My daughter started the lessons at CSAD San Jose location 2 years back when she was about to start…read moreHigh School freshman with the goal to have a portfolio when applying college. Young Lee and Hee Lee are both very experienced teachers, Alex too who is very helpful on coaching, though my daughter hasn't decided what related major for college, she has done many different art pieces combining the creativity and skill set and one of her pieces has won the award from Growing Up Asian In America competition. Going to CSAD for lessons and spending time there for the art piece she works on has been the escape for my daughter from her busy academic schedule. I'm grateful to find CSAD, my daughter is on the right track to build her portfolio, that will also be a nice memory that she can bring with her to college that records her love for art.

If you are looking for a nice decent place to improve your drawing skills, this place should be the…read morebest fit for you. I met great instructors Young Lee, Hee Lee, and Alex there and I really appreciate that they are very dedicated to helping students' art skills. I was, honestly, just a beginner hoping to transfer to great art schools and it was hard to get the right path. However, I was capable of working on my portfolio with diverse and aesthetic ideas with great inspiration thanks to Alex. In addition, their experienced counseling helped me a lot to search for schools to transfer and preparation for the requirements. They are both great teachers and councilors in art education. Plus, their life drawing classes are very helpful to observe the human body and find own styles of drawing with various nude models.

Rebel Art School is one of those places that I wish every family could find for their kids…read more Our oldest has been homeschooled his entire life because he received a liver and kidney transplant when he was very young and remains immunocompromised. His education has consequently involved a lot of computers and technology. He also has developmental delays and clinically diagnosed difficulties with dexterity, so when we first found Rebel, we were excited about simply giving him a chance to unplug, use his hands, and experience a completely different kind of learning. What we didn't anticipate was just how important Rebel would become to him. Art has challenged his fine motor skills in ways that are productive and enjoyable. He is painting, drawing, sculpting, building, and working with different tools and materials, all while strengthening skills that are genuinely difficult for him. Instead of feeling like he's working on something he struggles with, he's proud of what he's making. But what Rebel has given him socially may be even more valuable. When you homeschool a child, finding meaningful opportunities to build relationships and feel like part of a group can take some extra effort. At Rebel, that happened naturally. He has formed relationships with his instructors and classmates, he gets excited about going, and he has a community that belongs to him independently of us. Watching that develop has meant more to me as his mom than I can really put into a review. Our experience was so positive that we eventually signed up his younger brother too. He's now almost through his first semester, and we've watched him find his own place there in an entirely different way. Both boys have participated in Rebel's summer camps as well, and those have become something our family looks forward to every year. Something else I really appreciate is that Rebel doesn't confuse teaching technique with teaching conformity. The kids are absolutely learning how to use materials, develop skills, and understand artistic concepts, but they aren't being taught that everyone's finished product should look identical. Their individual perspective is treated as part of the art. Their ideas aren't corrected out of them. They're encouraged to take what they're learning and make something that actually feels like theirs. I think kids desperately need more of that. They need places where imagination is taken seriously. Where making something unusual isn't automatically making it wrong. Where they can try something, discover it doesn't work, change direction, and keep going. Art gives children a language for things they may not always know how to put into words, and Rebel understands that beautifully. As a parent, I'm also incredibly particular about the environments I trust with my children. Rebel is somewhere I can send them knowing they are cared for, respected, encouraged, and surrounded by adults who genuinely seem to enjoy helping kids discover what they're capable of. I thought I was signing my son up to learn art. Instead, we found something that has supported him physically, socially, creatively, and emotionally, and eventually became something his brother could call his own too. So if you're asking me if I would recommend Rebel Art School? 10,000 times over, we recommend them!

Our daughter thoroughly enjoyed years of creativity with Alex and the wonderful team at Rebel Art…read more Now, as a high achieving student at Cal she attributes much of her creativity and acceptance of new challenges to the supportive atmosphere of exploration she experienced there. Rebel Art rounded out a great academic and student athlete with appreciation for the artistic dimensions of life. Your young one, too, may find depth in themselves--or they might just get excited about colors and clay! Either way, worth it! Thank you to Alex and her crew.

