We have had a great experience with Alla over the past 13 years. We enrolled our daughter in Alla's art class at the tender age of 4.5 and she still takes classes as a senior in high school. Next year she will be attending a premier art / design school with a substantial scholarship. We attribute a good portion of our daughter's success to the foundational skills developed and refined over the years under Alla's tutelage with many of the pieces in her admissions portfolio being developed with Alla's guidance. There are many great memories from over the years since we had Alla host birthdays, sent our children to summer camps and participated in group art excursions to Yosemite. Our middle school aged son attends Alla class and anticipate him continuing in the foreseeable future. read more

My sister and I loved coming to Alla's art camp when we were kids (about 15-16 years ago). It was my absolute favorite summer camp, I'd go every year that I could as a child. I'm so happy to see the art studio is still open and inspiring new kids. Thank you Alla! read more

We are so lucky to have Alla's Art class online on Zoom during Quarantine! My daughter loves art and drawing, and having a good teacher, other kids to be in class with, and the structure and schedule of a class, has been such a relief, and she is so happy with the results! Alla lets the kids choose their own subjects, gives ideas and guidance whenever needed, has them use different mediums (charcoal, watercolor, etc.) for variety, and helps them create masterpieces to impress friends and family members :) read more

All Art Studio - Grandma loves it! :) - Art Schools Near Me - Redwood City, California

For after school and during school breaks arts and crafts, this place rocks. Neither my 5 year old or 9-1/2 year old had ever really taken any art classes let alone taken classes together. But after two days of classes during the Christmas break they came home with a ton of masterpieces from foamies, to frames, acrylic paintings and mardi gras masks. I could tell that they built up a ton of art skills including perspective, brush technique, balance, patience and cooperation. We will definitely be checking back on after school programs for our budding Matisses. Prices seem a bit steep especially when one thinks back to their youth when art was an integral part of school curriculum. With budget cut after cut, there isn't much left in public schools. We totally stumbled upon this place when my wife ran into another family looking for some program options for their kids during the break. We've walk by their previous location a half a block away for years without a clue as to what they are all about.. read more

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My daughter is ten years old. She loves art class. She has been with Alla for a year. Alla is a amazing teacher.

I called Alla this afternoon asking about classes for my 4 years old son who shows a lot interest in drawing. She was so sweet and suggested we would come for a free trial and see how it goes.. we came and Alla was absolutely adorable. She had the touch with kids! Asked him to copy a chameleon and guided him along the way. I loved it and my son too.. is waiting now for next classes :-) read more

All Art Studio - Art Schools Near Me - Redwood City, California

My 11 year old daughter has been taking art at AllARTstudio classes and attended camps since age 6!! She has learned so much and developed immensely as an artist thanks to Alla's patient instruction, leadership & inspiration through various projects. She is now in middle school and her art was recently showcased at back to school night. The art teacher raved about how she was able to draw the image of an owl just by looking at a picture and recreating what she saw. We are very happy to have our budding artist learning her craft from AllARTstudio!! read more

Alla did a drawing lesson on zoom for my daughter's birthday party and it was awesome! With social distancing in place, the kids miss their friends and we wanted to get the kids together at least on zoom for an interesting activity. Alla asked me about the media that my daughter wanted to use as well as about the subject of the drawing and incorporated all our requests in the lesson. Alla's lesson was thoughtfully planned and she kept all the kids engaged with her wonderful drawing skills and warm and friendly manner. We had kids from quite a range of ages in the zoom session - 5 year olds to 12 year olds, and Alla kept them all interested - they were drawing away the entire time. She had some fun surprises as part of the lesson and the kids loved them. Thank you for a great birthday art party! read more

