Super cozy and beginner-friendly pottery & art studio! The instructors were very friendly and…read morehelpful with how to experiment with the pottery wheel for the first time. Clean and open space. Great spot for art therapy, friend hangouts, and couple dates!

GO TO CROCK A DOODLE INSTEAD (723 Gerrard St East). My family has gone to The Clay Room for more…read morethan ten years. I've completed many pieces there, including a yearly handprint ornament for my daughter. This time, after choosing our pieces and following their six-colour guideline for children, I was confronted by a clerk who told me my ten-year-old "only needs four colours" and that "it's four when we're busy." The tone was hostile, and the reasoning made no sense. Customers pay for the piece, the studio time, and the firing. Colour limits serve no purpose beyond making it easier for the establishment to handle customers. The same employee who was rude and hostile later called to say she hadn't realized we had more than one piece and that we could use six colours after all. By then, the experience was already compromised, so we did not return. Crock A Doodle was a direct contrast. Seven minutes away. Transit-friendly. Every table stocked with the full set of thirty colours. The price of the item covers everything: paint, time, and firing. It was straightforward and worth it.

Loved the experience and warm atmosphere! Had tons to choose from and excellent help from the…read morestaff. We'll be coming again! Thank you!!!

Walked in on a Saturday morning probably an hour after opening. They were already pretty busy and…read morehad a big children's party coming. Luckily there was space for myself and 2 gfs. Process is simple. You pick your already made ceramic piece off the shelf and someone sits down with you before you start painting. They explain all the dos and don'ts and show you samples of a good painting job and what happens when you don't later enough paint. Then you go and create your masterpiece! You're free to use whatever brushes you want and all the paint that you need. There also is no time limit of how long you sit and paint. I think my gfs and I took about 2.5 hours? All pieces are priced differently. They're very helpful if you have any questions so don't hesitate to ask! The only thing that my gfs and I didn't realize is that it takes about a week for the pieces to be "glazed". So if you're not from around the area it might be a pain to come back and get it. If you fail to pick up your pieces I believe after 3 months, they donate them. I came back at exactly the 7 day mark and they just finished glazing that morning. Thank god, because I would've been really disappointed if I had gone all that way for nothing. They also have a sign that says no need to call to ask if your piece is ready as it SHOULD be ready within a week.

I love this place and the people who run it. You can truly have not an artistic bone in your body…read moreand create a masterpiece. Ron, the owner, and his staff are fun and informative. We were so impressed we bought a year membership so the whole family can participate together. You come in, choose your piece, get a bit of instruction and then you are off to the races. The price includes all supplies needed and the glazing, and as many hours as you need to create your work of art. You can just keep coming back for as many hours as it takes, at NO extra cost, so that you can get it just right!!! Love that! Give it a try - bet you love it like we do!

My friend and I went to our first pottery class! They had a $25 promotion for a wheel class…read moresession. Such a fun activity! I definitely recommend if you are looking for a creative and affordable activity to do. Note if you want to glaze and paint, you need to wait 6-8 weeks after and book another session for additional cost

I've been here couple times already twice with my girlfriends to make bowls and twice with my…read moreboyfriend. Super fun activity to do. We made our own pieces took them home to dry to 6-8 week then came back to paint our pieces. Be sure to check their website beforehand because they usually have some type of promotional going on. For the matcha bowl it was only $25 per person for 1 lb of clay and the instructor takes you through how to make it. For the painting we only paid $10 per piece and they also glaze and fire for you so you can actually use your pieces. The staff is always very kind and accommodating. Usually their classes and painting is one hour but they let us stay longer with any additional charges. Even if you are a beginner like me and mess up they will help you fix your pieces so don't worry. Definitely very worth it! Recommended coming if you're looking for an artsy activity. Art ventures has multiple location this is the Bay and Dundas location. They offer different pottery class from beginner class with instructors to advance ones. You can always paint your own pottery that you make. They also have already made pottery if you just want to paint a piece. You do have to book before going so make sure you book online or over the phone.

A nice and cozy place to try out pottery painting but it's a tad pricey. I paid about $50 for a…read morecupcake shaped dish and most prices start at $30 but the price includes supplies and baking in the kiln, so I understand the breakdown.

I brought my gf here for canvas painting on her bday and we had a great time. We had to leave…read morebefore completing our paintings on that initial session due to a dinner reservation we had made. Flash forward, both of us came back on Easter Sunday for an additional session to complete our work. Yvette wasn't working. It was a younger lady (who's name I forgot to ask). She was just as friendly as Yvette. I had booked the session online quite last minute (at around 2pm for a 3pm session) so she didn't have everything setup for us when we arrived but no worries. I'm happy I managed to salvage my horizon! **see my previous review** :) Just as Yvette had told me on our last visit, they only charged us the $6 studio fee for 2 ppl so $12 (no funny business). Our paintings turned out okay even without an instructor guiding us! After inspecting both of our paintings I noticed I like to use thicker, broader strokes and my gf uses thinner, more refined strokes. I'd definitely be open to coming back for canvas painting again or pottery perhaps in the future. Very fun!

Amazing last min booking and this place opens till 6pm. If you love arts and craft this is the…read moreplace for you. You will need at least 2-3 hours to complete depending on the size of what you are painting. Customer service of this place is amazing. I definitely recommend this place :).

