Last week I felt the need to do something creative but with low stakes, and decided to indulge in a…read moreme date of paint-it-yourself pottery. The Color Me Mine in Beverly Hills was open on a Monday, and so I trekked out here to indulge my inner child. My *very* first job was at a Color Me Mine in Valencia in 2000, and it delights me that the franchises still look very much like they did back in the day. This location is clean and mostly well-equipped (they didn't have squeeze bottles for writing), and it was easy and straightforward to get started. The staff were friendly and helpful. I chose a cereal bowl (believe me, though, I was very tempted by the more whimsical ceramic pieces, such as the cat jar and the, uh, "beakers" :P ), and while I didn't originally have a design in mind, I was inspired by the tile wall to paint an ocean theme. I spent a few very pleasant hours glazing my bowl. I added a small ceramic boat and asked the staff (writing it in the notes on my slip) to glue it in the middle of the bowl. It turned out SO cute. And I will absolutely toot my own horn with the excellent glaze work :) Hehe

The experience while painting was nice but they didn't allow us to use the liner bottles that we…read morehave used at other locations so we weren't able to work on a design we wanted to. Upon picking up all of our items, they told me there was no need to check them to make sure they were all there. It's a good thing I did because they missed an item. They said they would look in the back and the lady at the front was very kind and apologized but the manager was rude and said she looked but hardly spent 5 minutes looking for the item. She offered a refund if they couldn't find it but said "these things happen", taking no accountability.

Had an amazingggg time here! I joined an online women's group for activities and get togethers and…read moreone of them organized for us to do a class here. Had taken ceramics in college for a whole semester but really could not remember a single thing...so was super excited for this. We got Joy as our teacher for a single session of no frills, basic pottery class and she was great. She was patient and pretty friendly to all of us beginners. Class was super organized. You grab your aprons, your wheel, your slab of clay and watch her demo. You go step by step because some steps will cause you to "lose it all" lol. She explained that their typical classes would allow you to see your clay through from a blob all the way to the firing process which takes several sessions of classes (gotta wait for things to dry etc). There is also a little board with all the firing colors and oxidization/reduction differences which is cool to see it nearly organized. I remember in school there were just huge vats of color hanging around for us to visualize. Afterwards we all helped clean up and labeled our pottery. Entire session was about 2-3 hours. Our bowls will likely be finished in a month after they dip them and fire them up for us. Would totally come back for more classes if they weren't so far... We also had some snacks and drinks some people had brought along but typically I don't think there would be much eating involved...hands are dirty. Theres also a parking lot so parking is handled.

I am someone who has very little artistic ability, so when I signed up for a 3 week beginner…read morepottery class at Echo, I was not expecting much. I'm so happy to have been proven wrong! The instructor, Yuli, is so patient and knowledgeable. She spends time on building fundamental skills and building confidence working with clay. The weekday beginner classes I've taken have been such a fun and productive way to wind down after a long day at work. Each class is 2 hours long, but after the first session, you can arrive an hour early to practice and throw additional pieces. Yuli walks through every step of the process and offers guidance along the way. I'm so proud of the stoneware I've made in her classes, and have signed up for my third class at Echo next month!

The best art teacher. Rama is very talented! I am so appreciative of the space Rama has given my…read moredaughter. A personal experience no one can duplicate. You will not find a better art teacher. Her and her son are truly loving and good people.

Rama and West LA Art Center is truly amazing. This place is life changing and transformational…read more Rama, the owner and art teacher has been a mentor, support system, and the most amazing art teacher. I have been going to her for over 10 years and the level of respect I have for her is unmatched. She not only is an amazing human being, but she is an amazing artist herself who teaches you the fundamentals of drawing, painting, and beyond. I have made masterpieces with her and she guides you through it all! She puts her students first and makes sure they succeed in every single way. It is a privilege to be one of Rama's long standing students. I have also been able to help her grow her business and she is such a pleasure to work with. Her energy, her calming presence, and love for her job makes painting so enjoyable. I am so ever grateful for Rama and her work! I only want to see Rama succeed and grow her business even more. I am so grateful for her and I hope anyone has the privilege to take at least one of her classes!

Great painting class with a talented and friendly instructor and a relaxed vibe!…read moreHighly recommend it!

