Students here are hugely talented. Generally their work far exceeds what passes for student work…read moreat other schools I've seen. So there is a lot of inspiration here. Housed in a historic building filled with nooks and passageways that are beyond cool. You are fully immersed in an authentic artistic experience. I've taken art classes on both coasts, and NYSS has my highest recommendation by far.

The New York Studio School unfortunately relies way too much on it's past esteem. I would highly…read morerecommend participating in one of the many "Marathon's" the school is known for and offers each semester however I would discourage anyone contemplating the MFA or Certificate Program from doing so. Expensive and still not nationally accredited, this school has less than par studio conditions. Bad ventilation in many of the overcrowded work studios and several abusive long time staff members detract from any positive experience. Another problem is the atelier teaching method with few expceptions often corrupts individual talent resulting in work that looks very similar. If you are seeking studio space in NYC there are cheaper options and better MFA programs in the area. Despite all of this there are some extrordinary artists who teach there -- but in my opinion -- definitely not worth the price of admission.

What a fun way to spend your afternoon. We did the pottery wheel, and although I was very bad, the…read moreinstructors were so nice and patient with our group. They were super helpful and I eventually started to get it. A great single, date or group activity.

This art cafe is a great solution for casual art dabblers wanting a space and tools to get…read morecreative. I brought a date here on a Saturday night and us both being beginners we steered clear of the likes of charcoal and pottery and stuck to the more beginner friendly mediums-- clay and watercolors. We stayed for a couple of hours chilling in their loungey space, which had an excellent playlist. I like their little snack selection and non-alcoholic beverage choices. They even have some cbd drinks, though no booze. If it was their intention to protect the low key and quiet ambience in the space, it is working-- everyone spoke in respectfully hushed tones. Age range skewed younger-- early to mid twenties mostly. I think I'm more of a journaler than an artist but appreciated the space and opportunity to use my brain in a different way.

We loved it here would definitely come back and I recommend it so much so much love and so much…read morechoice. Thank you.

Our experience was great! We were a mixed group with small children (a couple of them under two…read more ). Ruby (our instructor) was very pleasant and accommodating, and the painting activity held the interest of both adults and children

They are well, so creatively wild! Best for those younger than 10, wondering what summer camp is…read morelike?

Do not recommend this place for high schoolers. There's better places for this age. Do your…read moreresearch. This place should have given me a refund - they misrepresented themselves when I signed my high schooler up and refused to take accountability.

We took two knife making classes here on consecutive Saturdays... wow, what memorable, fun and…read morerewarding experiences! I was clueless but excited and we dove in to the process. The teachers were all incredibly patient and helpful and let us do our thing, but guided us the appropriate amount. We now have amazing custom knives built by our own two hands! But, even better, we have this experience together! Life is good when you try something new!

This is a nice date night experience…read more Sorry for my late review work has been really busy but I didn't forget to write an honest review based on our experience. I booked a late Father's Day gift for my husband took him to the up-cycle Game Boy class. We love playing games together so I booked it for each of us to get a game boy in the end. You are given the opportunity of picking which gameboy you are going to repair, and you do all the work. You take it apart clean it dry it put it in a I believe was a laser cutter, You customize it and set you up your speaker, screen and motherboard. You get the full experience. He really loved it and so did I, I am not experienced at all in welding or anything like that and the instructors were so helpful and knowledgeable. The way the walk you through it was really helpful to the point I was able to memorize the steps and retake apart the game boy to replace a piece that was oxidized. Don't worry the staff will help you if you're second guessing your ability to do this lol. The best part in the end is you keep it. ^_^ I highly recommend this 1 day class it was very helpful informative and fun. I will be coming back to try to make the survival knife next lol.

I went to the 57th street location this weekend with my cousins for one of their birthdays. The…read moreinstructor was a little too laid back for us. He barely talked to us and was into his own painting. We also had to ask for the aprons; which he did not give out. I would return, but definitely with a different instructor.....

Great fun , our teacher's name was Heaven. She was great! Patient with us. Step by step…read moreinstructions. We brought our own sips. The music was great also. I'll definitely try another class.

The Art Students League will always have a special place in my heart. I can't speak to how they are…read morecurrently but I attended from 2015-2019 and made many friends here, and it was a great environment to create, whether I was learning wood sculpture or refining my vision as a painter. Most of the instructors were wonderful, offering guidance when I asked and space when I needed it. It is very reasonably priced and remains a true NYC institution. The only instructor I would caution against is Pat Lipsky. I found her conceited and negative, even spiteful at times. If your aesthetics do not align with Immanuel Kant or Clement Greenberg, you may not feel welcome in her class. After she asked me to help set up her studio for a visiting curator, I left the class. From that point on, she refused to acknowledge me when we crossed paths. Still, the overall experience was deeply meaningful. I am grateful for the time I spent here and the ways it shaped my work and friendships.

With a legacy of famous artists, this art school seems like a great place to study and take art…read moreclasses and be part of an art student community. Passed by this on my way from Columbus circle, and I plan on coming back to try an art class. They have evening and part time schedule of classes, from figure drawing, sculpting, painting, illustration, so there are a lot of options to choose from. Nice historical looking building from the outside.

I liked this class a lot! It was super relaxing and fun. We had Maya. The class wasn't…read moreinstructional... not sure if its supposed to be but it was cool to just do my own thing. In the end the painting came out lit and so did we

I purchased the puff n paint. When we got there, I asked if they could sketch a different Halloween…read moredesign. A different employee offered to do that last time so I would not paint the same thing as my girlfriend. They said no, I said okay, sat down and started painting. They were talking about me for a good 10 minutes about how I didn't know what I was doing and how they could not wait to see my face when I realized I "did it wrong". I laughed it off but never went back. How could you "paint wrong"?

I went to a yarn crawl back in September 2025. This little shop have lots of different yarn,…read morefabric, crafts, and accessories. They also have classes. This is a very cute store to come and work on your projects. The staff is very friendly I would come back again. Thank you for being here in our neighborhood.

Lovely store with so much in the space. Neatly displayed and such variety. The large table in the…read moreback hosted the NYC Yarn Crawl pompom activity which was fun. So glad to have found out about this shop.

I hadn't done any life drawing in many years, and really missed it…read more The atmosphere is laid back, professional, and friendly. The session I attended was more of an open studio with a monitor than a class, but it seems attendees can solicit tips and instruction from Minerva if they so desire. The mini-lectures she delivers during 5 minute breaks that focus on art history and culture were an unexpected bonus. I will definitely return.

From the owner: Considered by many artists to be the best place to draw in New York City,…read moreMinervas Drawing Studio (aka Spring Studio) is a professional art studio offering ongoing life drawing sessions 7 days a week. Located in downtown Manhattan on the the Lower East Side, in a historic 1823 building, the studio will celebrate its 24th anniversary of year-round sketch classes in February 2016. Started by artist Minerva Durham in 1992, Spring Studio is known for its excellent models, its prompt starting times, its participants' gracious manners, and for its spirit of artistic tolerance. It attracts artists and students from all over the world.