The best kept secret in Concord! I had the privilege of visiting this gem for an art project. I was…read morewarmly welcomed by the owner, Fro, and her student. You will find an array of paintings, photographs, mixed-media, watercolors, and more. Local artists are featured in a rotating gallery every month, or every other month. There is art in every section of the cottage, including the bathroom. I am inspired to show some of my work, as encouraged by Fro. If you are looking for texture and movement, you will not be disappointed. There is ample parking and plenty of natural light.

This little gem of an art studio is tucked away right outside of downtown Concord. Great classes…read moreand art work at this cozy cottage. Amazing garden in the back. The owner is absolutely so sweet. She will make you feel right at home.

Kimberly was quick to respond so easy to work with and came up with a beautiful project for my…read moredaughter's birthday party. She was great with the kids. Everyone had such a great time. I cannot recommend her enough.

It went amazing, my best friend had her for her birthday and we had fun. We all were falling…read morebehind, but because we're not painters- despite that Kimberly made us feel welcoming and helped! Definitely super helpful!

This studio is filled with great instructors and students. It's always kept clean and organized…read more There are many options for glazing, and different options of clay that are held at the studio for purchase. I appreciate this place being more of a class setting than those one-time activities for date night or to hang with friends, because ceramics takes awhile to get a good handle on. Plus there is a process of the bisque and glaze fire which cannot be done in a day. My recommendation is to take the 8-week class and show up to every class. At the end of the course, I'm sure you will have a better understanding of pottery.

I'm 4 class into the ceramic wheeling throwing class with instructor Chung. We have an hour of…read morelearning and then a few hours of practice. During the practice sessions, Chung would personally assist each of us on how to improve our throwing technique. Sometimes, we'll see instructor Yee, whom adds on the extra fun of banter in the classroom. They also have open studio so that students can practice during the week. Special out out to Cassandra! Thank you for being super responsive and delightful to be around. Overall, everyone at the studio is amazing, and i love the welcoming atmosphere!!

We've been part of the Rebel Art School family for about six years now, and I truly couldn't be…read morehappier to support Alex and the entire Rebel team. They just celebrated their 10-year anniversary, and I can honestly say they've created something really special. I always joke that I'm terrified of losing our spot at Rebel. The anxiety is REAL when that registration email comes through! Rebel Art School will truly make an artist out of you. When my daughter first started, she spoke mostly Spanish, so I wondered if that would be a challenge for her. I quickly learned that art doesn't require a specific language. It's its own language. My daughter is also naturally shy and tends to keep to herself. She's not usually the kid who will walk into a room and immediately try to make new friends. But Rebel gives her the freedom to be in her own space, focused on what she's creating, without ever making her feel like she needs to be an extrovert. And when she does connect with people, it happens naturally. It has been such a wonderful experience for our whole family. Now, at nine years old, my daughter has created her own little business. She makes watercolor greeting cards, sells them at different pop-ups, and even has her own sweet little corner in Rebel's retail area. Watching her creativity grow into something she's proud enough to share with the world has been one of the coolest things to witness as her mama. And honestly, one of the best parts for me is getting to fill our home with all the art and color she has created over the years. Every piece has a little memory attached to it. So if you have a little one who you think would thrive in this kind of environment, don't hesitate. This is a REAL art school, and it's such a special one. Now we just need to convince Alex to bring Rebel to Oakland someday. Wink wink. We love you all! Claudia + Colette

