We were staying in the Des Moines area and looking to kill some time before heading to the theatre…read moreon a Saturday, and a quick Google search brought us to Painting with a Twist. We were intrigued by the idea of painting and pouring a candle, even though we aren't artistic by any means and felt a bit out of our element. We were "walk-ins" and when we arrived, they set us up with paints and materials, and showed us the books to choose a design with step-by-step instructions. Beverages were available for purchase - we had cans of soda (2 for $3, very reasonable!). The vibe is creative and welcoming, and the staff are friendly, encouraging, and make you feel artistic even if you're not. There's space for both scheduled sessions and walk-ins, as well as painting classes (one started after we arrived). Everything felt very organized and cohesive. Once we finished our paintings, a staff member guided us through pouring our candles - we even mixed scents, and they smelled amazing! After pouring, we left and returned about two hours later to pick up our finished candles. We had a fantastic time. This was a fun, creative, and inexpensive experience - just $63 total for the two of us to each paint and pour a scented candle, plus two beverages. Highly recommend! Disclaimer: I said I'm not an artist, so go easy on me when you see my pics! :-)

Great experience! Had a blast for a birthday party…read more They let us bring in food. They offer drinks! Super fun atmosphere. Staff was lovely. Would definitely go back with friends!

Amy's Virtual Sip and Paint classes are fun, even via Zoom, and with each class I was surprised by…read morewhat I could achieve by following her guidelines. She methodically breaks down a painting into easy to follow steps, while explaining basics of technique. All while encouraging each participant and offering tips specific to each person's challenges. Try it - you'll surprise yourself!

From the owner: I am no longer teaching wine and paint classes but will do private ones if you are interested. I…read morewill travel. I do commissioned art work in either acrylic or oil paint, as well as charcoal and pastels.

JJ is an amazing teacher and artist. The session with him was interactive informative creative and…read morefun! Highly recommend!!

I cannot express how much it meant to me to have the opportunity to create a beautiful handblown…read moreglass piece in memory of my lost furbaby, Noelle. I was able to incorporate the cremains of her into a cupcake, which resembled her favorite toy. I was walked through each and every step safely and completely on my own when I was able to show what I was capable of. On a few parts, I had assistance, but the majority or the glass was done by me. The glass cooled for a day and I was able to pick up the following afternoon. I could not be happier.

We were so excited to come in and make our own pottery for a reasonable price. The class was fun…read moreand we were given the option of painting it then or we could come back at a later time and paint it with studio paints and make designs, so we chose that option this class was in November). We went to paint these on February 13. We did very detailed pieces with flowers and intricate designs. The studio told me that they would be done within two weeks to a month. After a month passed, I called to see if our pieces were done, they weren't. After this, I called every week as the studio never followed up with me. Our pieces were finally done on April 3rd. So, I went in on the 4th to pick them up at opening. I waited an extra 15 minutes after opening and they had no one there, I knocked on the door and no one came. They did not have it anywhere that they were closed. I finally picked up our pieces and this studio absolutely destroyed our pieces. They melted the glaze and did not heat them in the proper temperature and ruined all our work designing them. So after 6 months, our pieces are going in the garbage. There was no apology for trashing our pieces or offer to reimburse us or to come in and redo them. It was so unfortunate that the team did not care to make things right.

This is such a great place to create! Families can walk in and pick a project right off the…read moreshelves and start creating. From simple projects like painting a piece of pottery (you take it home THAT DAY!), to projects that are more intricate, there is something for everyone! Owner, Stacy Schuurmann is so creative and offers many ideas for kids and adults to have fun with art!

A really nice cultural experience in the heart of Des Moines. The series of buildings includes the…read moreonly I M Pei design (same architect of the glass pyramid in the heart of the Paris Louvre). Iowa the Des Moines Art Center is a nice way to spend a few hours. Complementary admission and free parking is an added bonus and a fantastic value. And impressive selection of old world and modern art, including some more well-known artists such as Picasso, Goya, Cezanne, Miro, Lichtenstein, and an impressive selection of newer artists that definitely leave a lasting impression. I recommend that you stop, and even if only to see a few of the artists and a little bit of the architecture. Great gift shop too!

Spent an afternoon with artists Picasso, Hopper, Warhol, Matisse, Miro, Chagall, Klee, Monet, and…read moreothers...at the fabulous Des Moines Art Center! I did not expect to see some of the world's greatest artists in Des Moines. Instead, it was an elite venue at an incredible price point. Located in Ingersoll Park, 20 minutes from Ankeny and 10 minutes from the State Capitol, the Art Center is a must-see, beautiful venue with spectacular works, considerable spaces, and gorgeous grounds. Amazingly, it is free. Loved the Samantha Box "Caribbean Dreams" exhibit, a fantastic collection of photography and art. I also loved works by Stella ("Interlagos"), Kiefer ("untitled"), Francis ("Summer #2"), and Schnabel. We also liked the postcard exhibit. The building has an awesome vibe and incredible visuals throughout its spectacular architecture. There is a great gift shop and discounted items near the entrance. Sensational guidance and kindness from the museum's docents, notably Loretta, Issac, and Gabby.

We love escape rooms and haven't tried this place yet. Easy to book online. We walked in and had to…read morewait for someone to come to the lobby. She was super nice. We did the Kidnapping 2 room where you are blind folded, our first time doing one like this. There were 2 clues that weren't "working", but our game master paused out time and helped us out. We didn't escape but we definitely enjoyed it and will be back.

So disappointing! We arranged our whole morning of our vacation to go try the clue room as a family…read more, called to make the reservation and arrived before the first available reservation only to be told there was only one person was working and he wasn't trained in that room and we would have to wait over an hour for a different game. Please don't advertise walk-ins welcome and get kids' hopes up only to have nothing your worker is trained in.