They are amazing people - I feel welcome and the teachers are outstanding!!!!…read more Thank you

I have taken several courses here including 2 8-week jewelry classes as well as an 8-week…read moremetalsmith class. What I love most about Pratt is the instructors are not only unbelievably strong technical instructors but also amazing artists. I didn't just want to learn how to MIG weld, I also wanted to learn about creating a composed sculpture. That's exactly what I learned in Bill Baber's class. Pratt's facilities are top notch! Highly recommended!

We are so stoked for this place!! This is excellent for families to spend a wonderful quality time…read moretogether. Especially w little ones to explore their creativity while enjoying some delicious beverages. Exceptional service and perfect ambiance. This will be a regular for us.

Eva was wonderful and we really enjoyed making Tofu with her. It was super interesting learning…read moreabout the process and being able to press our own tofu! It tasted great, and she even made homemade miso soup to share with the group!!

I really can't say enough good things about the Seattle Artist League. I have an art degree, and…read moreI'm not exaggerating when I say I've gotten more out of my time at the League than I did during my undergraduate art education. I've taken painting classes with Jordan Horton, Erin Milez, Lendy, and a critique workshop with Ruthie V., and every class has changed the way I make and think about art. The instructors are thoughtful, generous, incredibly knowledgeable, and (maybe most importantly) really know how to help you grow without making you feel like there's one "right" way to be an artist. The critique workshop has been life-changing, I recommend it for everyone. I used to DREAD art critiques in college. They often felt negative and intimidating, and I came away from them feeling worse about my work rather than more curious about it. Ruthie completely changed that. I finally feel like I have the tools to actually look at art and talk about what I'm seeing, respond thoughtfully, and then understand why something is working, or why it isn't. And that hasn't just changed my own artwork. I now enjoy going to galleries, museums and looking at art more than I ever did before. I notice more. I'm more curious. I now have a vocabulary for things I could feel but didn't know how to articulate. I've learned A LOT during my time here, I've taken more risks in my art and I've fallen in love with making and looking at art again and it's the best feeling. If you're thinking about taking a class (or two!) at the Seattle Artist League, do it. Doesn't matter if you're a beginner or have been making art for years, there is SO MUCH to get out of this place.

TL;DR: SAL's pottery classes are quite good and the studio community/open studio hours are…read moreterrific. That said, the owners are such a negative force, you may want to think twice about supporting them with your money. The rave reviews here about the quality of Seattle Artist League pottery classes, instructors, community, and generous open studio polices are all to be believed. I took my first class at SAL in Fall 2022 and continued with classes and practice until this month. In my 2nd year there, I was hired to be a PT pottery studio tech. After 10 months, the studio owner directed the pottery studio manager to fire me and I returned to being just a student. I won't repeat the defamatory lies the owner invented to justify her decision. My allegiance was to the pottery studio manager, staff, teachers and community. I had positive feedback from them and didn't care about losing the owner's good opinion or the 8 hours a week at min wage. At the heart of all the goodness in SAL is a rot most repeat students and staff tiptoe around. It is the untethered, erratic, impulsive, and, often, abusive behavior of owner Ruthie V., enabled by co-owner, Lendy. It's responsible for high staff turnover, particularly among staff that must work when Ruthie is on site, as well as women who present as experienced, valued leaders who cared about student experience. Ruthie's administration of day-to-day operations is impulsive, with no view to process or consequences. Class spaces are double booked. Classes with low enrollment are canceled with no communication to teachers or students. Classes are announced and filled with no instructor scheduled. Open studio hours are suddenly pre-empted with no communication to staff or update of the calendar. Studio staff are left to manage the chaos Ruthie leaves in her wake. She has no tolerance for problem-solving and will deflect blame on the person who identifies the problem, using whatever lies she needs to shore up her story or justify their ouster. Staff walk on eggshells and the energy in the space when she's there is tight and anxious. We're living through a time when bullying, dictatorial behavior is being normalized. We each must decide whether we speak up, sometimes at great risk to ourselves, or stay silent and become complicit. SAL is a microcosm of that dilemma. Last week, while I was in my second volunteer shift during the annual studio deep clean, Ruthie found something entirely innocuous she could twist into a lie that served as justification to ban me from the studios forever. Lendy delivered the message, lying about staff in the process. Students are paying customers; I had prepaid for nearly $800 of upcoming classes. SAL refunded the money but it speaks to how impulsive Ruthie is that she would risk that loss and the reputational one based on some perceived slight to her fragile ego. I was not allowed any defense. Finally, SAL operates as a 501(c)3 nonprofit with fiscal sponsorship through Shunpike. Washington RCW 24.03A.490 requires nonprofits to maintain a Board of Directors. As a Board member of an arts organization for ~5 years, I know one of the oversight responsibilities is to set HR policies and be a resource for staff to address issues with management. SAL's website lists no BOD and I can find no evidence that Shunpike fills this role for them. SAL appears to be out of compliance as a nonprofit. There are many pottery studios in Seattle, with various offerings. Your choice of them is an investment of your money and a reflection of your values. I want SAL's pottery studios to prosper and, at the same time, I cannot be silent about the environment there even if my voice turns people away from the studio. Actions matter. Truth matters. Make your investment accordingly.

