My partner as I had the best time! John was an excellent teacher - knowledgeable, patient, passionate. We learned a lot and had so much fun. It was a unique experience and would 100% recommend it! read more

My boyfriend & I had a private class with John last week & haven't stopped talking about it. What an amazing experience! John is very kind & it's very obvious that he loves glassblowing. We both had zero knowledge about glass blowing other than admiring it's beauty. Over the span of a few hours, John taught us the basics, kept us safe & helped us each make 2 pieces! I was so impressed from start to finish. John showed me some pieces that he & his students have created & they were all stunning. John is a true master of glass! I absolutely recommend taking a class at Moonlight glass & we plan to return for more. read more

See all

My boyfriend and I had an amazing private class today recreating some art that was lost in the fires. John is so knowledgeable and makes glass fun and safe. 10/10 would recommend him to everyone. He's the best! read more

we had such a great time working with John / he's so patient, energetic, and creative. He's an incredible instructor and the time flew. We are proud of the pieces we made and happy to use them at home. Highly recommend the experience to everyone interested in art in any shape or form - glass blowing as a medium is so surprising. Even the non artists will enjoy themselves and maybe find that this is an art medium they connect to :) it's a physical process, you're really putting your energy and your motion into a piece. read more

See all

Surprised my girlfriend with a glass blowing class since she loves the Chihuly Glass Museum in Seattle so much. Thought she would've liked try to make these glass figurines. John, the expert and owner was awesome! My girlfriend and I had so much fun joining his 4-hr glass blowing session. Glad he was able to take us in for a Sunday afternoon. I had scheduled with him about a month in advance. It was very easy and we we got to start a tad bit earlier than the time discussed because we got there early. John was very patient, and thorough during the class. We learned a lot from him about the processes. After doing the class, we have so much appreciation for glass art or just glasses in general. It takes a lot of work, but also a special skill. Glad we got to experience this class. I highly recommend visiting John if you're considering. Glass blowing! read more

See all

John is a great teacher. I participated in a team bonding event and it was a lot of fun! Highly recommended.

If you would like to have your orange juice look this good, put it in a hand made, original juice glass from Moonlight Glass! And it tastes better too! read more

This was my first class at a glass art studio, and I'm very pleased that I chose John Mooney's studio. I initially had trouble reaching John through the website form, but I was able to quickly establish contact with him through his Facebook page. As advertised on his website, the price is $165 per student, for a 3 hour class. As the class was for myself and a friend, the total was $330. John was very good about accepting PayPal for advance payment, and we were able to lock down an appointment for a 2PM Wednesday class. John was very good about quickly replying to my emails, and helpfully advised the following attire for the class: *Comfortable thin cotton (T-shirt and shorts are acceptable). *Tennis shoes or boots. *No flip-flops. *Sunglasses. (Note: If you have long hair, bring hairties or other means of securing your hair, for obvious safety reasons.) Due to unforeseen circumstances, my friend and I ended up running a few minutes later for our class, but John was very patient and understanding about it. As anyone who has been in Venice can attest to, parking availability in the area was a very dicey proposition - but I was still lucky enough to get a spot on the curb not too far away from Vernon Ave. As the glass studio apparently shares land space with/behind an auto shop (they also share the restroom, oddly enough), we were initially unsure if we had arrived at the correct location. Luckily, the helpful gentlemen at the auto shop directed us to the glass studio, at which point we were cordially greeted by John. Before beginning the class, John provided us with a liability release waiver apiece to fill out, as obvious and inherent risks of injury are involved when working with molten glass (curse this litigious age we live in). While filling out the waivers, we could not help but notice the glass gift shop adjacent to the entrance of the studio, and wandered in for a look. John had many of his fine glassworks on display for sale, including cups, Betta fish (small and large), bowls, vases, roses, etc. I ended up purchasing a pair of pink roses for myself, and a large Betta fish (blue and green) for my beloved friend. I did not happen to have $400+ in cash handy, but luckily John accepts credit cards - he generously waived the 2.7% CC fee, and even applied a slight discount to the item prices. :) After carefully bubble-wrapping and boxing our purchases, he led us to the work area, and began our class. For our first project, John started us on the most simple piece of glass art possible: a paperweight. Before actually having us begin, John first gave us a lecture and demonstration of the steps involved, and asked us to select our respective desired colors for our glassware. I'm going to go ahead and say that making glass turned out to be MUCH harder than the pros make it look. I made many a bumbling mistake along the way, and proved to be quite the slowpoke. Nevertheless, I'd say John was very much patient with my sluggish learning curve and ADD, and never once yelled at (or lashed out at) me for my novice performance. Instead, he very tactfully addressed the things I did wrong, and helpfully corrected and assisted me as needed. Our completed glassworks were placed in a kiln for annealing, and John stated that we could pick them up 2 days later. Although the class was only supposed to be 3 hours (stated ending time at 5PM), John actually stayed and worked with us until 6:30PM (at which point he was forced to shut down the studio and head for a meeting elsewhere). As we only ended up having time to make 3 pieces of glass (instead of the promised 4), John made it up to us by allowing us to take an additional glass ornament home (we were allowed to choose from several in his personal work area). (Note: We started the class a bit late due to excessive dillydallying in the gift shop. My advice for any prospective students is to not set foot in the gift shop until AFTER your class is over.) The class ended without any of us being injured or killed by molten glass, so I'd call that a good day. :) ADDITIONAL TIPS I suggest keeping your sunglasses on at all times: not only do they protect your retinas from being seared (should you inadvertently stare inside the ovens a bit too directly/long), but they will provide some shielding for your eyes if some of the glass fragments in the ovens should pop out and fly towards you (hearing the snap/crackle/pop of the glass is incredibly disconcerting). The metal rods with which you work with can get quite hot - if you're heat-sensitive, bringing light gloves may not be a bad idea. If (like me) you didn't bring any, John has a few (fingerless) gloves he will loan you, if needed. I would drink plenty of water before coming to the class - it can get insanely hot in the studio, and you are likely to be sweating profusely as you work on your projects. Having said that, John was kind enough to provide us with glasses and access to his water cooler. read more

See all

Amazing experience and John was really pleasant to work with in creating our master pieces. This is definitely a great experience and he is really thorough and careful with his class sessions so everyone is able to enjoy and be safe. The shop is a bit cluttered and small. For what it was it was a good experience all around read more

Moonlight Glass - Class in session - Art Galleries Near Me - Venice, California

See all

Such a great class!! I would recommend to absolutely anyone! I thought I might have a hard time with it being my first time blowing glass but it was amazing! He teaches you step by step what to do and is always their to help you along the way. read more

Moonlight Glass - One of my favorite pieces in the gallery! - Art Galleries Near Me - Venice, California

My boyfriend and I had a great time learning from and working with John. He was very mindful of safety protocols, especially with Covid. He found the perfect way to guide you through glass blowing while taking the lead with some things to ensure you have a beautiful, functioning piece. He let me take creative freedoms with certain approaches and still made sure I had a piece that would work. Very informative, personable, and fun experience. read more

Moonlight Glass - Art Galleries Near Me - Venice, California

See all

Better late than never, right? My mom, for some reason, got really into all these glass blowing shows so for her birthday I wanted to surprise her by taking her to a glass art studio. John was really cool about the whole thing. He welcomed us, showed my mom around, showed her the furnace, and talked about how most of the stuff is made. Originally, I called about purchasing two flowers so he really did not have to go out of his way to show us around, but he was very courteous and sweet to my mom. We saw his gallery and my mom loved all of his pieces. The fishes were beautifully made and the flowers were all one of a kind. Most of the flowers were tulips, but we found one beautifully detailed rose that my mom LOVED! I took a picture, but it did not do it justice. My mom left with the biggest grin on her face and two beautifully crafted flowers. Thank you very much for making my mom's day, John. She still tells people about your shop. P.S. He was so patient and attentive with my mom, that I can just imagine how great of a teacher he is. Definitely give him a try. read more

Moonlight Glass - Awesome tulip and a gorgeous rose my mom picked out for her birthday. - Art Galleries Near Me - Venice, California

See all

I wanted to try a glass blowing class with my wife after watching Blown Away together and I am so glad to have found John for our first time. He is an excellent instructor: clearly knows his craft and does a great job not only explaining what do but helping you just the right amount to make you feel like you can do it too. We took the 4 hour class and it was a delight to see all the parts of the shop and learning the different techniques and tools to make our pieces. John was extremely accommodating and knew exactly when to help and when to stand back so that our pieces turned out beautiful and still felt like our own. We left the class extremely satisfied and when I picked up the pieces a few days later they turned out even more beautiful than I imagined. I would recommend this class to anyone who has even the slightest interest in glass making, you will not be disappointed! read more