Below is my review 3 years ago in March 2013 with an update that follows:…read moreMy son took 4 sessions of Summer Camp last year and loves it so much we continued with Ichen Art Academy for 2 classes during the semester. The teachers are professional and really work hard to help the children improve their skills and express themselves through art. I highly recommend this school! As of today 04/06/2016, my older son has been studying at Ichen's for 3 years, second son for about 2 years, and a close friend's son for over 1 year. I have continued to send my sons and recommended others to go to Ichen's because I see how much they learn and grow both in art and in personal character. When they were younger, my sons took Creative Arts as recommended which helped them learn confidence in their creativity, basic techniques, and storytelling through art. After about a year, I enrolled them in the Chinese Painting and Calligraphy classes. My older son has earned over 5 awards in Bay Area and national competitions all in first or second places in Chinese Painting and Calligraphy classes over the last 3 years, and my younger son and friend's son are both nationally competitive as well. However, what I respect most about Ichen is not her extremely professional art instructions, the pleasant environment in her schools, her genuine love for her students, nor her willingness to attend to each student's individual needs. I am sure all of the above helped the children achieve their confidence and awards in art. I feel what makes Ichen and her programs so special is that she teaches patience, persistence, discipline, kindness and self-motivation through art. Ichen motivates her students well beyond what they think they are capable of. She is there when they fall short and teaches them how to succeed through learning from themselves. She does so through her patience, kindness, and her example as a teacher. The results are amazing and you can see personal growth in her students' wonderful art work. I think that is what makes Ichen and her school above and beyond what a regular art teacher or program could offer. I would rate Ichen and her school 6 stars if I could. I am grateful for everything that she has taught my children including art and beyond. I recommend her school and programs wholeheartedly.

I've been a student at Ichen Art Academy for over 4 years now, and needless to say, I've grown a…read morelot within my passion because of the instruction I received at this school. I came in with a love for art, but little knowledge in the technical aspects. Through Ichen's summer programs, I got to explore many different media including charcoal, oil painting, and digital. The academy's instructors are very well educated in the arts and provide a plethora of resources and materials to help me succeed. They provided guidance in composition, technique, color, etc. while motivating me to enter my art into competitions... ultimately which I won a few! Ryan, Ichen Art Academy's Artist in Residence, has provided me with fantastic support over the years. I got a perfect balance of instruction and freedom to allow for the full expression of my artistry. I never felt bored or unmotivated because the instructors constantly provide me with ideas and recommendations when I'm stuck. My AP and college application portfolios both contributed largely to my successful MIT and Harvard application processes, and I am forever indebted to my time at Ichen for this accomplishment.

I signed up my 5 YO for a winter break week-long half-day art camp. This was our first time trying…read morea holiday camp, or any type of camp for that matter. What enticed me was the options: full day all week (minus Christmas Day), half day all week (minus Christmas Day), full day singles days, and half day single days. I also really appreciated the diverse artists that they were studying about, and the mostly, new (to me) art projects that they were doing. Most of the projects seem to have general guidelines but each person's art was unique to them (i.e. not cookie cutter, I do-You do, etc.) While my son originally didn't want to attend and was content going to his regular afterschool care, at pick up after his first day, he said, "I had a GREAT time at art today!" On day 2, on the way to art camp for drop-off said, "I LOVE art camp!" He has been excited to go to camp everyday so far so I am excited to check out future offerings!

My 6-yr-old has been taking art classes here for a few months and absolutely loves it! Courtney is…read morea wonderful teacher with a strong background in art and design in tech. She keeps the kids engaged, thinking, and having fun. We plan on taking the Junior Picassos next, which has more of a STEM focus on design thinking. The location is spacious, inviting, and convenient (above Rooted Coffee in Pleasant Hill). My son asks me to go there all the time for their drop-ins too. Couldn't recommend it enough!

Great experience taking the adult Watercolor 101 class in San Rafael. I decided to take this class…read moreas it has been decades since I did anything remotely fine art related. I thought watercolor would be an easy place to start, but it's actually probably one of the hardest painting mediums (though the easy clean-up does make up for it!). This class taught me the foundation watercolor painting techniques I was looking for to get me started in art again. Hana Buechel was a skilled and engaging instructor. She is friendly, very approachable and encouraging. She is also an exceptional artist. She really helped re-ignite my interest in painting and going to spend the summer putting what she taught me into practice. Hoping to take another class in the fall. Thanks Hana!

