The Flying Dolphin Studio and John- Michael were amazing. I was able to learn new techniques in calligraphy while enjoying the ambiance. The hospitality once there is also top notch. I would definitely recommend this class and location to my friends. read more

Initially, I was a little apprehensive to approach the studio as it seemed to be in an apartment complex on the third floor. But John-Michael warmly welcomed all ~12 students with hot tea and coffee, quickly making my apprehensions go away. We were provided a pen and folder with information and practice sheets on the Chancery Style of writing we would learn. John-Michael was an excellent teacher who studied Calligraphy for years. He helped us understand that we should think of the Chancery Typeface in shapes, rather than single strokes (like normal hand writing). He was open to questions and showed students step-by-step how to make each letter and number. At the conclusion, we were given practice sheets to strengthen our newly found skill. I would absolutely recommend the introductory course to anyone who is seriously interested in studying Calligraphy and to those who want to enjoy a new experience! I personally had taught myself various hand-lettering scripts, so I appreciated the more formal training. read more

This was a great experience! A small class where you can get lots of instruction and attention. For our beginner class all the materials were covered and we got to take a marker and a booklet for us to continue with home practice. John-Micheal is knowledgeable and very entertaining He was also very accommodating when I had a last minute conflict... it was a non issue to reschedule. I look forward to signing up for more classes. read more

Great intro to calligraphy! My friend and I wanted to try it out, but had no idea where to begin, so John-Michael's class was very helpful. His teaching is easy to follow and he provides you with the tools you need to get started. The two-hour class was just the right amount of time to get through the letters and numbers of one script. John-Michael is very passionate about his art, and the Flying Dolphin Studio shows it. His classes are small, so he can help students individually when they're struggling. He provides a workbook and calligraphy marker for you to take home and keep practicing. read more

My best friend and I attended Beginning Calligraphy, last Sunday at 11:00am. There were six of us in our session. John Michael taught us the Chancery Italic Hand. He gave us the appropriate background as he demonstrated the strokes for each letter. I thought the three hours went by quickly. It was extremely surprising that my letters actually looked good a few days later when I was brave enough to glance at what I thought was a poor effort on my part. Thank you John Michael Korpal. read more

Flying Dolphin Studio - Art Classes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great class to introduce you into calligraphy. I no idea what I was doing, but I still walked away feeling excited about the art and wanting to do more! If that isn't a sign of a good class, I don't know what is! read more

Flying Dolphin Studio - My first attempt at calligraphy! - Art Classes Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I had a dabble class with my friends on a Sunday afternoon to learn some calligraphy. The studio is in a quiet neighborhood and his studio really uses the atmosphere. It feels really inviting for creativity and artistic risks for people like me that feel hesitant to try art with strangers. He went step by step for the alphabet, gave time for practice, answered questions, and provided a concise packet and pen to take home. I had a fun time and the two hour dabble went by fast. Would love to try something else from the studio next time. read more

I took a beginning calligraphy class and John-Michael was a patient instructor. He went around and gave pointers to improve. He creates a very low key and comfortable environment where you feel comfortable doing a new thing. I am INCREDIBLY pleased with my experience there and would HIGHLY RECOMMEND it to anyone else. I now have a new skill to practice and I learned a lot. I plan on going back to learn how to paint! Also, there is plenty of free parking on the streets (it's right by Cermax grocery) and the sidewalk leading to his apartment is kind of in the "back" so you walk down the sidewalk in the side of the building and the entrance is closer to the back (the sidewalk can be easy to miss!) read more

My group loved this class and had a great time. John-Michael was patient and very helpful when we were struggling with certain calligraphy letters. He was friendly and made everyone in the room feel equally important. The space is a little tight, but overall, a very great experience! read more

Our lesson with John-Michael was more than we ever expected. Above and beyond his super engaging personality and clear expertise, the class was incredibly enjoyable and we walked away with a new calligraphy marker, lesson plans and a lot of learnings & excitement for the future. I would highly recommend this class for anyone curious about Calligraphy, but unsure where to begin. Thanks again, John-Michael! read more

Really great intro class! Wonderful teacher and really enjoyable to attend. It was a great size group where I felt I received just the right amount of individual attention! Would highly recommend to anyone interested in learning about calligraphy! read more

My first dabble.co experience was at Flying Dolphin Studio and it was perfect! The artist/instructor, John-Michael, was knowledgeable, welcoming and engaging. The studio was perfectly sized for our group, with ease of access to parking. I got a good introduction to calligraphy in 2 hours - I really felt like I walked away with some tangible skills. Fully worth the experience - a must do! read more