Delicious coffee, friendly service and a unique atmosphere that has you reflecting the old days.read more

A fantastic school taught by some great people. Really reasonable tuition and a lot of individual…read moretime with the teachers.

Our daughter Sally has been going to sweet pea for almost a full school year now. We love the…read moreteachers and how they treat the children with love and welcoming arms. She comes home each day truly happy. She has FUN at school and loves the kids and teachers. This is not a child factory- each child is well known, loved, and well cared for. We have gotten to know the other kids and families well. This school has something very special and unique. It's an amazing place for children to thrive! I cannot say enoigh good things about Sweet Pea Cottage!

A really wonderful preschool program. Highly recommended. My son has been attending Sweet Pea for…read moreabout 6 months, and he loves it. It's a 4 hour program (longer than most preschools), so I'm able to get a lot done while he's there. He does art, languages, nature walks and more.

Michael Lane is the very best of teachers; he's extremely knowledgeable, his approach is…read moreclassically based, and he gives students the tools to progress with confidence. This is an exiting teacher to have, and he is deeply committed to his students and to his teaching. I am so grateful for all that I learned in his classes, and am now working full time as a painter.

Really incredible place to get access to any of a myriad of machines that the average person would…read moreotherwise have a hard time getting access to (laser cutters, CNC machines, 3D printers) - and the new ceramics studio is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than any of the surrounding studios in Seattle. The members and staff have been very friendly and welcoming - definitely recommend.

My brother paid $125 for a month membership so I could get some familiarity with 3D printing…read more Attended new member orientation on one of my days off. After that, no instructors were available to teach on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Uncertified members are not allowed to use 3D printers unsupervised. Certifications are only done on Sundays (one of my work days). Jeremy Hanson replied that for a $50 fee, an instructor could come in on one of my days off from work. On the last day of my work week, I had to isolate due to Covid Omicron. When my doctor cleared me to return to work, I followed up with Jeremy but got no response to either of 2 e-mails I sent. I also contacted contact@seattlemakers.org and got no response. I can't say I'd recommend this place to anyone.

Jen came to our preschool every Thursday for 5 weeks and it was the highlight of our kids' day!…read moreThey couldn't wait to learn what bug we were going to be learning about next and just loved her energy, activities, and songs! I HIGHLY recommend booking with her for your child's class or next birthday party!

I can't say enough good about Tiny Science / Jen's classes. Engaging and fun! My older daughter…read moretook in-person and younger one now online. Jen has taken her magic of getting on their level and made it amazing for online learning. I don't know how she has managed to do it, but I am impressed. My girls sing her songs, and ask me to print out the coloring pages, and have request to sign up for the next session. They are learning and retaining the information. They feel heard and are eager to learn because of Jen's knowledge and how she presents it. It's fascinating for them (and me). I never knew I could learn so much from bugs until I met Jen.