They are currently closed until the 6th of January, fyi! (2020) in case you were making a stop…read moreexclusively there. Excited to schedule a class, soon! I've heard great things.

You don't have to know me that well to get a sense that I'm no artist. I had trouble with…read morepaint-by-number, for the love of Dali. I do, though, have lots of great, artistic friends, and they took me to the Cuyahoga Valley Art Center. What a delight. It is in the old First Akron Bank building, right on the mall on the north end, just before it becomes a street again. Chock full of student-created work, there is a huge gallery, several class rooms, studios, a kitchen, on and on and on, all for the local artist. It reminds me exactly of my college campus art building, but with way more people of other ages, from teens to near hundred-and-teens. Two other great reasons to love this place. It is non-profit. AND it is self-sustaining, through membership and their classes and workshops. When I hear discussions of what it takes to revitalize a downtown, I imagine a bunch of places just like this one: using an older building (you kids would know it as "re-purposing") for a newer idea, in this case art, but also music, and library, and metal shop and... oh, sorry. I went back to high school for a minute, there. Keep our downtowns from falling into ruin. Consider enrolling in a class here, but at least visit the place for a tour or an exhibition. (Oh, and there are a few off-street parking spaces in back, along the river, if you can find them.) Ars longa, vita brevis.

Girl's Day finally happened, after a long and much needed delay in seeing my lady friends. We all…read morepicked very different pieces and got to have our hand with creativity and focus, while also catching up on everything going on in our lives! I just moved into a new apartment and I work for a plant company so I was super excited to paint a plant themed sign. It fits so absolutely well with my decor and I'm excited! I even got another piece while I was there and they had an incredible sale on Christmas pieces when we went as well. All three of us ended up taking home some earrings which I thought was nifty. Definitely an impulse purchase but I don't regret it! Lastly I'd like to give a big shout out to the studio because my artwork had a little snafu at home and the wooden bar popped off. I came by when I was nearby one day just to see if they wouldn't mind helping me with it and it was all fixed up lickity split. As if that wasn't kind enough, she also mentioned there were a couple corners I forgot to paint in gold over top of the stain so she touched those up for me. Wow. Grade A customer service right there! Thanks for the awesome memory with my besties!

Phenomenal. Great venue with all the tools and supplies needed to make yourself something or for a…read moregift without having to start an inventory of paints, stains etc. They have all you need to take a project from start to finish. Not to mention expertise right at your fingertips!! Planning now on going back for a couples event!!!

My family and I have been to this appointment only art studio, run by the energetic Bev, three…read moretimes; 5 yr old birthday party, 8 yr old birthday party, and for a fun grown up get together. This place was great for my kids who have fun imaginations and no fear when it comes to art and painting. There was a table set up with small sized easels and canvases and each child picked the colors they wanted. They were free to paint whatever their heart desired and Bev would help with suggestions to make their art dreams come true. While the paint dries the children are taken into a side room where they can have pizza, cake, ice cream, and present opening before taking their masterpieces home. The grown up version went a little different, with appetizers and drinks first to loosen us up first before we ventured into the other room to paint. For my party we painted wine glasses. The freedom to paint anything was great for kids but not us adults who fear messing up and know our complete lack in artistic ability. Most of us turned to the internet for ideas. Bev was there to offer suggestions and encouragement as we painted. While it was nice to see all the different outcomes, I need step by step instruction to make art less intense and more enjoyable.

Picture this Have you had your fill of work and stress? Are…read moreyou falling asleep on the job? Do you stare at the clock counting down the minutes? Do you find yourself asking "is it the weekend yet"? If you have answered yes to one or more of these, you are way overdue for a girls' night out. The first thing that comes to mind is dinner, drinks, and dancing, but let's face it--a night out on the town can be expensive. You don't have to spend a fortune to have fun. Just get creative when planning a fun, affordable experience with friends by challenging them to try something new and interesting. Here's an inexpensive idea that my friends and I tried that won't break the bank: Brush And A Bottle Paint Night. With a glass of wine in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, could you imagine a better way to unwind? Trashed Studio offers an all-inclusive three-hour instructor-led painting class with all supplies (sans the wine) provided for just $30! Local artist Bev Elliott will challenge you and your group of 6 to 12 friends to get creative in this step-by-step demonstration through the painting process. For those of you who have never picked up a paint brush, the ever-so-patient Bev is right by your side, ready to offer individualized tips and style suggestions. Her passion for painting is contagious, and you'll find yourself channeling your inner Monet--shocked by the hidden artists that you and your friends have become. I must admit that I was slightly hesitant about the evening since I'm far from a modern day artist. With Bev's guidance and acrylic paint, I quickly discovered my artistic abilities. I personally found acrylic paint to be very forgiving, easy to use, and any mistakes can be painted over (even when dry!) I enjoyed the night out with my friends, and getting to come home with my own piece of art was an awesome added bonus. The relaxing atmosphere of this cozy art studio is filled with laughter and good vibes from the moment your paint-filled brush hits the canvas, making that stressful work week you've had seem less overwhelming. I highly recommend Trashed Studio: Brush and a Bottle class for first time and/or experienced painters. For any event (girls' night, birthday, family get-together or work outing), plan your next paint party with Bev and be sure to check out other services Trashed Studio offers!  **As a disclaimer (let's not get confused by my writing style), this is not an advertisement, nor do I work for Trashed Studios. When I find something I love I give my honest opinion, and I never recommend products that I don't use or enjoy. Sincerelybs.com

Omg! So fun! Found this in a Facebook event for a open Christmas workshop…read more Signed up online and paid. Pretty easy, and then that was it. Showed up and it's super cute! Everyone had masks, and social distancing was in place. Hand sanitizer and hand washing stations. Project is ready to go when you show up, steps are easy to follow, and you have help if needed every step of the way. I love my project! It took about 3.5 hours.