It appears that the most (if not all) of the reviews posted here are for kids classes, but my review is for the private, zoom classes I've taken as an adult beginner. I've always wanted to learn acrylic painting and looked around for a good teacher to teach me all the basics. I called Alla & scheduled our first zoom class during which we discussed what my interests are and worked on some sketching. I actually was curious how an art class is taught via zoom, but Alla made it work perfectly well by using two cameras, one of which showed her canvas closely so I could see what she's drawing/painting without any problem. I also showed her my work in progress so she could comment & make suggestions. As a complete beginner, I was very cautious and was afraid of making mistakes, but Alla always reminded me not to worry about making mistakes but just have fun and "dance with the brush!" I always look forward to my weekly classes with Alla not just because I like the art class itself, but also because Alla is very kind and warm. I highly recommend Alla's zoom classes for adults! read more

Our daughter has a weekly art class at this little gem of a studio and our appreciation for it has increased even more with the week long camp she attended this summer. First and foremost, the studio really does teach little kids how to create artwork. Our daughter has come home with some very impressive work and also understands numerous artistic concepts, developing the foundation for her to make new pieces without supervision. In addition, there is a calmness and serenity about the environment and small class sizes that results in impressive productivity. I have never seen a group of kids this age so attentive and focused. Finally, Alla and Greg run a first class, cultured and professional operation. Alla caught an accidental overpayment we made and personally handed me a refund in cash. They regularly take photographs of the young artists holding their work (you can feel the pride right through the photos). To top it all off - the summer camp featured field trips (including one to Stanford University) in a big, safe, new passenger van. No rusty, dirty old minivan at this place! We are very fortunate to have such a top notch resource here! read more

Really great school! My daughter loves the classes and the summer camp! We've been going to the school for the past year and been in camp for 2 summers now. read more

I have been going to allARTstudio for eight years now and I absolutely LOVE it. Alla and Greg are very nice and have lots of very unique opportunities to their students. Alla, a highly educated and experienced artist, gives demos for most projects and lots of tips and support. She is a very energetic and caring person, but if you have a problematic child, she is very direct in telling you so. Throughout my time at allARTstudio, I have developed a wonderful relationship with both Alla and Greg as well as a deep love for painting. Several of the negative comments about allARTstudio criticize the use of step-by-step drawing books. These reviewers fail to realize that the purpose of these books are to teach the student to be able to "draw what you see," as Alla says. Kids often get lost in trying to draw detail by detail instead of sketching the general shape first, a habit that drawing books change. As you become more advanced, Alla teaches you more techniques and skills that allow you to paint and sketch with more confidence and alter the drawing as you see fit. Eventually, she will have you use books that do not give step-by-step instructions and force you to think about how to recreate the original picture. In conclusion, in all my years at Alla's, I have never seen a child complain about having to draw from the book. It is still very fun and does not at all drain creativity. There truly is a reason that allARTstudio receives so many awards each year- it's positively unbeatable!! With all the crafts, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, movies, field trips, snacks, and Where's Waldo books, THIS CAMP IS THE BEST IN THE BAY! read more

My 8 year old daughter has been taking lessons here for two years and she loves it. Her skills are constantly progressing and she works with different media. The environment really works for us, but I can see how it may not work for everyone. I suggest doing thorough research and asking good questions if you are considering enrolling your child. For instance, my 6 year old son did not like the settings while he works very well with art instructor at his school. Every child is different and it is not realistic to expect one school to meet everyone's needs. The owners are Russian and they use their native language in casual conversations, but it adds charm to the place (in my personal view). You should decide for yourself if cultural diversity is something you like or something you find offensive. read more

My daughter goes to Alla. We love Alla. She is kind, loving and teaches my daughter art . We love her and her studio. Highly recommend. My girl is 7 read more

This is my second review for All art Studios, as my first got put at the bottom with 12 other 5star reviews. This is a lovely studio and if you are serious about art and learning how to paint, the use of color and such, this is the place for you. The Russian owner and Artist has over 40 years of experience to give. She was able to answer all my questions, and painted along side me guiding me as she taught. I was and continue to be most impressed read more

