hey. hi. hello.

I’m Beth, an artist, wanderer, and storyteller.

I love teaching creative people how to notice the colors, details, and ordinary moments around them, and to turn those everyday adventures into meaningful, layered art.

You don’t have to worry about making things perfectly around here. It’s more about looking closer, collecting what catches your eye, and seeing where it leads.

create with me

Creative adventures, playful experiments, and plenty of room to make it your own.


start here - it’s free!

A playful little adventure to help you notice, collect, and turn everyday inspiration into art.

Plus, there’s a little bonus waiting on the next page: a special Insider price for Downtown Edition.

Urban Hunt Starter Kit

Bring those collected colors, textures, photos, and details back to the studio and see what they become.

We’ll play with paint, collage, and your gathered inspiration to create layered mixed-media art.

Everyday Explorations: Downtown Edition

ready for more?

There’s no one right way to make art. I’ll show you how I see, gather, play, and build.

But the invitation is to notice what catches your eye and discover where you want to take it.

a different way of seeing and making

Explore. Play. Make it yours.

what students are saying

  • “I notice a real shift in what I see and photograph for my work. My new mantra is ‘photographs for fodder!’”

    —Wendie B.

  • “Beth’s passion and excitement are highly contagious. Her encouragement to make it your own puts you at ease to explore more.”

    —Sue N.

  • “Beth Chien’s Downtown Explorations has me looking at telephone poles and poster boards with a fresh eye.”

    —Juliet O.

  • “I love how the workshop makes you really look at a city, notice what speaks to you, and turn that feeling into art. The process feels easy and stress-free. There are no wrong answers.”

    —Kali O.

  • “Beth has a natural talent for making everyone feel confident while exploring painting and creative expression.”

    —Agnes S.

behind the art

I live just outside Chicago with my husband and our two rescue goldens. I’m endlessly drawn to the city; the worn walls, bold type, unexpected color, and little details that somehow find their way into my work.

I love to travel, collect moments, and turn those experiences into art. I also paint larger pieces for galleries and host in-person art retreats because, at the heart of it all, I love bringing people together around creativity.

When I’m not making art, there’s a good chance I’m at a concert, dancing in the kitchen, or planning the next adventure.