I bet all the wealthy parents send their kids here to practice painting. I just passed by and seen…read moremany people painting on a canvas. Looked so cool and peaceful to just be painting. Popular place.

Came to this Color Me mine on two separate occasions. Came with a large group for a work event and…read morecame another time with just one other friend. Both times the staff here were so incredibly friendly and helpful! When I came with the larger group the staff made sure that we knew the process and let us know of the time limit. Located near the Culver Steps and Culver Hotel, next to Maruwu Seicha. Theres some street parking options as well several parking structures close by. This location is one of the bigger ones I've been to with plenty of tables and seating. Loved sitting by the window to get natural light while painting. They have a wide variety of pottery options to choose from. They have seasonal items and sculptures to cute trinket holders to plates. Once you pick your piece you can get paint and any of the tools. A perfect way to get creative and walk away with a one of a kind piece that you painted!

TLDR: DO NOT come to this Color Me Mine because you may get ceramic poisoning…read more This Culver City Color Me Mine has a manipulative and terrible business practice that left me extremely angry. As a caveat, I've had just fine experiences at the Palo Alto Color Me Mine, and my specific issue here is how the manager runs his studio and comes up with ridiculous policies on handling defective pottery that provides no compensation to the customer. When I got my fired plate back, there was a super rough patch on the front from not being glazed properly. Uneven glazing is a food safety hazard as it traps bacteria and exposed ceramic will cause poisoning. I took it back for them to refire it and even out the glazing, but they called back saying they tried a few times and each time the pinholes got worse with new ones showing. They said that's the best they could do and told me to pick it up. I went to pick it up, and they managed to lose my piece, claiming it went back in the kiln again by accident (4th time it went in!!). So I had to wait another week for them to say I could pick it up again. Over a month has passed now since I painted my piece. When I went to inspect the piece finally, there were pinholes and dust and colored particles everywhere on my piece that weren't originally there, and there were still rough patches on the top where I would eat off of. I asked for some sort of compensation given they are possibly giving me ceramic poisoning and they messed up my piece even more. The employees said they talked to the manager (who was on the phone and avoided talking to me himself) and he couldn't do anything about it since it's "normal". I demanded to talk to the manager myself and he had the audacity to say that he guarantees it is food safe and that this level of bubbling and rough patches is all normal. When I emphasized that my food safety was at risk and this plate isn't fully functional, he reluctantly said that I can paint another plate...but guess what: the manager told me I had to give my original piece back to the studio!! He didn't let me just paint another one and didn't give me any discount on my piece. What are they doing with my piece?? He claims it would get donated. Donate it to people and then give those people ceramic poisoning?? What kind of studio policy makes you give back your defective plate in order to paint a new one?? When I also mentioned that I would be leaving Culver City for good in two days so don't have time to paint one anyways, he made it clear that he couldn't provide any monetary compensation for their mistakes. This is manipulative and extremely slimy business practice and no ceramic studio should be run like this. Also, the fact that they couldn't fix my piece through refiring means that they're either incompetent at glazing and/or they're using really cheap and bad glaze. I will be taking this matter up to corporate because Color Me Mines should be providing joy, not anger to its customers.

Ronita is great! Such a good time for kids to be creative and work with their hands. We come weekly…read morenow. I highly recommend for anyone wanting their child to engage in an activity. But would be a fun hobby for an adult to pick up as well.

Ronita is such a beautiful person who created a peaceful environment for us to wheelthrow. She was…read morequick to respond and accommodate my schedule. She is extremely talented and I learned a lot from her. She goes at your pace, letting you create freely or guiding you step by step if that's what you prefer. I would recommend this even as a date option to learn more about yourself and your partner.