I have two children who both greatly enjoy attending AllArtStudio. My daughter started when she was 4 1/2 and has been there for 11 years and my son has been attending for the past 5 years. Both of them have been active in other after school activities, dropping out of one and starting another, but they have consistently been attending art classes with Alla and Greg. I hope that memories of these classes will be among the happiest memories of their childhood and I wish I had more time to go there myself! There are multiple ways to teach and learn art and drawing. What I like most about AllArtStudio is its unique, relaxed and creative environment where children are taught at their own pace with a focus on their own interests, graduating from simple to more complex shapes, concepts and media. As a result, they have enjoyed the process and been eager to come back. Both Greg and Alla have been always positive, kind and caring. All of our experiences at AllArtStudio: regular classes, summer camps, overnight camp at Yosemite, and birthday party have been amazing! I am truly impressed with the results and am very grateful to Alla for her effort, endless patience and enthusiasm! read more

My daughter started with Alla in second grade and now is a freshman at Cal Poly SLO majoring in Studio Art. Alla took a quiet shy little girl with some natural talent for art and helped her develop her passion into something so much greater. Alla taught her so many different mediums and techniques and gave her the confidence that she could pursue her passion into college and beyond. Thank you Alla for everything you have done for her! I highly recommend All Art Studio if your child also has a passion for art! read more

I don't know who is writing all those positive reviews. If I could give them negative stars I would. The terrible experience started before we even walked in the class. Alla snapped at me when I got lost and called for directions. I shrugged off the bad vibes and went to the class anyway. Now my son is very shy. He has anxiety issues where he needs extra time and space to warm up in a new environment. I understand it can be difficult to work with a kid who has trouble talking initially. But I thought being a teacher, she would be understanding and patient. But Alla and her partner were just hell bent on making my son talk. She rolled her eyes, scoffed, snapped and were just generally very rude to him, while my son just sat there and took it quietly. How is that supposed to help a kid relax? Finally I asked her to stop forcing him to talk and just have him draw something which would help relax him. She gave him something to draw and then didn't come back to check on him for a long time. So my son added a ton of details to the drawing. (He really does love drawing.) When she finally came back she did not give any feedback. She just said flatly you may go now. I said isn't the class an hour long, plus my son actually told me he wanted to stay and draw some more. That's a very encouraging sign! She said "No, he can do that at home. I cannot teach him because he cannot talk." She said that right in front of him! Did she not care that she was hurting a child's feelings? I was so upset I could cry. I said my son talks. He has no trouble talking to his teachers at school and in other sports classes. He just needs more time and encouragement in the first class. Isn't that the teachers job to help kids overcome their obstacles and learn? She didn't say anything. I was furious that she insulted my son with such hurtful comments and attitude. I was almost in tears when we left. I should mention that there was another kid in the class. She was also mean and abrupt with him. She grabbed his hand forcefully and snatched his pen from him to show him something. Then she scolded him for not doing something right. Poor kid just sat there and took it. I almost wanted to say something when his mom came to pick him up (I ran into them at the parking lot) But I decided to keep my mouth shut. I really don't know who are these people that wrote all these 5-star reviews. I certainly did not feel the "patience, love and care" that these reviews described. Not one bit. ================== Update: My son has settled in nicely at another studio. He started talking and interacting with the teacher and other kids by the second class. He drew a lovely painting and wrote "For Mommy" on the paper. To the readers: this is why trial classes are very important. Trust your instinct. Your children deserve the best. read more

Alla is great with the kids. My daughter went there for summer camp and produced the most incredible paintings. She absolutely loved it. It was her favorite summer camp. We are trying to fit it into the schedule for my daughter to attend during the school year. read more