The calligraphy class for beginners was educational, well-planned and a lot of fun. John-Michael was knowledgable and really passionate about the art of calligraphy. Overall it was a great first introduction to the craft. read more

I signed up for a beginner's calligraphy course and, admittedly, was not sure what I was getting into. What a very pleasant surprise! Not only was John-Michael an excellent teacher but he had coffee and tea waiting for us when we arrived! I definitely walked away with a new skill and may go back for more instruction. However, if I never get to a respectable skill level, it's good to know he's available for hire! Btw, ask to see his 'morning exercise' sheets. Very impressive. read more

The beginner's calligraphy class was fantastic! I went alone looking to learn calligraphy for my upcoming wedding. John-Michael's studio was incredibly warm and inviting, he offered us coffee and tea, and other classmates even brought their own wine - he made us all feel welcome and comfortable. The space was great for learning - very intimate, a table for 4 of us. John-Michael was very good at explaining calligraphy for the extreme novice - I'm not the least bit artsy! He made it easy to understand and VERY fun! I would highly recommend this class and will definitely be looking into others with John-Michael to expand my new skill set! read more

John- Michael is a fantastic instructor! The Dabble class was a great experience. He was very warm and welcoming and patient. The class is definitely worth the money, especially if you appreciate lettering and learning new things! read more

I took my 10 year old with me for a Calligraphy class with John and he was very informative and professional. He had a lot of patience for adults and kids. read more

My first attempt at calligraphy was a success! We learned the Chancery script, which taught us the art of the seriph and letting your hand take control of the paper :) Good 2-hour overview of how to take control and the basics needed for this 16th century script! read more

John Michael was an amazing person and instructor. I learned so much in the class time and was invited by a terrific friend, excellent class to take alone or with another person or group! I'm still practicing, so he left an impression. John Michael is so patient and extremely thorough! Definitely a class worth enrolling in and I will return! Thanks again! read more

I took one of his beginner calligraphy classes and it was a blast! He is an excellent teacher and a lot of fun. John-Michael is clearly very good at what he does and I would definitely recommend him to a friend. I found that I really enjoyed calligraphy and plan on learning more about it when I get the chance. read more

I highly recommend this class. John-Michael is not only an excellent teacher, he is prompt with email responses, professional and courteous. I had a great experience and enjoyed not only the class, but John-Michael's warm and patient personality. His home is warm and cozy and he offered coffee and tea and had calm serene music in the background. I not only learned calligraphy I left feeling relaxed. read more

This was my first dabble.co class and I was pleasantly surprised! I had been wanting to try my hand at calligraphy for a while now and John-Michael was the perfect teacher. He was patient and I felt at ease even when I felt like I was doing my best (perfectionist at fault). I would definitely sign up for another class with him in the future. :) read more

A friend and I signed up to take John's calligraphy class. This was a really enjoyable and knowledgeable class. Two hours flew by as we learned how to make each letter and put them together to make sentences. He gave us the tools necessary to learn to do calligraphy and helped us fix mistakes so we could constantly improve. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn the basics of calligraphy. read more

John-Michael was a very patient and knowledgeable teacher! I really enjoyed his class. I feel like I learned a lot in just 2 hours. Highly recommend his class! read more

A friend and I came here for the Wednesday night calligraphy class. It was a great introduction to calligraphy and John-Michael's enthusiasm and knowledge made the experience fantastic! I'm now ready to address place cards for an upcoming shower! read more

The Introduction to Calligraphy class that I took at Flying Dolphin Studio with John-Michael was a great experience! In addition to providing us with all of the materials we needed to practice at home, John-Michael gave us a history of the Chancery script and broke down each letter into manageable pieces. He patiently demonstrated different methods of writing each letter, and showed how various pen strokes and shapes repeated in the script. He was also extremely welcoming and hospitable, offering us tea and hot chocolate on a very cold and rainy January night! Though the class was supposed to last two hours, John-Michael allowed it to go longer for late-comers. He also offered to work with us and answer questions via email in the future if we were having trouble with certain letters. Although I have a lot of practice ahead of me, I do feel much more empowered to attempt calligraphy on my wedding invitations. John-Michael's class gave me a new respect and appreciation for the skill and dedication required for the art of calligraphy, and I would definitely take another class at Flying Dolphin Studio in the future! read more