Rebel Art School is one of those places that I wish every family could find for their kids…read more Our oldest has been homeschooled his entire life because he received a liver and kidney transplant when he was very young and remains immunocompromised. His education has consequently involved a lot of computers and technology. He also has developmental delays and clinically diagnosed difficulties with dexterity, so when we first found Rebel, we were excited about simply giving him a chance to unplug, use his hands, and experience a completely different kind of learning. What we didn't anticipate was just how important Rebel would become to him. Art has challenged his fine motor skills in ways that are productive and enjoyable. He is painting, drawing, sculpting, building, and working with different tools and materials, all while strengthening skills that are genuinely difficult for him. Instead of feeling like he's working on something he struggles with, he's proud of what he's making. But what Rebel has given him socially may be even more valuable. When you homeschool a child, finding meaningful opportunities to build relationships and feel like part of a group can take some extra effort. At Rebel, that happened naturally. He has formed relationships with his instructors and classmates, he gets excited about going, and he has a community that belongs to him independently of us. Watching that develop has meant more to me as his mom than I can really put into a review. Our experience was so positive that we eventually signed up his younger brother too. He's now almost through his first semester, and we've watched him find his own place there in an entirely different way. Both boys have participated in Rebel's summer camps as well, and those have become something our family looks forward to every year. Something else I really appreciate is that Rebel doesn't confuse teaching technique with teaching conformity. The kids are absolutely learning how to use materials, develop skills, and understand artistic concepts, but they aren't being taught that everyone's finished product should look identical. Their individual perspective is treated as part of the art. Their ideas aren't corrected out of them. They're encouraged to take what they're learning and make something that actually feels like theirs. I think kids desperately need more of that. They need places where imagination is taken seriously. Where making something unusual isn't automatically making it wrong. Where they can try something, discover it doesn't work, change direction, and keep going. Art gives children a language for things they may not always know how to put into words, and Rebel understands that beautifully. As a parent, I'm also incredibly particular about the environments I trust with my children. Rebel is somewhere I can send them knowing they are cared for, respected, encouraged, and surrounded by adults who genuinely seem to enjoy helping kids discover what they're capable of. I thought I was signing my son up to learn art. Instead, we found something that has supported him physically, socially, creatively, and emotionally, and eventually became something his brother could call his own too. So if you're asking me if I would recommend Rebel Art School? 10,000 times over, we recommend them!

I'm taking a woodworking class here, and I'm thoroughly satisfied with the level and quality of…read moreinstruction. The tools in the wood shop are great, and the instructors really know their stuff. What's more, those guys sure know how to keep a sharp edge on their equipment. Tuition is, in my opinion, up to what one would expect to pay in today's economy, especially considering that everyone is scrambling for cash to stay afloat, even the local government and its affiliated programs. The registration process on the archaic website is a touch on the byzantine side, though. It looks a lot like the very first website I ever coded when I was 16 years old. Uhh, now that I think about it, it looks like the website I designed a few years ago. But I'm no web designer, so hah! Point being, you're gonna have to dig around a little bit to find what you're looking for, but once you've found it, the actual act of registering for a class is pretty straightforward. Now, back to the woodworking instructors: Between the Bill and Dave, they've got about 70 years experience, 20 fingers, 20 toes, and 8 eyes (they both wear glasses). So I trust them to teach me the ways. I don't know if I'll ever be able to snatch the pebble from their hands, but I'm confident that they're showing me how to keep all my phalanges and body parts so that I could snatch that pebble, even if only in theory. I plan on taking many more courses here, especially in the "Working with Wood" category of classes. Now go forth and learn something new!

This a great local resource for woodworkers. The Mt. Diablo Adult Education program offers may…read moreadult woodworking classes for beginners to advances woodworkers, along with open shop classes. The woodworking 1 class is a great introduction to all the equipment through the process of building a beautiful step stool. The day and night classes include men and women of all ages. The fees are very reasonable to get access to great equipment. The teachers are knowledgeable and very willing to help. For more info: https://mdae.mdusd.org/

Lafayette Studio is wonderful! Classes are small and allow lots of opportunities to ask individual…read morequestions. The space is lovely and air conditioned in the Summer. There is a great variety of classes and teachers to choose from. Parking is easy. Great company of fellow local artists. Doug and Jody are very responsive to any questions you might have and run the Studio efficiently. You can also pay a monthly fee to come and go and use the studio as you like. Great for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Great location, studio space, instructors & fun group of artists! There is also monthly studio…read moretime for rent. Check it out!!

