When founder Jennifer Szeto first opened Leaping Dog Art Studios in 2014, she simply wanted to share her love of art to her community and make some additional income for her family. That year, Jennifer had made the life-changing decision to stop working as a full time public school art teacher and stay at home to raise her two daughters, who were 1 and 3 at the time. Holding a Masters in Art Teaching from the University of the Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration from Syracuse University, she was an experienced teacher for nine years but did not have any formal business training.
She decided to take a chance and open up a community-minded art studio and this March of 2024 marks the 10th year anniversary of that fateful decision. Originally offering only kids art classes, the studio quickly expanded to offering adult paint nights, ceramics classes, private art lessons, art parties, and weekly summer art camps as well as a variety of creative workshops.
When you enter Leaping Dog Art Studios on 325 Farnsworth Street in downtown Bordentown City, you are immediately transported to a vibrant, creative atmosphere. Approaching the entrance, you will pass a Little Free Art Gallery welcoming anyone to share or take art. Upon entering the building, there is a colorful and welcoming mural about kindness painted by the students of Leaping Dog. Good music is usually pouring out of the studio sound system and a plethora of eye-catching paintings and clay projects sit on shelves that line almost every wall of the interior.
On their website, Leaping Dog Art Studio’s promise is to be “A place where imaginations are allowed to run wild, creative expression is the norm, and fun is had by people of all ages.” Stopping in during any class proves this to be true. Kids and adults alike cannot wait to come to the next class and are sad when they have to leave or miss a class. Jennifer says, “Every day I am thankful to be open. When classes and camps and workshops fill up, I know that there is a need for the services we provide and I am happy that there is a community of people who-like me- value the arts and want creative activities to be a part of their lives.
For more information on classes and camps or booking a private party or lesson, please visit www.leapingdogartstudios.com.