Unique gift for those who enjoy experiences over "stuff". My sister and I took my mom here for…read moreMother's Day this year and I cannot say enough good things about this place! My mom is impossible to shop for, so I was super excited when I came across this Mother's Day special on the Akron Glass Works Facebook page. It is a beautiful old church converted into and art space right off of the University of Akron campus. There were about 12 people total with two instructors for the group. They gave a demonstration and then thoroughly went over all the steps with an emphasis on safety. I was a little nervous working with molten hot glass, but the professionalism of the instructors set me at ease. They're by your side the whole time... but you're actually creating the piece yourself. I have been to other glass blowing studios where the instructors are so hands-on, that you feel like you took no part in the entire process. Not this place. I definitely felt like I was making something and they were just there to make sure I didn't burn my hand off. The whole process took less than an hour and our pieces were available for pickup the next day. We each got to make two glass flowers which all turned out beautifully. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for something different to do! We had such a great time!

I received a gift certificate and decided to take a class to make stemless wine glasses. We were…read moreshown all of the steps and watched a glass be made. Then Christian guided me through making my two glasses. I was able to choose from a variety of colors or make my own mix. I chose to mix blue and purple. Christian allowed me to do much of the work while he did the more dangerous parts while reminding me of safety. I was able to to pick up them the next day. I'm really happy with them!

Excellent place for framing and local art!! They are very helpful and kind. Highly recommend for…read moreyour art needs.

Great place for art in a broad range of prices and styles. Super fun events, good people.read more

My friend Tonia has invited me here to catch up on some much-needed girlfriend time. What a…read morepleasure! The atmosphere is chill and pleasant. It's relaxing to sit with a friend and catch up while creating something. It's practically therapeutic! Today she had a family party including husbands, extended family and friends, and our age twenty-something sons. We all had such a lovely time socializing and painting. The best part was that all the supplies and cleanup were included! The owner is lovely, creative, and accommodating to individuals of every age, talent, and experience. She's helpful but never hovers. I highly recommend this place for hanging out with friends, a date night, or to host your next party.

From the owner: We are called The Family Room because we aim to make every customer feel at home in our studio! ALL…read moreages will enjoy a low tech, high value bonding experience from a range of fun, engaging and creative activities. Let loose with a Crazy Paint session in our dedicated paint room or hang in our main space with a choice of Guided Paint, Pre-Drawn Canvases, Candle Making, Pottery or Jewelry Making.

To explain what Palladian Palette is, here is an excerpt from the homepage of their website:…read more "Palladian Palette is a BYOB painting bar. Come on in, open your drink, and sit down in front of a canvas -- simple as that. Just want to have a place to relax for a bit? Welcome! Grab a Mini Palette Painting and paint for as long as you'd like. Five days a week Palladian Palette offers a two and a half to a three-hour experience with a local artist. That artist will guide you through a painting (famous or original), show you tips and tricks, and encourage you to take painting risks you never thought you had the skill to take. You can follow along with our artists on staff who will be there to guide the stick-figured-challenged, or you can change up colors and techniques to make it your own. Or, just paint whatever inspires you in the moment. After your time with us, you'll walk out with a painting you love, (or in 2-3 weeks, a ceramic piece) and we'll take care of the cleanup." Now, on to my review: My friend found Palladian Palette online and asked if I wanted to go. Being a super crafty girl, I enthusiastically said yes! My friend called their phone number and scheduled a painting time for last Friday night. When we first pulled up to the building, there were no parking spots available on the street. There is no lot to park in specifically for this place so we parked in the food stamp building parking lot across the street. Upon entering, we were greeted very warmly by the owner/instructor (Rachel Gentner) who was there to teach us how to paint that night. We grabbed seats in front of easels and popped open our bottle of wine. When everyone was seated, Rachel explained that she was an art teacher outside of her business and had majored in art at the University of Akron. She then began to explain how the night was going to go and how she teaches. She had us put painting smocks on, and put acrylic paints on our pallettes. She explained how the brushes worked and how to properly clean out the brushes between colors. Then we got to work on the paintings! Rachel has a calendar on her website showing what the painting of the night is so you can choose the painting you like and go that night. Everyone in the class does the same painting and follows along according to her very thorough instructions. She is excellent at explaining what to do and how to get the effects of what is going on the sample photo of the painting we are working on. She was also very helpful with replacing our brush water and making sure we had all the supplies we needed to complete our painting and have fun. She gave us plenty of free time to work on our paintings and didn't rush us at all. Also, I forgot to mention that she supplies the canvas, brushes, paints, easel, etc. The prices vary but the majority are currently $35/person. I suspect that price could fluctuate based on art supply prices. Overall, we had an excellent time and were very relaxed by the end of the night. It took approximately 3 hours from start to finish. I really enjoyed how encouraging the instructor was. Everyone in our class ended up with a different interpretation of the painting but they all turned out just beautiful! That's the fun part about it. Regardless of instruction, each painting is comepletely unique to the person who created it. Although I have prior painting experience, this place is definitely a great start for beginning painters! Do not be deterred if you aren't comfortable with a paint brush! She will teach you and help you succeed!

From the owner: Rubber Stamping, Card making, Painting on canvas, Parties, Events, Teambuilding, Ceramics, Jewelry,…read morePrivate Art Lessons