We were beyond thrilled to bring Brush Fire Panting Workshops to Camp Kemp, just down the hill from San Mateo Youth Services Center.

Opened in the fall of 2006, the Margaret J. Kemp Camp for Girls houses young women of San Mateo County between the ages of 13 and 18 who are facing current criminal charges and suffering from substance abuse and mental health problems.

Here is a sample of the work the girls did during our 8-week workshop:

My painting is about my lovely planned future. My favorite parts are the marriage ring, because I would love to get married and have a baby someday, and my planned house because it is exactly how I want it in the future. I also like the money because I know how I want to spend it (wisely). I like that it is so detailed. I am a very optimistic person and I have my life planned for the future. ~Marilyn

This painting is about how everything in my life is black and white and that I feel like my life is fading. The colors express my feelings: sad, confused, and anxious. This picture says I that I’m growing up. But half my teenage years I’ve been on probation for all the times I’ve missed by being locked up, which makes me feel I lost a lot that I could have been out doing. I’ma be 18. I don’t have time for kid s*** no more. ~Raquel

I went on a pass with my mom this week and we got along really well. I felt really happy and loved. I got closer to my mom and I have mixed emotions because this week is my dad’s death anniversary, so it’s weird because I’m happy when I should be feeling sad. The colors in separate places represent different emotions. The spirals represent confusion and the colors coming together show the emotions coming together. ~Natalie

For more paintings done at Camp Kemp, please go to Brush Fire’s facebook page by clicking on the facebook button at the top of this page. While you are there, please become a fan to get regular updates!