Best pot making workshop!…read more My friend booked a Make-a-Pot Workshop on Eventbrite this past Saturday and we had so much fun adding colors to our cement molds. The class was organized by Krizia (aka Concrete Geometric on IG). We arrived a little late for the class, but luckily they had just began and we were able to pick our molds - oval, circle, or square. Our class favorited the oval shaped molds and we quickly became experts at mixing different colors thanks to Krizia's assistance. Based off all of the services she provided, this was definitely an experience I'd invite all of my friends and family to try. While we waited for our molds to bake, there were plenty of beautifully crafted items for sale. As a student of the class, we were given a 10% discount off items purchased in the store and a free succulent from the yellow bin. Snacks and bottled water were available for us as well. After our molds were ready, it was time for the reveal. Each student opened their mold to show the class and it was wonderful to see everyone's unique creations. We took group photos and received a polaroid to take home. It was the sweetest gesture! This class was such a blast and at such a great value! Highly recommend to anyone who wants to get in touch with their creative side.

The owners are so sweet! A friend told me about this place…read morewho found out about it through IG! There is street parking on a wide street. The bathroom is available. It's a fun place for crafty people. Celebrated a birthday here. They were kind enough to let us cut a cake that we brought along. The vibe is very hip and nostalgic. Pacman, Mario, Micky Mouse, lots of mushroom sculptures, bags, pens, and much more! They give you an apron and gloves. You customize the colors you want in the pot! They provide the concrete mix and the colored powder to choose the color you want. Krizia showed us the consistency we needed before we poured the mixture into our molds. You can customize whether you want your pot to have drainage holes. The concrete dries quickly! The curing process happened in two parts and happened over about less than an hour. You can technically go get coffee while you wait for it to dry. The shop is beautifully merchandised. They are a design agency that has a little store, which also hosts workshops.

I absolutely love this art class!…read more From the moment I started attending, I felt welcomed into a warm and creative environment. The atmosphere is always positive, inspiring, and full of energy that makes learning art so enjoyable. Every class feels like a fun and relaxing experience where I can truly express myself. The staff members are all amazing, kind, and always willing to help whenever anyone needs guidance. They create a supportive space where students of all levels can feel comfortable and confident. A special thank you goes to Ms. Evelina, who truly makes the biggest difference in every class. She is incredibly patient, encouraging, and always takes the time to help each student improve their artistic skills. You can really tell that she cares deeply about her students and is passionate about teaching art in a meaningful way. I always look forward to coming here, and I am so grateful for everything I have learned. * Chloe Yousefian

This art studio is truly phenomenal and I have so much appreciation for all the little details they…read moreimplement to make this studio a happy place for so many growing artists! I toured a few other studios in the foothills area and there were many differentiating factors to note. I toured another place next to the coffee shop I frequent daily and while it would have been convenient for me to enroll my kids in that art studio, I shadowed the class and knew it would not allow my children to explore their creativity as all students were doing the same exact art and not exploring with different mediums. This art studio is very large with various areas exploring different mediums of art. You have kids doing paper mache, experimenting with clay and pottery, paint, water color, sketching, other arts and crafts....the list goes on! I love when they are playing music in the background - I think it helps the kids find their rhythm. All the staff are remarkable and SO great with kids! They have a very well organized art gallery every year and it is something we look forward to attending. My son has been coming here for a year and a half and my daughter started today! I know it says age 6 and up online but both my kids started under age 6 and have been doing great! My son even made his own space inspired Dr. Seuss book! The staff print out photos my son likes (of all things space) and then they work on things that inspire him. I am so happy my daughter will be starting here, too. I think art is a great way for kids to be creative and use their imagination.

I love Michael's. I love them even more when they have sales. They always seem to have a coupon…read moreavailable on their site or in emails. Their prices for most products are reasonable. I use a coupon for the items I think are overpriced. Check their website for online promos because you can order online and then pick up in the store. I did and got a much better deal. I had asked an employee about it and she said to find her when I was ready. I pulled all the merchandise myself to make it easier, checked out in front of her and it was done. She was so surprised that I brought up the items but I was in retail for decades, I know how it is. Also, *prices are often not the same on the site*! Have to admit that I didn't buy a few things because the prices were higher than in the store by about $3 and it pissed me off more than once. The employees work their butts off while still being helpful and friendly. On the bummer side is that stock is not kept up which is corporates fault. I'm not talking about during big sales because that would be impossible. Be advised that the structure now charges for parking. There is a machine right inside the entrance of Michael's to out in your license plate for free parking.

Kameron (#2071) at Commerce, MI…read more Kameron went above and beyond to help me order a product online to get a discount. He was very patient and pleasant.