There is no better way to while away an afternoon than a lesson with John. He's a super thoughtful and patient teacher, and just plain fun to hang out with. I can't wait to do it again! Thank you, John! read more

Just as all of the other reviews said, this was an amazing experience. John is fantastic. My boyfriend bought us this class for the holidays - we took the class together and it was one of the best experiences we've shared. John is knowledgeable, patient and easy going - a great teacher. He makes sure you leave with a smile on your face and having learned something about the process. We each made 2 pieces - 4 altogether. We picked up our pieces today. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. read more

John Moony is a great teacher and glass maker. My roommate and I have taken 4 classes with him so far. We started by making paperweights and blowing some drinking glasses. We were so happy that we wanted more. We were really interested in sculpting, and even though John doesn't do as much sculpting as he does blowing, he worked with our request and we worked on building the skills we needed. We each made a couple of fish then I made a horse and my roommate made a dog! They came our well for a first time, we need more practice! John made it easy to schedule and pay and pickup the pieces (pickup the final product a couple days after the class). Parking isn't terrible, street parking is fine, even on Mon and Tues when the street cleaning restricts parking. Just up the street is a great German place for beers and bratwursts! I'd recommend wearing a long sleeve shirt and shoes, you will get sweaty as you're working around a lot of heat, but a little sweat is better than cooking your arm. First class with two people we each took photos of the other working, that worked great! Bring a camera if you have one. Later classes we helped eachother, one would be the heater the other was the gaffer (sculptor). John goes over all the safety and terms. Glass blowing is so much cooler than potery, you'll get a cool picture op with you fire polishing a chunk of glass, as well as the actual product of your work! read more

See all

Out of the countless whatever classes that I've ever taken in my life, this was the BEST! I just picked up items that my husband and I made last week, and they look absolutely gorgeous! The instructor, John, is such a good teacher and a super cool guy. On every stage of the process, he first gives you instructions, and then briefly go over what's gonna happen and what you are going to do exactly by demonstrating it, so you have a general idea when you actually do stuff. He constantly provides you directions, which helps first timer like us a lot not to freak out. This is not an easy class, but with John's help, I'm sure anybody can end up with pieces that they are proud of at the end of the class. I can't forget about Bro Vi, the cat! He is so adorable I couldn't stop playing with him:) read more

Moonlight Glass - 3hr class gave us one of a kind experience and 4 badass pieces! - Art Galleries Near Me - Venice, California

John was a very fun instructor. For our lessons, he led each of us on a dry run of the techniques we'd use, and then we worked with the glass. I felt pretty well prepared, and John is experienced enough that he can step in and correct our technique quickly to make sure we end up with end products we like. It was a fun and unique experience, and now I have a nice custom glass to drink from! read more

Moonlight Glass - Heating glass with torch - Art Galleries Near Me - Venice, California

My partner and I loved our private glass blowing session with John! He talked us through the whole process each step of the way and made us feel comfortable molding this two thousand degree material for the first time. And our pieces came out great. Highly recommend this experience read more

The wife got us a private glass-blowing session for Christmas after being enthralled by the Chihuly Garden and Glass exhibit in Seattle. From her, I gathered that making a reservation with John was a easy and that we didn't have to give him a big heads up as to when we intended on taking the class. Parking for his studio is a breeze, and locating it is very easy. We showed up for a private 6:30 p.m. session (session is about 3 hours long) and were met by John who was friendly as can be. He introduced us to his fat cat, showed us around the studio and the equipment we would be working with, and showed us some of his previous student's work. I really enjoyed the fact that he didn't have a specific lesson plan other than we would be making a paper-weight (I prefer the term decorative oblique glass object), and a blown piece. Other than that, he asked us what it is that we wanted put into the pieces such as colors, shape, size, air bubbles as well as other effects. He really encourages you to make your piece unique. He gives a quick demo to start and immediately gets you started learning while doing. He gives constant instruction for your safety and so that your piece will come out as you want it. If he sees things going south, he jumps in and quickly saves the day all the while explaining better ways for you to execute the task at hand. We made two paperweights both of which looked really cool! After you make the paper-weight, you jump right into making the blown piece. If you're low on time and are in a group of two, he gives you the option of making two small blown pieces or making a larger one in a team-of-3 effort. We opted for the team-of-3 and made a medium size bud vase. One person heats and reheats the molten glass, while another blows, and another preps the following steps. We had a slip up in the process, but John jumped in and saved the day and our piece came out looking amazing! Overall, the class is very challenging, but it's also a very fun and unique experience. When you're done, I guarantee you will be satisfied and will have a new appreciation for the glass objects you see everyday. read more

