Update. 3rd time here. Another company outing. They middle…read moreof a work day and we reserved the time to make our projects. We had the whole shop to ourselves and all the help we could want. From start to finish, this is a well organized production. If you do groups, they send you links ahead of time to pick out projects. They work with you for payments ahead, so you don't have to worry about that the day of. Excellent email communication so that everyone is set up. Lots of time to shop online and figure out what you want to do. Team bonding experience that puts you to work. Like I said,don't be fooled. You are going to work for your project! You walk in and are warmly welcomed by the staff. She directs you to your table. They have all the projects that you pre-purchased laid out. Snag a drink, they are available for purchase. The individual assigned to you goes over all the details. You throw on your work apron and get going. Pick out your stain. Sand your project. (Hope you picked a smaller one) Stain your project. Decorate your project. Paint your project. You can easily spend a couple of hours working on your project. Sanding, staining, painting, detailing. You do it all. If you want to have take-home projects too. They are there through the whole process. It was a lot of fun, work and recommended.

Had such a great experience!! I am not artistic and this made me so confident in my artistic…read moreabilities!! Will definitely be back!!

Between her passion and love of art, coupled with her love for teaching children, Jana offers the…read morebest art classes in the Des Moines area.

A really nice cultural experience in the heart of Des Moines. The series of buildings includes the…read moreonly I M Pei design (same architect of the glass pyramid in the heart of the Paris Louvre). Iowa the Des Moines Art Center is a nice way to spend a few hours. Complementary admission and free parking is an added bonus and a fantastic value. And impressive selection of old world and modern art, including some more well-known artists such as Picasso, Goya, Cezanne, Miro, Lichtenstein, and an impressive selection of newer artists that definitely leave a lasting impression. I recommend that you stop, and even if only to see a few of the artists and a little bit of the architecture. Great gift shop too!

Spent an afternoon with artists Picasso, Hopper, