The Compound Gallery is a (hidden?) gem of the Bay Area. It's *free* to enter/browse and there are…read morepieces here ranging from affordable to pricier. 1) I enjoyed David Fullarton's collection, "Everything's Getting Worse and I'm Not Helping," as well as browsing local artisans' pieces. The curation of this gallery feels cohesive. The pieces here are rich with meaning -- great conversation starters, so it's definitely an excellent place to bring a friend or two. 2) I wish I caught the name of the owner/director I met there yesterday -- he was so warm and a great host! It was my first time, and he took the time to briefly show me around the different areas of the gallery whilst entertaining my questions about the history of the gallery/its artists. He also shared upcoming events and exhibitions (artist talks, for instance), inviting me to stay connected! 3) Parking here is pretty great (I was at the gallery on the weekend). There's also a small park across the street -- great place to hang out and debrief after enjoying The Compound. I highly recommend The Compound Gallery -- I know I'll be back soon.

I was a member for a little over two years. I learned screen printing there and I'm genuinely…read moregrateful for that. There's a lot to like about Compound and I'm bummed that I got such a sour taste in my mouth right at the end. Pros: - Fantastic equipment covering a huge range of making and printing. REALLY nice setup for screen printing. Bummer that you can only do water based but it makes sense overall from a mess and fumes standpoint. - Open at all hours - which is nice - Matt and Lena are friendly and welcoming when you join and were generally friendly to be around Cons: - At $250 a month, I paid over $6,000 total even though times/eras would naturally happen and I'd not use it for 2-3 months. This really stings. Month after month it just felt like too much for what it actually was. - Often times, you end up having to wait a long time to get certified to use certain things. Was frustrating that something as simple as the conveyor drier needed a $50 course + waiting for many months when it could be taught in 5 min. - Communication is fairly slow on support tickets. When I was leaving I couldn't locate my flat pack storage area as I hadn't used it but wanted to make sure it was clear since my friend had missed clearing hers out entirely. The owners didn't know where it was either - Almost always empty. Great for working but not great for meeting people or feeling like part of a community. When I occasionally would talk to people , they would often say 'so odd that this place is always empty.' - The message board is pretty much only used for griping about cleanup vs. anything very inspirational or community oriented. Sour taste right at the end for me: I accidentally left a new thing of emulsion in the screen printing fridge. I emailed them, waited 5 days, then followed up, then waited another 5 days, messaged on Instagram, then biked over in person. I saw Lena in the gallery, tried to wave her down, and she ignored me and walked the other way. I asked the front desk if I could speak with her and was told she was busy, leave a note. I left a note. Never heard back. I eventually just ordered another one and moved on. It's not about the $30. That's obviously trivial. But it's just frickin harsh. I spent a lot of money at that place over two years, cleaned up, and was friendly and can't even get a basic response? I wasn't badgering them... I sent one email, waited, and followed up at a normal cadence. Even a 'sorry, we had to clean out the fridge!' Anything. The fridge was packed to the brim with old emulsion that no one bothered to clean up, if anything it would help to free up some space. My friend had a similar experience, she accidentally left something behind (I think in her flatpack area as well) and instead of a simple heads up email... they charged her extra months. She had to fight/plead to get that removed. How you treat people when they are suddenly no longer paying you $250 a month says a lot... The equipment is genuinely great and if you're going to use it constantly, I'd still say its worth it. It's a gem of a spot in many ways! But if not, I'd look into more focused + more affordable spaces elsewhere like ace makerspace or a slew of others that have popped up. And whatever you do, don't leave anything behind !

Oh boy... where do I even start?…read more I had a mirror I picked up a couple of years ago--great quality, originally from a dresser--however it didn't speak to my space and ultimately, I was on the verge of parting ways with it. Unexpectedly, I thought up a project to salvage the mirror while adding character to my space and needed to remove the mirror from its frame. This felt risky to do on my own. After searching for frame shops, I came across Eco Framing and gave them a call. Eric answered and immediately said he'd be happy to help. They treated my project with care, removed the frame from the mirror for me and wrapped it safely so I could take it home to continue the next steps. I was welcomed back when it was ready to be framed again. The turnaround was quick--just a couple of days--and I was thrilled with the final result. This team truly helped bring my vision to life. Highly recommend

Optimal customer service experience. Employees are knowledgeable and most helpful in lending their…read moreframing expertise. Very pleased with the finished product which was completed in less than than originally expected.