There are a few options out there for classes to learn glassblowing, but when I stumbled upon John Mooney's studio I was attracted to the hands-on and small class size aspect. I took private sessions with John and was able to make several beautiful pieces! His studio is very cool and filled with glass pieces - definitely very "Venice" with that quirky charm. John himself is a great guy, easy to talk to, and extremely knowledgable about the art of blowing glass, his colleagues in the glass world, and all of the tools and components of glass blowing. From the start, he has you doing as much on your own as possible, making the pieces you create truly your own. There's not a lot of "lecture" time, but rather, John is very hands on and talks the whole way through, instructing and informing his students about the process. Can't wait to go back and make some more beautiful pieces! read more

On a whim, with some encouragement from a friend, I decided to jump in and take a class on glass blowing. It was amazing! A completely hands on, learn by doing, make something that's yours type of class. John was a great instructor and fun to chat with. If you're looking for something fun, artsy, different, for yourself or a gift for a friend (or for you and a friend to do together!) check him out! read more

I went in this Sunday for a quick class. I should probably say that this was about the 15th or 16th time I've blown glass at Moonlight. John helped me make a beautiful, large purple starfish. It came out great. I love that since I've taken a bunch of classes, and even learned how to gather, John is giving me more and more space to just have fun and blow glass! He's also really great about stepping in and taking a turn or two to reheat and reshape the piece, if the student asks him to. I've found that doing so during a class ensures that I make a great looking piece every time! Call or email Moonlight Glass and learn to blow glass this week! read more

Awesome adventure! Took my two sons as a birthday gift! My youngest turned 21 and glass blowing was something he had talked about for years! John was patient, attentive, professional and a talented artist. John tells you what the steps are to achieve for your piece, then he has you practice the steps and "get a feel" and finally you work with the glass. Color selection abounds! John has great energy and is a great instructor. We brought snacks (longer class because there were three of us) including Birthday Oreos! My sons asked a ton of questions during the day and John was happy to answer everything from history of glass, evolution of glass, to the chemistry behind the whole process. This adventure will be a memory we will have for a life time! Telling all my friends! read more

I just left Moonlight and wow, it was amazing. I have been fascinated by glass blowing for a long time and I finally signed up for a class as a birthday present for myself. I was concerned about parking since the studio is in Venice but it was a breeze on a Saturday morning. I am a total novice and John was super patient. We basically practiced the steps until I felt comfortable with them and then we did them. He explains things very clearly and with enthusiasm. He has lots of energy and that makes the class even more fun. He eases your fears (I didn't want to blow anything up :-)) and makes you feel comfortable. This is such a stimulating experience with the glass, heat, color and everything else....I have not experienced too many things like it. I left with a paper weight and a drinking glass (Merry Christmas Mom :-)) and will come back for another class in the future. read more

Moonlight Glass - Thanks John! If you are wanting to take a class, do it! You will be so glad you did. - Art Galleries Near Me - Venice, California

See all

I can't say enough about John! Awesome teacher, he allowed us to be creative and wasn't pushy with his own ideas. Which allowed for an optimal creative experience. read more

John Mooney's awesome. My girlfriend and I went here as a date. We were first-time glass blowers and walked away with two pretty rad pieces - a paperweight (in my case, a nice name for a "blob") and a hollow glass ornament. John was really supportive and encouraging, and his instructions felt more like friendly tips than anything, but they were very effective. We learned a ton and got right in there right away. He lets you manipulate the glass and try kind of whatever you want to, but he's great at helping you to make sure you go home with something that you'll actually want to put out on your desk or coffee table or hang in your window. I'd recommend him and Moonlight Glass to anyone looking for a fun, super positive three hours and a great way to try something new. His stuff available for purchase is beautiful, too, so bring your wallet! read more

