grows up. Yelpers give Brushstrokes Studio 4.5 stars:

• The selection of items to paint is pretty good, everything from your standard coffee mugs and plates to the more creative ceramic letters which can glued onto whatever else you're painting... – dawn l., Yelp
• Brushstrokes is a cut above. The staff has always been so friendly and helpful helping me with ideas and techniques to create pieces I can be proud of...It's a fun way to release some creative energy. – Rebecca S., Yelp