Just a simple spot. Basic paints and pens. Some paper and general writing supplies along with a…read morevariety of canvases and art books! Overall, good if you know exactly what you're looking for (which most artists do).

As independent art supply stores have shut across the Bay Area over the last few years, Ink Stone…read morehas remained a paragon of affordable, convenient, intelligent retail. And it means you don't have to give your money to Blick.

A friend of mine paints there, and I have met other artists there who are very talented and…read moreconsider friends, although they're really more of acquaintances because I only see them at the gallery. You know what I mean.... A very large space, much larger than most galleries, and it's a working gallery, with artists painting amid the displayed works. Gera, the owner, is really cool and friendly. A great place to see a lot of very creative art and talk to artists as they create. They have a lot of events, usually on Saturday nights, which are always really fun, with music and good food and wine/beer/sodas/water. Plus, there's a huge free parking lot adjacent to the gallery, so parking is usually no problem. It's well worth checking out. I'm there often, and it's a great place to kind of just hang out. Buy some stuff and support the artists! It'll brighten up your home and help the arts.

This place is neat and it's a nice place to discover local designers. The original works here are…read moredecently priced --pretty reasonable actually. You can find a lot of modern artwork here as well as smaller works such as jewelry, cards, magnets and whatnot. The walls are covered from wall to wall with work. I didn't buy anything myself but it was nice to browse around. It'd be a nice place to find a gift for the art lover that you know.

Such a vibrant and lovely little shop! The people (including other customers) are wonderful to talk…read moreto and the store has tons of cute and quirky little finds. I love their theme of sustainability, upcycling, and deep community roots. Temescal Alley is a fantastic little community, it's the perfect little bite sized adventure for any mood.

I am shocked by any negative review of this store. I spent hours in there trying to develop a…read morecustom color and went back and forth multiple times. They were so patient and helpful. The owners got involved to help me develop the perfect grey. You could not ask for a better customer service experience. EVERY single person there is kind and knowledgeable.

I have been here a few times during a house renovation phase, since it was impossible to get the…read morecorrect colors anywhere else. Home Depot was not able to match anything correctly and after a while I just gave up and went to Mark's. It was a good decision and our home project has finally been finished (and successfully I might add). So, the quality of the paint is great, they match expertly, if you bring a big enough sample and the turnaround time is usually within a few hours or next day. Pricing is a bit on the high side, but not outrageously so. Why only 4 stars? Those guys are grumpy! No matter when you arrive, which person you talk to or how busy the store is, no smile in sight, no friendly word. Hell, hardly any words. Geez...

Great place to find affordable, quality art for your home. Wonderful group of accomplished artists…read morein a lovely space. It's located in Jack London Square at the back of another terrific gallery, The Grand Gallery Oakland.

Studios Eleven should definitely be on your gallery viewing list any time of year. There are…read moreamazing artists working here. Many produce exquisite small works that you can also afford. The vibe is great and everyone is very friendly no matter if you walk in on a Wed or a weekend. It is behind a very cool vintage store too, making the trip even more fun.

What a gem of a store. I always love stopping in here, but it wasn't until today that I learned…read moretwo things 1. the store donates a portion of their proceeds to Crisis Support Services of Alameda County and 2. They offer an in-shop 10% discount on plants for teachers, mental health specialists, and social workers! Absolutely Amazing! The store itself is a delight with fun plants including Hoyas (my fave). they also have great gift items including a nice collection of Studio Ghibli items as well as lovely plantable cards and other plant related gifts. The salesperson when we visited yesterday was super friendly and informative. The store is always warm and inviting. Prices seem on point with other similar stores in Oakland. However, have cuttings you can buy at an excellent price. Thanks for being awesome Planterday!

Who would think a small space like this would make such a huge positive impact on your day?…read morePlanterday is my favorite store that I can spend all day. Everything is beautiful here, and they got the coolest studio ghibli items. The love and care that the owners and staff can be felt when you walk around the store. The owners fly back and forth to Japan bringing back all of these delicate items.