I hired Samantha from Painted Palettes to hand letter mini pumpkins for a fall themed event and it was THE HIT FROM THE PARTY (even three months later, in the dead of winter my personalized pumpkin is still going strong and it's so beautiful I do not have the heart to throw it away). Samantha was easy to work with from start to finish and was able to stay professional despite the long lines at the party (I mean, how could you not want something so beautiful as a keepsake?). I could picture using her for corporate events, bridal showers, baby showers and any other celebration that could you a personalized twist. She can write on any material and even engraves on glass! I have not had the chance to check out her Intro to Hand Lettering classes yet but for now, I'll leave it to the pros. Painted Palettes is simply the best! read more

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I first saw and met Samantha from Painted Palettes at a Yelp Elite event back in 2018. Then I started following her work on Instagram (@painted_palettes). A couple months ago, my friend Kim and I took an Intro to Hand Lettering class with Samantha at Steadfast Supply in DC. Oh that rush hour traffic and $20 parking was sooo worth it! Turns out, Samantha used to be a teacher, and it shows in the way she articulates the class. It was easy to follow her instructions, and she was very hands-on with showing examples. Plus we got a pretty decent set of tools and goodies to take home with us! Since, I've purchased some of her watercolor artwork to hang at home. I am such a fan! The artwork can be found on her website or in various shops in the area. And her classes are actually affordable! Next I want to take her Pointed Pen class! read more

Right Place Studio - Calligraphy Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Loved taking the Intro to Hand Lettering class by Samantha. It was so much fun and I finally have some basic knowledge to practice instead of always just tracing or copying something I see. Such a useful skill in my line of work to be able to create a beautiful sign or place card on the fly (once I practice a lot more ) read more

Right Place Studio - Practice, practice, practice! - Calligraphy Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Samantha is amazing!! My mom has gifted me products & journals from her before, and for my birthday, she got me the calligraphy class! She was so fun, personable, professional, and I learned a lot in the class. I am actually practicing right now, which is what reminded me that I wanted to give a positive review! (Don't judge the picture too harshly...I'm still a beginner!) If you're looking for a gift, thinking of getting something personalized, or wondering if you should take a class, Samantha is your girl!! Thanks again for an awesome class, Samantha. read more

Right Place Studio - Calligraphy, hand letting - Calligraphy Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've been a big fan of Sam's work for a few years. When my sister got engaged, I knew one of Sam's paintings would be a lovely wedding gift to commemorate the wedding venue, a church that means a lot to my sister and the groom. Sam was great to work with--reaching out numerous times throughout the process to discuss timing and the piece itself. The process was collaborative, and Sam listened to my feedback and what I was looking for. The process was seamless and easy, and Sam was an absolute delight to work with. I am so thrilled with how the painting turned out, and hope to see it hanging in my sister's home for years to come! read more

Right Place Studio - Calligraphy Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've hired Samantha on multiple projects and she is an absolute gem to work with. Not only is she a deeply talented artist (I mean, HeeLLllOO have you seen her handwriting? Her pet prints? Her DC doors?), she is a reliable, communicative and responsible person to work with! Samantha has a unique ability to really "get" your project from the very start. She asks great questions, gets to know you and really nails the finished product. She's created custom notecards, art prints and ornaments for me! Highly recommend partnering with Sam on any project, big (wedding!) or small (cards and other do-dad goodies). read more

Sam was amazing! She created our seating chart beautifully with, admittedly, confusing direction from a frazzled bride and groom. She worked with us to meet our vision and the seating chart was one of the most memorable pieces of decor at our wedding (it did have stiff completion as our wedding took place at the beautiful Peabody Library!). I'm looking forward to taking one of her hand lettering classes in the future! read more

Right Place Studio - Calligraphy Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Samantha is top notch! I took her intro to hand lettering + watercolor workshop @ Common Room Studio and I would highly recommend. We tried to get her to schedule additional workshops so that we could come back and specialize in different aspects. Her approach is friendly and accessible, her personality is bubbly but not sugary and her passion for calligraphy was infectious. I had visions of all the hand lettering I could do for holiday gifts & birthday parties so I went out and bought a bunch of supplies afterward. Definitely sign up for the newsletter and check out her workshops. read more

I attended Samantha's Intro to Hand Lettering class and it was fantastic! I wasn't really expecting much but it was so cute! She gives you her workbook, some GREAT pens, and more accessories and tools to use. She was very patient and bubbly with us during class and made sure to make individual time with everyone. After class, I tried out some of her skills on my own and sent it to her and she was very kind and responsive. I've been eyeing some of her work and i'm excited to buy. Her watercolor portraits are amazing! read more

Took a class with Samantha Testa and it was amazing. It was a lettering class. To be truthful I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about it. I needed up really enjoying it. Enjoying it so much I rated it a five. She was very professional and the content of the class was very relevant. He art work is amazing too. She produces quality work. I recommend using Painted Palettes. read more