Cody is a first-rate instructor. He's personable, patient, calm, encouraging, humorous, and super…read moreknowledgeable. His sessions are quite engaging...time flies during our 2-hour classes! The studio is most definitely conducive to drawing out one's creativity and makes a wide range of art supplies available to the students to complete a healthy variety of projects. I highly recommend this 12-session, two-hours-per-session beginning adult artists class I'm taking, and I highly recommend Cody as a very capable and personable instructor! He has a very calming and gentle way about him!

Lafayette Studio is wonderful! Classes are small and allow lots of opportunities to ask individual…read morequestions. The space is lovely and air conditioned in the Summer. There is a great variety of classes and teachers to choose from. Parking is easy. Great company of fellow local artists. Doug and Jody are very responsive to any questions you might have and run the Studio efficiently. You can also pay a monthly fee to come and go and use the studio as you like. Great for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Great location, studio space, instructors & fun group of artists! There is also monthly studio…read moretime for rent. Check it out!!

I just finished my first month of membership and so happy I found this treasure of a studio in…read moreTracy. One of the things I appreciate is the relaxed atmosphere, which allows me to work at my own pace, experiment with new ideas, and simply enjoy the creative process. The studio is well-equipped, welcoming, and provides a great environment to throw on the wheel or handbuild. Whether I'm refining techniques or trying something completely new, I always leave feeling inspired. I'm grateful to have a space where I can come and go as my schedule allows, and continue developing as an artist. I recommend it to anyone interested in ceramics - seasoned or starting out.

My kids have been members of Oam Studio in Pleasanton for several years now and still look forward…read moreto their class every week. We found the studio through a friend whose daughter graduated from this place and we feel absolutely happy to be part of this art family. I recommend this place to all my friends with kids and the main reason why I love Oam Studios is because they teach the fundamentals and explain the basics (shading, pencil pressure, anatomy, symmetry, etc) to children instead of making them replicate an art by following step by step instructions. Students get to pick their own project and the teacher works with them individually even though it's a group class. Teacher Omar created a system with gateways (drawing, painting, ceramics, digital art) that makes it fun for children to explore different means and 'advance in levels' as they learn more techniques. Our Teacher Monique is so patient, sweet and friendly. The studio is clean, very artsy and filled with student projects.

Three years later and both my boys go here. Saturdays she has classes now until 9:30 to three,…read moreSundays 9:30 to noon and other days by appointment. My kids tell me she is good because she is critical when she needs to be to help them with their work.

My kids have loved their summer and winter camps here! The teachers are highly skilled and I love…read morethe variety of media and techniques taught in the classes. My kids have gotten to do watercolors, chalk pastels, india ink, printmaking, sculpture, and more. They are able to use high-quality supplies and the class sizes are good.

This review is for their summer camp. The kids eat lunch on the curb. No attempt is made to take…read morethem to a playground or a park or even an adjoining grassy area! They can perhaps talk to the church authorities close by for use of their grounds or take them to the end of scenic way (4 minute walk) and use the grassy area there! There was no ice-breaker so the kids shy to talk to each other and there was little or interaction among the kids! Classes start at 9 am. Break is from 10-11 an and lunch is from 12-1 pm and classes end at 3 pm! I will update this review if things change!

Met Jeff the other day.. I purchased a mint Crate 212 tube amp from him…read more a Great music store and professional teachers..!! A fantastic music studio in the heart of Benicia..!! Thank you!!

My 8 y/o daughter has been taking piano lessons from J. Shelby for about 9 months now. It has been…read morea wonderful experience for her. She has learned so much in a short amount of time. She is playing and writing some of her own songs now. J. Shelby is a wonderful teacher with a fun and gentle approach. He is encouraging but does not push too much-which is just the right balance to keep kids engaged. My daughter looks forward to her lessons and practices on her own at home. Due to J. Shelby's approach, she does not see it as a chore or burden. Instead finds it fun and enjoyable. I am not sure she would have made this much progress or found so much joy if not for her instructor. I highly recommend J. Shelby as a music teacher. Also the space is warm, cozy, and comfortable while waiting during your child's lesson.