Conclusion: Cristina and Fernando, although they do know about art, are the most paranoid…read moreself-serving couple I have ever met. Things that happened in order:
1. 1st day. I unexpectedly had to pay my hotel bill on the first day in pesos. Therefore, I came up a little short for the art studio. I told them I had a credit card, but they wanted their money in pesos. I gave them 6,000 pesos in cash and told them I would have the rest (about $150) for them on Wed. 2 days before the end of class and in pesos. They were very upset and made me feel like a criminal in front of the other 2 participants.
2. I asked Cristina if I could leave my purse in the school while we went out sketching. She said no, she didn't want the responsibility. I had to draw while holding a purse.
3. Cristina asked what my experience was and I told her I didn't draw well and my home teacher had me copying her work. Cristina started saying How would you like it if someone came into your house and stole your stuff. You're stealing.
4. Fernando: I asked him if I could take a photo of his painting, the one we were all painting together where he was explaining what to do as we painted. He said he doesn't let students take photos of his work, even though this was the teaching painting.
5. I asked him a question about how I could get more value shifts into my trees. His answer was to talk for 10 minutes about how he always has a student who doesn't like their work. I liked my work. I only asked him one question. Neither Fernando nor Cristina like questions.
6. I ran back up to the studio to see if I left my phone up there. He was calling after me somewhat frantically, Where are you going, like he didn't want me up there alone.
7. Before class, we were made to stand outside on the extremely narrow, hot sun and broken sidewalk outside the studio until the maid opened the door one minute before class was to start.
The above are 7 reasons why I would never recommend this school to anyone!
To Cristina, In answer to your comment below:
1. I did not arrive late. You made us all late while you complained that I didn't have the full amount in pesos so you could avoid paying taxes.
2. I told you I had all the money before I had to pay my hotel bill on the first day, Sunday eve. In pesos. Out of $750, I was only about $150 short and told you I would pay the rest on Wed. Which I did. What you had was plenty to teach me for 3 days and you knew you would get the rest. Where would I go?
3. Racist comments - what planet are you on? I told you I love Mexico, I am A Spanish teacher and you know what, even the nice young girl from Hong Kong said she thought you would be more flexible. None of us were happy about waiting outside till the last minute. We talked about it.
4. It is not an unrealistic expectation to be treated well, in a pleasant environment and have your painting questions answered.
5. You offered me my 6,000 pesos back. You were not about to give me my previous $300US back and you also knew I had come to Mexico just for your art class, which I thought would be good. As I told you, what about my $500 plane flight? I had to stay and you knew it.
You say you knew I would give you a bad review. I'm not surprised you knew that after the way you acted. That is one reason Yelp was created, to let others know if a certain business treats its patrons well.
In spite of you, Cristina, I did learn some painting techniques from Fernando, who despite a few things is not altogether a bad guy. In fact, if he was teaching somewhere else without you, I might even give him another try.
Also, in my above review, I forgot to mention that the class studio is up a narrow steep fight of stairs and is extremely hot (in March) and I am not a person who feels heat much. There is no air conditioning, no fan and the window can't be opened due to the noises coming from the extremely busy street below.