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I don't normally write reviews so I just want to illustrate how special this one is to me. Samantha painted a commissioned house portrait for me of my parents' house. I sent her some photos, gave some notes and was excited to see the result. It exceeded my wildest expectations! The house portrait is stunningly perfect! I could not be happier. Worth every penny. And my mom was absolutely thrilled to receive it as they plan to move out of the home they've lived in for 28 years. read more

My sister and I needed a retirement gift for our dad and Samantha was incredible! SUPER quick turn around. We were nervous that the curves of the bottle wouldn't allow for engraving but she did an incredible job and the results far exceeded our expectations! read more

Right Place Studio - Calligraphy Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Samantha did such a fantastic job painting a portrait of my mom's dog for her birthday gift. She did it quickly and was able to capture the dog's personality perfectly. It turned out so adorably perfect. My mom was thrilled and can't wait to frame it and hang it in her sunroom - the room she uses most in her house. Samantha was easy to communicate with and she's so freaking talented!! I can't wait to splurge on a watercolor portrait of my house sometime! read more

Right Place Studio - Watercolor pet portrait - Calligraphy Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I took one of Sam's virtual modern pointed pen (MPP) classes over Zoom during the COVID-19 outbreak. It was AMAZING. She mailed a ton of supplies well before the class, led a very personalized session, and was spot on with her feedback and guidance. There was a ton of practice time and I've been loving my new hobby during these crazy times. Can't wait to join an in person class again soon. read more

Highly recommend the workshops by Samantha. Loved all I learned about brush lettering and modern calligraphy. She was extremely helpful at showing us individually the strokes and it was very much worth the price because it included 4 pens, a workbook and postcards. I would do it again! read more

I took one of Samantha's classes (Intro to Handlettering) and had the best time! She's a great teacher, the price of the class is super reasonable considering other local options, and I had so much fun. I would love to take more classes with her in the future. read more

Right Place Studio - Calligraphy Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Not only is Samantha an extremely talented artist, but she is also a fantastic teacher. She creates beautiful hand lettering, watercolors, architectural drawings, florals, greeting cards, and more - and she teaches workshops to share these skills! She is a delightful person, so taking her classes and workshops are even more fun than expected! I highly recommend checking out - or hosting - a workshop; I've attended several and hosted one and LOVED it! read more

I've taken two of Samantha's watercolor hand lettering class and learned SO much from both of them that I brought friends back the second time. Her ability to teach a room full of people with different skills is amazing. On top of being a great calligrapher and giving you sooo many worksheets to practice at home with, she's also just a really nice person and its clear she loves the work she does. Can't wait to take another class and follow all of her projects on instagram! read more

Can't say enough positive things about Samantha! I commissioned a set of custom engraved champagne flutes, and she did them quickly and effortlessly - and all with a huge smile on her face. I'm obsessed and can't wait to commission more pieces for future wedding/housewarming gifts! Additionally, she's an incredibly kind person and always willing to go the extra mile to provide support and tips/tricks to other local artists. If you're even thinking about taking a class with Samantha or commissioning pieces from her - do it! read more

Was able to order a very unique and beautiful wedding present for a friend from Painted Palettes. I sent her a photo of their newly purchased town home in DC and she painted an absolutely beautiful painting for them. They absolutely loved it! Will order again! read more

Samantha is a talented artist and teacher. Often talented artist cannot effectively teach individuals. It is frustrating, as a student, when you pay for a class and the instructor cannot effectively teach well. Samantha is the real deal who can teach art as well as create beautiful pieces of art. She is also a smart business woman. She's triple threat in the art world which is fortunate for those of us who want to learn. She is a positive instructor who can make a beginner feel confident about their progress or graciously offer suggestions to the expert. She is humble, funny and loves teaching. I'm looking forward to taking more classes with Samantha. read more

I attended Samantha's hand lettering/water color class. She is so talented as an artist - and also as a teacher! I really enjoyed learning from her. She was so personable and approachable, which made the class fun. I even sent her an email asking a question and she responded back so quickly. I will definitely be taking another class in the future! read more

I've taken two of Sam's classes and have had an absolute blast! She's a fun teacher and really good at explaining what you should be doing. She also provides great resources and examples to help you post-class. Her writing is absolutely beautiful and I can't wait to go back for another class and learn even more! read more

I drove through DC evening commuter traffic for an hour and a half to get to Samantha's hand lettering class, and it was worth every minute on the road. She's a fantastic teacher, very friendly and knowledgeable and encouraging. I was impressed with the high quality supplies she gave us and even our names in gold on the folders with the workbook sheets! I love thoughtful touches like that, it says a lot about her attention to detail, and it made me feel welcomed, to get there and see my name on the folder. She really inspired me and helped me get started, I've been practicing my hand lettering since the workshop and I'm happy with the progress I've made. I follow her on Instagram and I love seeing what she creates! I'll be attending another workshop in a few weeks. read more

