Did an floral oil painting courese last weekend with Steve Williams and it was briliant...learned a…read morelot and got some wonderful tools to further my growth as a painter...Steve is a great teacher and I loved the venue! JJ

Just finished my most recent workshop with Justin -- inspiring as always! He's extremely…read moreknowledgeable and is a great instructor. He shares a wealth of tips and techniques. He's also exceptional at encouraging creativity. I've taken several workshops and will be back for more.

My spouse and I wanted to join an art and craft workshop together and came across Soigne. There are…read more30+ workshops available on their website and we decided to join the coin ring workshop. It's $80 plus tax for two. Reasonably priced for a two-hour workshop with a legit product to bring home. We booked the class two days ahead and the original 4pm time slot was full already. Our instructor, Kacy, opened a new slot at 1:30pm as many people wanted to sign up. We were able to join the 1:30pm class but it filled up quickly. The class was full (12 people I think). So, remember to reserve your spot earlier if you want to join the workshop on a very specific day. Kacy is responsive and helpful when we booked the class. The studio located at the sketchier side of town. Inside the studio, it is safe, clean and artsy. The workshop was fun. It involves some "hot work". I like that Kacy put a lot of emphasis on safety. She taught us each step very clearly and made sure we knew what we were doing. Each work station was set up neatly without any unnecessary items. I am very happy with the learning process and our end products. I would love to join more workshops by Soigne!

This was of one of kind experience. We went there to make a ring from a coin…read more Just beware to bring a variety of coins, because not all coins are made equally and the owner has an app to know what's it is made out of it. I meant to put in a review, but I forgot. So first off, the area can seem little sketchy, I parked my car there, it was fine. It was a little hard to find, but I called the owner and she met me outside the gates. The owner was very helpful with the entire process and provided instructions all the way through. You start from beginning, where you heat, shape, clean and polish. I got a Thai coin with my birth year for my wife to make, because I am Thai. Then I got a Filipino coin with my wife's birth year for me to make. As a backup I got some US quarters with our birth years just in case. Which came out handy because during the ring making process the wife messed up. Communication was great, she answered all of my questions and payment was done over PayPal. Overall, I would come here again, well worth price for the experience!

4Cats is an art studio which has a number of different workshops! We came here for their pottery…read moreclay workshop where we made a love snack plate. It was just a 1hr workshop which included instructions as well. It was $35 per person which I thought was very standard considering this was not a pottery wheel class but a clay pottery class. Our instructor was super nice and took her time to go over everything. She was around in case we had any questions. The class was pretty full considering it was a Saturday afternoon so I would recommend booking them in advance. They always have fun classes depending on the months/season. This was a special one they had for valentine's day. Their space is pretty big and has two floors with multiple classes happening at the same time. They also have special classes for kids and also host kids birthday parties! I would definitely come back to try some of their other workshops.

A friend of mine tried to register her daughter for a kids painting class and was denied access due…read moreto her daughter having a disability and needing the support of an aide (who she was happy to coordinate herself); another mom of a kiddo with a disability also had her child denied for the same reason. Your rationale was that it's a "kids only" space, so the fact that they needed the support of a human aide (adult) means they aren't welcome in your kids class. There are all different kinds of aids/aides that people with varying abilities and needs use for support - some are human aides and some are physical aids (like a wheelchair or glasses). When you start to think of a human aide as no different than a physical aid (both support an individual with a specific need to navigate the world) it makes denying someone access to a space or program much harder to justify. Would you deny a kid who requires a wheelchair a spot in your class because it might mean having to move a table or two? Your decision to deny these two access to your kids classes not only violate their human rights (which are protected by BC, Canadian, and International Law) but violate their humanity. It tells them that because they move through the world differently than some of their peers that they aren't as worthy, that they don't deserve to have the same opportunities as their peers or BE with their peers. It also denies their peers (and your staff) the opportunity to share space and an activity with THEM. I only know one of these kiddos personally but when I say this is your (and your other participants) loss please know how very sincerely I mean it. This kid brings a level of joy that I haven't seen matched by anyone else. She's funny, and she's creative, and she's smart, and she's kind, and she's talented, and she's joy-full, and she deserves to spend a few hours doing the thing she loves the very most (painting) with her peers. And the other kids in your class deserve for her to be part of their peer group. Inclusion isn't a favour that "typical" people do for "atypical" people. Inclusion is a right and it benefits all of us. As those of us in Canada sit here and watch in horror as the US government degrades diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to push the narrative that white, able bodied, neurotypical, heterosexual, cisgendered men are the "norm" and the only demographic that doesn't have to prove their worth I can't tell you how unbelievably disappointed and heartsick I was to learn that an art studio in my hometown has opted not to include a nine-year-old girl because she has a disability. Do better.