Angela is a wonderful instructor. If you do a private party here make sure you request her. She's…read morefun, caring and helpful. You'll be in good hands with her. I can't say every b&b location is great but if you live in the east bay this is the location I'd recommend you visit. It's such a fun class and they even serve alcohol at great pricing! 10/10 would recommend.

Carrie is the best! She helped me redo the stencil for my dogs's toy box. Great venue for team…read morebonding and girls night out! Definitely would recommend and coming back!

If you're planning a birthday look no further!!! Seriously they do a wonderful job and it's not…read moreoverwhelming soooo much fun and no need for favors because the art is the party favors!!! We had a variety of ages and all of the kids had such a wonderful time. Thank you Abby, Kiara and the whole team this is one for the books which reminds me I left my book oh well I'll get it next week with the pots! (The pinch pot section isn't pictured because everyone was having too much fun making pinch pots)

This place awakened my toddler's inner artist. Ever since going, we have made time for art…read moreeveryday. Prior to going, he was mostly interested in banging crayons around like they were drum sticks. Since visiting, he has started coloring, painting, using street chalk and markers.

A boutique is only as good as the owner... and this owner is A+ in my book. She is attentive, kind,…read morehonest, very personable, unique, creative... I could go on. This store is a perfect GEM nestled in N unexpected place in Pleasant Hill. She has beautiful pieces and carries Dixie Bell chalk paint which I love and is difficult to find. The owner, Kait, is super helpful and within minutes of talking to her, you feel like she is a lifelong friend. She is easy to communicate with and it's a no pressure to buy situation. If you have a moment to pop in I would Recommend it because you will be surprised at all of the fun home decor, baby clothes, paint, and more that you will find there. Overall, darling store and owner!

I love this cute place! A friend of mine scheduled a painting lesson as a girls hangout night and…read morewhile I wasn't able to stay for the event, I did come back later in the evening and all of my friends had amazing looking paintings. They also were able to bring in their own snacks and wine to have a little pre-painting wine and cheese. That's not all, the little shop that is attached is incredible! I bought some hand made soap that I just couldn't live without because of how yummy it smelled (my husband chuckled at me as I batted my eyelashes at him to purchase it for me). I also found the CUTEST soap holders. A little basket and one that looked like a old fashioned sink faucet. Super cute! I honestly would love to decorate my WHOLE house with the cute local artist finds that are sold at Kaits. I can't wait to visit again! If you adore vintage and local craftsman work, visit Kaits! It's totally worth it!!

This was such a beautiful picturesque event! A few moms got together for a paint & sip and we LOVED…read morethe entire experience. First of all, the property is absolutely beautiful and it is so much better than being cooped up indoors in some paint studio. You feel like you're on a retreat. Second of all, the instructions were very specific and we were very well guided throughout the process. I have two left hands - and art is definitely not my forte. However, even for someone like me- the painting was a success! Last of all, the food was phenomenal. I love authentic Indian food- and the food was very delicious and added a wonderful touch to the entire experience. I HIGHLY recommend coming here for a GNO, team building, or just to enjoy with friends. I am excited to bring my kids here for a party some day.

Wow! What an unforgettable experience at Paint and Picnic! I…read morewas planning my daughter's 17th birthday and originally thought of doing a picnic with a "paint with me" activity. While searching for vendors, I came across Paint and Picnic and I'm so glad I did! The website was easy to navigate, and everything was clearly laid out. I reached out to the owner, Sophia, and she responded quickly and answered all my questions. Booking was super easy, and once it was confirmed, everything was handled--setup, food, decor, and paint supplies! The venue is absolutely beautiful--relaxing, cozy, and perfect for pictures. Sophia works with a small local vendor in Berkeley for food, and each sandwich was customized to our guests' needs. I love that she supports small businesses! The paint session was fun and easy to follow, and all the girls loved it. Sophia is kind, professional, and incredibly accommodating. I didn't have to stress about a thing--just showed up and enjoyed the day. Highly recommend Paint and Picnic if you're looking for something unique, stress-free, and beautiful. You won't regret it!