How it all began…
Owner and Art Educator, Jennifer Szeto opened Leaping Dog Art Studios because she wanted to bring unique art making and creative experiences to her immediate community and provide a space outside of the traditional public schools or formally designated art schools to enjoy exciting opportunities to be creative.
Jen received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration from Syracuse University in New York and her Masters degree in Art Teaching from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. During and between her studies, Jen took classes at Central Saint Martin’s School of Art and Design in London and at the Arts Student’s League in New York City. She is certified to teach Kindergarten through 12th grade and has taught courses in the Traditional Fine Arts as well as Cultural and Applied Arts, Advanced Placement Studio Art and Portfolio Development, Arts & Technology, Art & Film, Arts & Humanities, and Design Concepts. Jen has also worked with The Mural Arts Program and The Clay Studio in Philadelphia as well as the Philadelphia Museum of Arts Family & Children’s Program.
Jen has been teaching art for eighteen years in and around the Philadelphia and Bucks County region of Pennsylvania as well as in central Jersey, where she grew up. She became interested in the transformative qualities of creative play when her first daughter was born and started making her first marks at twelve months. While at home with her second daughter, Jen was blessed with abundant opportunities to observe the pure wonder and joy which all children possess when discovering the magic of creating something out of simple materials like paint or glue. This direct experience with early creative development combined with Jen’s discovery of the writings of Sir Ken Robinson and Peter Gray is what ultimately led and inspired her to open Leaping Dog Art Studios.
In addition to running the studio and teaching, Jen freelances as a portrait painter, custom wedding illustrator and calligrapher, cartoonist and caricature artist. Outside of her work, Jen spends most of her time with her wonderful family. She can be seen on any given day playing with her daughters, who are 9 and 12, walking her yellow lab (who inspired her business name), or singing with her husband. Find out more about the classes, workshops, and lessons at Leaping Dog Art Studios today by contacting Jen today!