I've always been drawn to nature and revisited landscape painting with oil paints about 7 years ago…read moreafter having not painted since grade school. I've been quite fortunate to have painted with several very talented painters who happened to be instructors, as well. The Art Academy has given me the impetus to paint not only more often, but with confidence, especially, at the painting's sometimes difficult initial stages. I dove into the class after having had it recommended by an artist friend of mine. After several years in Stuart's studio class I've learned an entirely new approach to both studio painting and my original goals for plein air techniques. I'd recommend this course for painters at every skill level. Jim M.

Highly recommend Art Academy of San Diego! Stuart is a skilled artist and personable guide to…read morecreating your art. -CynC

My favorite Art Gallery in the Eastlake Chula Vista area! It's comprised of an amazing team,…read moreupcoming artists, and exceptional works of art. I've experienced both adult and kids art shows and as an outsider, you can tell the amazing work being done at this art studio. I recommend visiting any time during the week and see the art for yourself. The costumer service is amazing and the lead art teacher makes one feel you art at home. It's a welcoming experience! I am already signed up to take classes there starting in 2020!!! Extremely excited to start my art journey.

From the owner: Our Art Houz team is comprised of passionate art educators and working artists. Seeing talent…read moreemerge from a blank slate is what drives and inspires our own personal creativity. Our goal is to open doors in art careers for burgeoning artists. We are fulfilled by preparing our students for a fruitful art career or simply fostering an exploration into their personal art journey. We believe creativity, imagination and experimentation are the key aspects in creating a masterful art piece.

I've been taking art classes with Kris for about a year now, and I can honestly say it has been one…read moreof the best decisions I've made for my growth as an artist. Kris is an incredible instructor, knowledgeable, patient, and inspiring. I've had the chance to take a variety of classes with him, including plein air, portrait, still life, and open studio, and in each one he provides clear guidance while also encouraging creativity and personal expression. He has a way of making every class engaging and approachable, no matter your skill level, and he always shares techniques and insights that make a huge difference. Thanks to Kris, I've not only improved my technical skills, but I've also gained more confidence and joy in creating art. His passion for teaching and genuine care for his students really shine through. I highly recommend his classes to anyone who wants to learn, grow, and be inspired as an artist. Also very affordable classes for all the knowledge passed and personalized attention.

I happened to come across Kris painting outdoors with some students, and after chatting with him…read morefor a few minutes, I felt that he would be a wonderful teacher. Two years later and I know I made the right decision! Kris is an outstanding teacher and an accomplished artist. He is clear and specific in his instruction, and provides personal guidance with a positive attitude, kindness, patience and humor. He immediately puts you at ease and helps you develop a successful painting. I've learned so much from Kris and strongly recommend his courses.

I joined Prima Materia when I was around 10, and I can say that my 7+ years with Olya and Nikusha…read moretruly changed the way I see the world. I've grown not only as an artist, but also as a person. I took part in the portfolio program, where I was able to take all classes and have weekly meetings with Olya to learn from her 30 years of experience. First, the techniques taught at Prima Materia are unlike what I have seen anywhere else. I learned how to create art with numerous materials, including unconventional ones like toothbrushes and clay made of newspaper. Olya and Nikusha are extremely well versed in which specific brands or types of art materials to buy, which ones are economical, and which ones can/should not be used together. Furthermore, Olya's Russian art education combined with her versatile and contemporary approaches to art help her teach in a way that is almost freeing. She's really helped me strike a perfect balance between academic drawing and taking creative liberties. This is especially important to me because as a scientist and STEM-focused student, I have always been bent on perfection and planning. As a result, my art would often turn out stiff and lifeless. Through the unique techniques she taught and our meetings together, Olya taught me to let go and give into randomness, chaos, and chance surprises in art. I learned to stop caring about the end result, take risks, and make myself uncomfortable. This has helped me achieve freedom from my restrictive mindset, find enjoyment in a process that previously stressed me out, and create art that is uniquely beautiful. After being in the portfolio program for a few years, what I think is special is that Olya truly cares for her students, and is willing to go the distance to help us achieve our artistic and personal goals. She notices what students are struggling with(for me, perfectionism and being unhappy and controlling with my art), and personalizes her help and feedback, spending extra time with us to help us advance as artists. She is also very eloquent and knowledgable. I always enjoy my time talking to her about new artists and techniques I find, and I aspire to have her level of intellect. Finally, Prima Matria has a plethora of classes for anyone, no matter the skill level. From a 10 year old until now, I have always found that the classes and art projects have challenged me a perfect amount; this has allowed me to refine my skills as an artist at an exceedingly fast rate. Even in classes teaching foundational skills, we have the option to take the project to the next level. Other art teachers are often astonished by how quickly and accurately I can draw, along with how fast I can pick up new techniques, because this is something that is trained through the rotating courses at Prima Materia. Plus, i have so much fun! Art classes were always a highlight of my week! I have an extremely busy schedule with a lot of research and extracurriculars, so the figure drawing classes I took made me feel like I could finally relax. Although this is already an extremely long post, I still could say a ton more about why Prima Materia's portfolio program is so great. I think one of the best choices I've made(ever!) was to take that initial workshop at Prima Materia. Because if I had not joined years ago, learned under the expertise of Olya and Nikusha, and met all of the other artists in the warm, supportive community we have, I would have missed out on a lot of joy and definitely would not be the person I am today!

I started my art journey in 2017 with Prima Materia Art Institute as a novice, and I believe that I…read morecan now really call myself an artist!! Olya and Nikusha have created an incredibly thorough and interesting curriculum for those who just want to explore their creativity, to those who are looking for a career in art. The classes are always fresh and informative, and both teachers are excellent at igniting creativity in their students. Thanks to this wonderful school for helping me turn an interest into a passion!!!

I often describe Tijuana cuisine as going through a culinary renaissance. So many restaurants keep…read moregetting better and fancier with each passing year, it's quite remarkable. Even Anthony Bourdain thought so... and come on, if Anthony Bourdain makes a statement about food, it must be truth. The funny thing is, as much as the culinary arts have grown in town there really aren't that many culinary schools in town that aren't crazy expensive private art schools. It's a bummer that people have to go across the border to get this sort of training and education. That's why I'm a fan of this Culinary Art School. The quality of chefs that come out of here is amazing, some of them work at the finest restaurants in town. Aside from the usual culinary school programs and degrees they also offer small workshops where anyone can sign up (last one I heard of was a beer appreciation course) if this is something that might interest you go ahead and sign up on their website so you can get the newsletter!