John Mooney has been instrumental in the creation of my lights and sculptures. A local Venice arist; he is patient, honest and passionate about his work and I could not give him a high enough recommendation. read more

Such a great adventure!!!! A must do!!!! I went to Moonlight Glass with my mom and little brother and it was amazing. Before we went I did not know what to expect but never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be literally making my own glass pieces in just a few hours. John, who runs the classes, is a spectacular. Lets just say "hands on" is an understatement. If you are looking for a demo glass blowing class this is not the place for you. He shows you exactly what to do, giving you the confidence but also always being right there with you, very attentively, to make sure you feel comfortable the entire time. While creating your glass piece you have a hand in both the literal creation of your glass piece as well as the artistic vision. After this class, I can confidently say that I have blow glass and I have pieces to show for it. Furthermore, if the idea of making glass art is not enough to convince you to go to Moonlight Glass, then just the chance to hang out with John should be plenty enough reason on its own. John is an impassioned artist and teacher and we were lucky enough for him to share his shop, his time, his conversation, and his art and you should only be so lucky. read more

Can't say enough good things about this place and John I planned the 3 hour class as a surprise for my date and it turned out great! The glassblowing class was informative and we were both able to make two pieces each...John is informative, patient and very friendly and his space is awesome too! The class is 3 hours but John took his time with us and we were there for almost 4.5/5 hours! If you are interested in trying out glassblowing, I highly recommend this place, such a unique experience! read more

My girlfriend has always been interested in glassblowing. We attend the OC Fair and Renaissance Fair every year just to watch the glassblowers. So for her birthday I signed us up for a glassblowing class at Moonlight Glass. What an INCREDIBLE experience!!! It was a total blast!!! John is an extremely friendly and well knowledgable teacher. We had never blown glass before, only watched. John gives you enough information to get started and then it was all "hands on". He was right there to help out if we needed it, but for the most part he let you do the actual glasswork and he talked you through it. My girlfriend was nervous about working with the hot glass at first but John's easy-going manner put her completly at ease. He was very patient with us and made us really feel welcomed in his studio. I cannot say enough about what an amazing experience this was for us. read more

I just took a private lesson with John yesterday (as a birthday gift from my mom) and I can't wait to take another. I made a paperweight, an ornament, and a bottle. It's been a lifelong dream to work with glass and John is a fantastic instructor. I suggest paying the little extra for a private lesson and you'll get to be hands on the whole time. read more

this is a cosy showroom/studio, owned by a welcoming, warm and passionate artist/teacher that makes you want to drop the rest of your life on the spot. you can walk through the garage out front and enter to check out john's art, or book 3 hour classes (prices vary if it's one or 2 classes and he'll allow up to 2 people per class). don't be fooled by how easily he does it- he's been working years to carve the tools you'll be relying on. i really appreciated how super open too my fabulous artistic input and patient with my clumsiness. i didnt even burn myself. the 3 hours class was definitely necessary for him to walk me through all the steps & i came back humbled yet inspired, with two decent (thanks to him) looking pieces : a paperweight/a plate and a small vase which i fully intend on bragging about forever. it's rare to find a class where you learn so much in such a short amount of time, & i doubt i could've found a better teacher. he's not there for you to do things his way, even if it's your first time, you can actually start expressing yourself. although initially i felt like saving money, retrospectively i would ve found it frustrating to have to share john's time and attention with another person. it would have meant rushing through the process and really not getting as much out of the class. rock on john!! read more

John is an amazing instructor. I booked a class with him for my wife's birthday. He changed his schedule to accommodate our requests because of the birthday. He is extremely attentive and makes sure you do a good job throughout the class. Extremely hands on class giving you lots of responsibility but at the same time he steps in whenever you need help. Great fun with someone who is passionate about glass blowing. read more

I absolutely loved John's class. The class was a gift to my husband (the artist) for x-mas. Glassblowing is actually quite difficult and requires a lot of patience. John was wonderful in helping me (the non-artist) create two beautiful pieces of glass, one blown and one solid. John helps you through every single step so you never feel like you will mess up. You end up with two awesome pieces that you get to show off to friends and family :) I highly recommend this class for beginners and anyone who has never taken glassblowing. read more

Just took a private class with John Mooney. Worth every dime and more! He was patient, instructive and the results were great. I highly recommend his class. read more