21/100 I didn't know…read morewhat to expect when walking into the Animation Academy, but after a half hour lesson in how to draw a Disney character, I walked out with a pretty good rendition of Tigger drawn by my own, two little hands. I'm not an artist, but the instructor made drawing so easy that anyone can do it. They take you through step by step, using basic shapes and strokes like triangles and circles, and make it all so easy. I can't wait to go back again to see who I get to draw next.

I wish I knew about the Animation Academy earlier! It is literally a hidden gem for all the…read morewannabe artists out there like me. I came across this place on my most recent visit to Disneyland/California Adventure over Thanksgiving break. Since the lines for all the rides were horrendous, my boyfriend and I tried some new things in the parks that were not rides. The Animation Academy was the highlight of the trip. There are "shows" every half hour where you sit inside a mini lecture hall and learn to draw Disney characters. There is a Disney animator who walks you through each step so that you come out with a picture that actually looks pretty good! Things move pretty fast so make sure you keep up with the animator and pay attention. Things can go from simple circles to eyelashes really quickly so here are a few things to keep in mind so that you don't seem so flustered during your first visit to the Academy. 1. Get there at least 10 minutes early so that you are guaranteed a seat. People start to line up. 2. When you choose your row, move down all the way to the end of the row and don't leave spaces between you and the next party. They don't have cooties. But most of all, don't be annoying and stop in the middle so that people have to climb over you. You can see everything from the right or left sides, trust me. 3. Follow along with the animator and don't freak if you make a mistake. Erasers are not allowed. If you come to the Animation Academy and follow along, you will honestly surprise yourself with what you can create! We went three times and drew Tigger, Mickey, and Dale. You can ask the guy at the front to see which characters are coming up so that you can plan your visits around their lesson plans! It is basically a free drawing lesson that can be just as fun for adults as it is for the kids. Actually maybe even more fun for adults.

Such a great place to create, and make your imagination come to life. They even have an in house…read morecoffee shop!

Came here for a date night workshop. My whir always wanted to try out pottery and it was well worth…read morethe experience. Easy to follow instructor and it was simply fun. You choose your glaze at the end and pick up your creation in about three weeks.

holy god, this can not be the same betty collins i took art lessons from when i was 6 years old. if…read morethis is it, i went to this place for art classes every saturday from 1976-1983. betty must have been in her 40's back then. i could buy a snickers bar for a quarter. now that i think about it, i spent ALL DAY on saturdays here. my parents really didn't like me.

Mar 20th, 7pm group. I found them on google but only saw one spot left, I initially asked if it…read moremeant one party or one person. Turns out it was only for one person, I asked if she could message me back if there were any cancellations. No one cancelled but she was able to squeeze me and girlfriend on her birthday. Julianna is a very great teacher, super hands on and very attentive to her guests. She's also super patient. I've been to a lot of classes and nothing tops this one. 11/10! Def coming back for more classes! BYOB also costs no surcharge. Please check this out and support her business! I promise you it is worth your time!

What an amazing experience. Julianna is a great teacher. She has so much patience and really took…read moreher time walking me thru the process. Plus is super friendly and very approachable

What an absolutely wonderful little place this is for the creative littles, adults and really…read moreanyone who is interested at trying their hand at creating art :) Susan Manders is a pretty well known artist herself and on Tuesday afternoons, Wednesday mornings and Saturday mornings, she opens her talents and love of teaching up to those interested in learning. So if you have been secretely yearning to draw, paint, shape or what have you then pop on by and get started. Life's too short not to just jump in and live it! Check out the website for more details :)

This is an outstanding class. I started painting with Susan - first time ever - last fall while I…read morewas on maternity leave. I knew I needed something outside of the house that would allow me to focus and have a mental break from the demands of my new life with a baby. From the first class, I painted something I wanted to hang on my wall. Susan's style is unstructured in the sense that there is not a formal topic presented every week. But she takes time with each student during the course of the class so her instruction is extremely customized and individually tailored to each person. She also knows when a student is getting stuck and encourages us to keep going even if we aren't sure about what we are doing. She always says, "oil is very forgiving," and "you can't mess it up." She does stress the importance of the initial drawing and encourages us to follow the same process with each new painting from priming the canvas to completing the drawing in charcoal. Over the last several months, I have seen new students start who, like me, have never picked up a paint brush. Everyone becomes an artist with Susan's encouragement and help. This class is also a lovely community - we all encourage each other and get excited when someone completes a work. I can't imagine starting my Saturday without this class.

"Paint it! Paint it black!!!"…read more My go to local small art supply, art gallery, art happenings and creative vibes stores. Carter Sexton Artist Materials is located in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley within the Valley Village/Studio City area and resides on Laurel Canyon Boulevard/just a beat down from Chandler Blvd and the Laurel Canyon Metro Station for the Orange (aka G) line. It's got lots of fun nooks and crannies with great materials, supplies, service and sales (including 40% off, clearance items and more). It was easy for me to follow a lot of their played out pricing for canvas (10 years in retail, though it's been almost 10 years since I walked away from it and yet still retain so much lol). I ventured into the "Come (On) In" area and discovered some complimentary artist guides, incredible artwork and extra items I was seeking for a sketching event I hosted over the weekend. Love coming in on Saturdays, though it's been several months since I was last in, hoping to change that, check out more of their events, including some great some shows this holiday season like their Medley. I don't have much to submit by their deadline, but highly recommend you do if you're an artist, aspiring artist or creative. They definitely are neighborhood feel with some cool regulars. Caught some warming interactions and references to Cheers (the 80s to early 90s series) between the staff and a really nice returning customer. I'm not sure if Kelli was there when I stopped in, but I've had some greatest response with her in the past online when inquire about things. Everyone is super knowledgeable, mindful and respectful. Ready to assist, but also let you take your time exploring and feeling out all they have to offer. Street parking primarily with a 1hour limit from 8am to 6pm. Some limited spaces in their back alley parking, that I'm sure is super great for their staff/ the Carter Sexton family. Its first come first serve, but you might get lucky. Open from 10am to 6pm Monday through Saturday weekly with some variations for holidays. A must whether a local, passing through or seeking out a small biz to support that does great things for the area, and showcasing a spotlights artists of all walks of lives and ages. Even Bob Ross on display wants you to check out this great supportive Art spot. "We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents."