We love Alla and Greg and their sweet little studio. My 11 y.o. daughter has been taking classes weekly since last summer. She loves it and I have enjoyed taking some classes with her. I would actually describe it more as "session" time than classes. As it was pointed out in another review, this isn't directed drawing or painting lessons. Greg and Alla provide feedback, guidance and teach as you progress through your work. My daughter loves her time in the studio and has learned so much. The beauty of this studio is that it supports the individual interests of the artist. My daughter and I decide what media we want to work with and then we receive the instruction and feedback as we go. We definitely will be with this studio (Alla/Greg) for years to come! read more

My kids have been taking lessons here for about a year. I'm very happy with the progress they're making. They have tried many different media (acrylics, pencil, water colors, charcoal etc) and techniques. I like that they are not all doing the same thing in class at the same time. While the kids get to pick what they want to paint during the lesson, it's definitely not just a free choice. Alla and her husband will steer them so they will develop new skills. Both my 8 and my 12 year old are very happy with their class and I'm impressed with what they bring home. My youngest also tried the summer camp last year, and she had a blast. She loved the two excursions to Stanford and the Rose Garden, where they got to try "plein air" painting. read more

For the past 2 summers, my 9 year old daughter has enrolled at allARTstudio for art camp. She has done many art camps before, but never one like this. Alla's studio and her method of teaching makes kids feel like real artists. She is very friendly and hugs the kids. My daughter picked what she was interested in drawing and worked on techniques with her chosen subject. Alla would help set her up with the composition and placement on the paper and let her work at her own pace. She learned how to sketch and fade and has applied it in her daily art. There is also group instruction where the entire class learns a technique such as fading colors in a sunset painting. After a long morning of working hard and focusing, lunch time is relaxing with a movie while eating. Afternoons are more crafty. They get to paint wooden or ceramic sculptures. The summer camps also take field trips twice a week to draw what they see in nature. They set up easels and after some instruction, they get down to business. At the end of the week, the kids take home all their masterpieces with a proud smile on their face. My daughter absolutely loves Alla's camp and will keep coming back for more. read more

This is a gem of an art studio on El Camino and I couldn't be happier with the experience my six-year old just had at a week of art summer camp with Alla. My daughter loves art and really enjoyed the camp. Twice a week, Alla took the kids out to public parks to paint and draw, experiencing the nature around them. She also provided snacks and drinks for the kids and was very nurturing and loving with all the kids from what I saw on drop off and pick-up. At the end of a week of camp, my daughter was very proud to take home her art projects and my husband and I were stunned at the quality of the artwork and the progress she made in just a week at this camp. As for the facility, it's conveniently located across the street from Sequoia Station in Redwood City. I really liked her studio, it was well-lit and had many supplies for all kids. I also admired the fact that the owner has many paintings from her students on her walls. Also, it's safely on a second floor as well and provides parking - we always had a spot every morning and also on pick-up. We plan to continue some art classes after experiencing the summer camp, and I'm thrilled my daughter has had this experience, she is definitely taking the skills she learned and already applying them to her drawing and painting techniques. I felt that all the kids who attended the camp were treated equally, and even though my daughter was the youngest (and can be shy), she felt very comfortable with all the ages of students at the camp and seemed very at home in Alla's studio. So glad we found it! Excellent studio! read more

Alla and Greg provide such a great environment for their students. Their process is one with just the right amount of structure, discipline, and fun, making it a weekly event that our son looks forward to. All Art Studio is awesome! read more

Excellent studio. Our 10 year-old daughter loves the open studio time option. During open studio, Alla encourages the kids to paint or draw whatever inspires them, then she coaches them how to improve their techniques "in the moment". This model works great for our daughter, who prefers to chart her own path and learn as she goes vs. a more traditional model, where the teacher has everyone painting the same thing. Alla also teaches the more traditional sort of lesson, too, if that's what works for you, but the open art studio time is the perfect fit for our daughter. Open art studio is also a great way for our daughter to see what other people are drawing or painting. She definitely learns by watching the older kids and teenagers, as well. read more