A gem! What a find, this gem of a shop on Hastings, just east of London Drugs. Getting kids quality…read moregifts, books and toys can be a challenge with all the shiny bling out there. This place has art kits, embroidery kits, quality books that have obviously carefully chosen, inclusive and good selection of non-fiction. There are games, paint supplies, trinkets. Something for everybody, good place to pop into if you are looking for gifts. It is a very narrow space with every nook and cranny utilized, so be ready to feel a bit squished and masks are mandatory.

A really special place that adds so much to the neighbourhood and the greater Vancouver. One of my…read morefavourite features is the puzzle exchange! Truly a cozy nook to make and do together and unlock self discovery for learners of all ages. Another thing that makes this place special is an area that's perfect for makers to share their craft and inspirations. I always look forward to finding new and fascinating gems inside.

A little store packed with a lot of stuff. They sell harajuku fashion imported from Japan, vintage…read moreJapanese ski suits, and lots of other creative pieces from clothing and accessories. Blim is also a silkscreening studio and they run workshops for artists in the community to learn about various techniques and crafts. Local artists also sell their clothing and accessories here, so Blim has a no photos policy. The people who work there are happy to explain this as well and are very enthusiastic about their space.

I was hoping to help a local business by buying from them. I ordered supplies for a button project…read moremy high school class was doing and selected one day delivery as we were running out of what we had. The order was 1 week late and Ziggy, who replied to me about the lateness said it was a source issue, which was fine. After a week, it was too late and I was going to cancel the order. They told me that the mistake was made with one day shipping because they didn't know how to change the shipping options and that they didn't actually have that option. To keep my order, they said they would refund me the shipping. They dropped off the supplies one week later than they said it would be delivered and then told me they would not issue a refund on delivery as they had to deliver it themselves and it cost more for gas. When I told them they lost me as a customer, they texted back that they "Loved" that they lost me. I want to support small business, but I don't want to give my money to rude businesses who promise they will do something and do not and in the end make excuses for their inability to do what their business is supposedly set up to do.

One of the very few places in town to do life drawing. They have some weird membership rules and…read moreoffer no group or corporate discounts unless tickets are bought in bulk and in advance. The lighting set and model stand are uninspiring. It gets full sometimes and the layout does not allow for good vantage points for more than 6 or 7 people at the back wall. The location is good but it can be a bit rough at night. As a gallery it doesn't get public attention or traffic so it is reserved for members on s rental and invite basis. Models are consistently good but they are situated in the middle with no backdrop. So one star for providing a necessary service, another for being consistent and another for forging on and attracting like minded artists. But that's about it .

My artsy fartsy friend discovered this place while building her portfolio and invited me to go with…read moreher. For a drop in price for $14, this was an interesting experience indeed. Oh, did I mention that this was an open studio for drawing/sketching/painting for life drawing? 3 hour long drop in sessions, usually starting at 10am, or at 7pm. It takes place in one open studio, where everyone just sits in a large circle, around the model. There's different types of sessions as well, from long pose,gestures, two week sessions (same pose for 2 consecutive sessions), and regular drawing sessions. Different times for different classes, check their schedule online for details. I'm no expert artist, but I'm sure many there are. People use all different mediums, and canvasses for their drawing. There's breaks in between poses too. It's amazing just too see how many different ways people can express the same pose. Very cool.

*You can see my original review and the owner's reply, below*…read more I didn't think my opinion of The ArtWay Studio could get any lower, but the owner, Denna, has replied to my review AND contacted me privately, eight years later. Instead of trying to make it right or even apologizing, she is asking me to remove my review. I even took the time to re-explain my issues in detail, and her response was nothing but gaslighting, sarcasm, and calling me entitled. Now that I know the teacher I had was fired, I feel even more like I wasted a lot of money and learned nothing. I am often hesitant to leave negative reviews for small businesses and I would have happily revised my review if Denna had made even a small attempt to make things right, but I now feel like I have to warn other people against spending money here. The classes were disappointing and the customer service is abhorrent.

Denna and The Artway Studio have been amazing to work with. I have been a student for several…read moreyears and learned so much from Denna that I now have my own studio and art practice. She has mentored many students who have done the same. She is a great teacher and I would recommend The Artway to anyone.

I took my first class in 2012 and just stayed! I love the atmosphere and learning from so many…read moregreat instructors. I since became a member so that I can practice and improve at this fascinating hobby.

From the owner: We offer beginner classes in glassblowing, flameworking, beadmaking, and sandblasting for ages 16+,…read moreand encourage our students to further their exploration of glass as form of creative expression.