If you're looking for something fun to do with friends, this is a very good option. There's a bunch…read moreof different dates you can pick from with different things to paint. There's an instructor at the front who guides you through the process - mixing colours, dividing your canvas, etc. There's is also food + drinks to purchase if you feel inclined to do so. Definitely a great way to de-stress after a long week.

This franchise location has been at this plaza for a few years now. It's just south of Highway 7 in…read morethe same plaza as the Burger King and Vivo Pizza and Pasta. My husband asked about it as we were passing by one evening and I explained the concept, i.e., an art class where you hang out, paint, and if you want, drink along the way. I decided that this would be a great activity for the 3 of us on Family Day. I was delighted to find that it was indeed open that day and so I booked. The class started at 7 but we were encouraged to come 20 to 30 minutes prior to settle in, get our aprons on, get comfortable with any snacks and beverages we wanted, and be ready to begin promptly at 7. When we came in, we were greeted by one of the staff who walked us through what to expect. There are cubbies to put your things away. The seating is somewhat snug so that's the way to go. Kids 13 and up are allowed to join in the painting. You can bring your own food, but not beverages. They sell a fair array of wines, beers, and mixed drinks, including their own signature drink, Dirty Paint Water. We had to try that! It's made with coconut rum, blue curacao, and pineapple juice. I'm not a huge fan of pineapple juice, but it was tasty. At $16 a pop though, we kept it at one drink apiece. They do offer a number of non alcoholic hot and cold beverages. The snacks are limited to a very few prepackaged items such as chips and beef jerky. I read on their website that they have a partnership with Domino's Pizza which gets delivered if you want to place an order. In any case, you don't have enough room or time to eat during the class, so it isn't a big part of the experience. The class itself lasts 90 minutes. The instructor stands on a platform with a sample painting to follow, and paints along with you as they go through the steps to create your own version of the finished product. They have a microphone but your classmates need to refrain from chatting or using the hairdryers provided (to help dry your canvas between steps) to ensure they can be heard by everyone. Our instructor was quite good at pacing the class between steps. They gave a short summary of their qualifications, and explained that the bar staff are also actually fully qualified instructors, so if you need any help or have questions, you can flag them down as well for assistance. Her instructions were clear and easy to follow. At a couple of points during the class, we were given formal 10 minute breaks to allow our canvases to dry in between stages. It allows the perfect opportunity to use the washrooms (which were clean and roomy), stretch, and take a mental break, not to mention, grab another beverage! Our theme that night was Van Gogh's Starry Night. We learned how to divide our canvas, mix some colours, and use the 2 brushes provided to create the desired effects. She gave some hints on cleaning the brushes and thinning the paints to get the desired results. She also gave hints on holding the brushes and applying pressure to create additional effects. The cool thing about our theme and paints was that they are neon acrylics that show under black light. I wish they had that light somewhere in the studio so that we could see it! The few cons I experienced were that I noticed on their website after booking my spots, that I was entitled to a $10 discount for having a group of 3, but had to add the code given in the website description when I had booked. Idk why they wouldn't just automatically apply it when I'm literally booking 3 people in my group. When I'm paying $16 for one beverage once I'm there, I would have appreciated it that much more. Also, the quality of the paints made it difficult to get even coverage on the canvas, to which almost everyone had a hard time having the paint adhere/get absorbed. It is a great experience and I might go back if the fam is inclined to return. It's really cool to have your artwork be your souvenir of a good time. They sell frames you can put your painting in if you wish. They offer a newsletter and perks if you want to sign up and/or come more often. Prices vary according to the day of the week, as well as the size of your group. Be sure to look up the codes you have to add manually yourself at checkout if you want to get the group discount you're entitled to. The choices of subject matter are wide and have something to appeal to just about anyone. It would also make for a great team building experience for work groups. Something I'm definitely glad we did at least once!

Dear Hiring Manager at Desires Art Store, I've walked past your window a dozen times--always…read morepausing at that charcoal sketch of the woman mid-laugh, the one where her eyes look like they know exactly what I'm hiding. It's the kind of piece that doesn't sell itself; it just... stays. And honestly? That's why I'm writing. I've spent the last three years behind the counter at a tiny gallery in Portland--nothing fancy, just good light and people who'd rather talk about brushstrokes than buy anything. I learned how to spot the quiet ones who come in for just a look, then leave with a $400 watercolor because I asked if they'd ever painted their own shadow. I'm not pushy. I'm patient. And I remember names--like how Mrs. Alvarez always wants the softest pastels, or how the kid in the hoodie keeps circling the same neon print until he finally asks if we do layaway. Desires feels different. Not louder--just deeper. I've seen your Instagram; the way you frame a single canvas like it's breathing. You don't just sell art--you curate moments. I want to be part of that. I'm good with inventory (I once reorganized our entire back room by mood--warm tones on the left, cold on the right--sales jumped fifteen percent). I can wrap a piece like it's a gift to someone's future self. And yeah, I'll admit--I've already daydreamed about restocking your shelves at six in the morning, radio low, coffee black, watching the city wake up through the glass. If you're looking for someone who'll treat every customer like they're about to fall in love--with a painting, with themselves, with whatever--they'll find here--I'm your guy. Let me know if you ever need an extra pair of hands. Or eyes. Or just someone who'll stay late to hang that last piece right. Warmly, Leo P.S.

I probably find myself at Leather & Sewing Supplies at least every 3 weeks. I love this store, and…read moreeveryone who works there. Some are absolute legends (Anita) This place has everything you need for your projects and a lot of stuff you didn't know you needed until you saw it. Great prices. Well stocked store. Perfect location.