I took a virtual workshop with Sam during the COVID-19 shut down! It was awesome! She mailed all the supplies to me in advance of the class and had two cameras set up for the Zoom call, one on her and one on what she was writing! I have been wanting to take one of her classes for so long and I am so glad that I was finally able! The price of the class was so worth the quality of instruction and came with a variety of tools to get started as a beginner (she does offer advanced classes too!) I'm so excited to use my new skills to write friends cards! Highly recommend her classes! read more

Sam is super talented! Not only does she do an excellent job with her workshops, but she has painted a personal picture for a family member and it turned out better than I could have ever hoped! I would recommend Sam for any crafty needs, and I would absolutely recommend one of her workshops for all the creative people looking to learn something new. read more

The Virtual Intro to Watercolor class with Samantha was great. I had been following her work through her Instagram account (@painted_palettes) for quite a while, hoping to make it to a workshop with her. She recently adapted her offerings to an online format and I was thrilled to have the chance to take part. Samantha mailed me all of the supplies needed and led a really fun/informative workshop, she even followed up afterwards with recommendations on keeping going with my newfound watercolor skills. I'm already signed up for another workshop with her - this time in Hand Lettering. Can't wait! read more

Samantha is an amazing teacher and I learned so much from her class on hand lettering! I had taken some online courses and just couldn't get the hang of it on my own. When I saw Samantha was teaching a class near me, I jumped on the opportunity to take this hands on learning experience with her and I am so thankful I did! Learning to hold the brush right, being able to ask questions in person about how to connect letters, and get immediate feedback made it so worthwhile. Samantha is very talented at what she does, and she is happy to share her experiences with those of us just starting out. read more

Samantha's Intro to Hand Lettering class was so much fun! I was a little nervous going into the class because I had no experience with any type of calligraphy or hand lettering and was worried the class would be intimidating. Boy was I wrong! Samantha is an excellent teacher and made everyone feel welcome. She showed us the basics of hand lettering which included an overview of the different types of pens available and how to properly hold them, etc. All the supplies we needed to get started with hand lettering were included -- a variety of pens, a workbook, paper and even some beautiful hand painted cards/envelopes made by Samantha. I am excited to practice and apply everything I learned in class at home. With Samantha's tips and encouragement, I am hopeful that one day I might be able to master this fun skill! read more

I've always admired calligraphy and hand lettering and decided as a newly single woman I'd give it a shot. Without any experience, Samantha made me feel right at home and totally capable of creating the same gorgeous letters I see regularly on Pinterest and Etsy. Her class had a warm and welcoming atmosphere that was both casual and very informative. I got all the hands-on one-on-one coaching I hoped for and am even considering signing up for one of her other classes (pointed pen, watercolor, etc.) because I enjoyed the hand lettering class so much. I cannot recommend it enough - if you've been considering signing up, DO IT! read more

Went to a watercolor workshop and had so much fun, and loved the finished product I left with! Plus, Samantha gives you tons of supplies, so now I can continue with watercolor on my own! Samantha has a great balance of instruction and direction, and letting you use your own creativity! read more

I attended one of Sam's Intro to Hand Lettering & Watercolor classes at Steadfast Supply in 2018. It was a great class! I had been admiring her work for a long time on Instagram and wanted to learn how to do a faux-calligraphy hand lettering style. In the workshop I: 1) re-learned how to use watercolors, 2) learned to use Tombow dual-brush pens for lettering, and 3) produced a combination watercolor/hand-lettered 5x7 art piece. I kept the lettering workbook Sam provided for the class and still use it to practice all the time. I've adapted the techniques I learned in the class to make many friends watercolor and hand-lettered birthday and other greeting cards, which bring so much joy. I came to this with lots of arts and crafts experience, and I think the class could be challenging for someone with no artistic background, but if you're determined you can definitely build off the basics. If you are considering taking a class with Sam, I would definitely recommend this one - she's a great instructor! read more

I recently attended the Cherry Blossom water color class instructed by Samantha. It was such fun! I'm not a painter at all, but her detailed instruction, and handouts were helpful. The class included all materials, which is extremely convenient and helpful for those new to painting and don't know what to purchase. Samantha was a delight, clearly loves what she does and is very talented. I enjoyed the class so much that I will ask her to paint a piece of work for my home. I highly recommend any class she teaches. She also has a great song playlist during class :) read more

The calligraphy class was so organized, efficient and super fun! Thanks! What a nice way to spend an afternoon with a friend, and I feel I have a viable new skill! read more

I LOVED my watercolor and hand lettering class with Samantha at Steadfast Supply! She was so patient, knowledgeable, and creative... I have really enjoying taking what I learned and practicing, practicing, practicing, and then more practicing. Funny that my 3 year old and I are both working on our letters and handwriting together. read more

Samantha is a real pro and very talented. She painstakingly wrote names on 200 oyster shells for my daughters wedding and did an excellent job. Well-priced, easy communication, very accommodating. Recommend this business highly. read more