One of the iconic treasures of the LA art world. It has an amazing history (it's the oldest art…read moresupply shop in Los Angeles), it has materials I've literally not been able to find elsewhere. Also, it fosters community, hosting monthly art exhibits which local artists can submit to. The prices are very reasonable. The staff are helpful and kind. Each month's exhibit has a theme, and there's always an opening reception. Unlike many art shows, Carter Sexton's shows don't ask for money just to submit your work. Only if your work is accepted and you choose to participate do you pay a modest fee ($15) which is a great deal, because the shop clearly spends a lot of time making placards for each piece with the artist's name and mini-bio, and then hanging the work. You can sell your exhibited work and/or sell prints of it. I'm so grateful for the community this place fosters!

Prospective student that registered for the upcoming semester. I noticed that I had a travel…read moreconflict with the orientation session and the manager that I spoke with was so understanding and was able to find an accommodation for me to take the class an earlier day with the same instructor. For the 9 class package at 3 hours a session this is priced very affordably and so I am looking forward to experiencing the quality of instruction given the difficulty I've had in securing a spot. Luckily I waitlisted this semester so I was able to snag a coveted Saturday afternoon slot. Will update following a few sessions

Great studio. The teachers are nice people and good potters, but they want to know you are serious…read more Show up on time for classes and ready to work, and you'll have a good experience. Show up when you can, and not so much. Like all programs, businesses, and people these days, there is a schedule. If you're late for a class, the instructors are deep into helping others, which is reasonable. The instruction tends to be at the beginning. Kitty is a good instructor.

I had an absolute blast at Tova's! I went for a holiday offsite and it was such a fun experience…read more Her studio is so adorable, she has a bunch of reference books for inspiration, molds, stencils, and all source of tools! She is also such a lovely teacher & knows so much about the craft. I also called her after the class to see when my item would be ready and she was so responsive and helpful. My piece ended up breaking in the kiln but I still loved it. I asked her to pick the glaze colors for me and I love how it turned out. 10/10 recommend!

So much fun! Tova is a truly gifted teacher, with incredible knowledge of techniques and styles…read more She has an amazing ability to stimulate your creativity and encourage you to produce beautiful pottery. Tova is a patient, kind, lovely person who makes you feel welcome in her studio and fills you with enthusiasm. I had a wonderful time and would definitely do it again.

I absolutely love this school. Not only do I go here but my two sons as well. This school has…read moretaught all of us so much. The teachers are top notch. I've been to many acting schools but none has come close to PHW. Been here for years and it will forever remain my only.

I spent close to ten years at Playhouse West. The training was exceptional -- rigorous, inspiring,…read moreand deeply rooted in truth and connection. The teachers were dedicated in a way that made you always want to rise to the occasion, and their commitment stayed with me long after I left. Studying there not only nourished my talent, but strengthened my system of values and integrity as a human. I met some of my closest lifelong friends there, people who became like family. The experience taught me not just about acting, but about empathy, listening, and what it means to be fully present -- both on stage and in life. Playhouse West laid the foundation for me to build a career as a working actress for over two decades, and created unforgettable moments I'll remember always.

We attended a birthday party here for a little girlfriend of my daughters and I was incredibly…read moreimpressed with the ladies that work here and how cute and well put together this tiny store is. The project of the party was a super cute rainbow "zebracorn". I can imagine that it isn't easy to go step by step with a bunch of 6-7 year olds. There will be grumbling and mumbling but also tons of fun. My daughter was upset that the zebracorn's horn was mixed up with her friends and she didn't get the one that she made (and to be fair, they had both fallen down on the ground and the lady didn't know who's was who's). I expressed that my little girl was upset and the lady went right ahead and switched the horns no problem and was absolutely happy to do it for us. My little was so happy (I really wished I had remembered her name, because she was absolutely wonderful with the girls, and I'm sure that she was the owner of the shop). She is incredibly talented and gifted and I couldn't believe that she had designed the zebracorn and had drawn each outline for each girl to paint. Along with the add-ons like the hair and the horn, it was the absolute cutest art project and my little girl had so much fun painting hers. They also have art classes here and so many adorable crafts that you can do. This is a fantastic little art studio to take your kids to!

1 star for the idea ! I brought my 3 yo and they didn't seem to have much art for him to do unless…read morethe woman just wasn't giving us more options. He made slime . Painted with one ugly green color with a brush . They didn't have different sponges or paint options .he did spin art and the spin was a little hard to turn at first . And made some slime that didn't even turn out right. Waste of $15 for lack of art he could do and options they had for him. Very disappointed . It may be better for older kids they may have more options . Save your money and just color at home .