Adult classes with Jane are stressful and uncomfortable. Her website said supplies cost $8 for a certain size canvas or BYO, and $3 for paint and brushes. I brought my own larger $80 canvas and expected to pay the stated $3 for the paint and brushes. Jane started the first class by teaching us not to waste time by not using enough paint. But then she kept repeating how $3 was so cheap for paint, she wasn't making any profit and she was losing money, making me feel confused and guilty about how much paint I was using. So I ended up paying $11 for the paint in addition to the $80 BYO canvas and class fee.
During the 2nd class, she started on this again, so I finally brought it up. She demanded I take my $11 back for the first class even though that wasn't what I was asking for (I was asking her to set clearer expectations for the consumer, set the cost at a price that is acceptable to her). Then, I opted to pay $8 for the canvas instead of bringing my own this time, expecting the canvas size listed on her website. She handed me a smaller canvas, said she hasn't carried the size I had expected for years, and then took time from class to check the website which sure enough listed the bigger canvas size.
I honestly dreaded going to more classes. But I had already paid for 2 more that I could take at anytime without expiration dates. I decided to go today, about 3 months later. I had left my painting at the studio to dry after the 2nd class, and I had not been told there was any time limit on how long I could keep it there. When I called the studio, though, Jane said she painted over my work!! I asked for a refund for the remaining 2 classes, which still does not make up for the time and effort I had spent, not to mention the $11 for the lost supplies. Jane said the studio doesn't usually refund classes and she would have to take the money out of her own pocket, etc. She did end up giving me the refund but without apology while hiding behind a veneer of a smile, acting like nothing had happened.
The teaching itself was ok for a beginner. There is no formal agenda of teaching points. For my first painting, she forgot to tell me to mark my main lines before painting, so the whole painting was crooked. She also chose an opaque paint, which then blocked all the colors underneath, and we had to spend time trying to scrape off the opaque green. I learned a few basic techniques but I could have learned them elsewhere for much less with more ease.
I really wanted to support my local economy, but classes should be enriching and relaxing after a long day of work, not stressful and uncomfortable. I am at least glad to see that some of the incorrect website information have since been corrected for the future reader's sake. read more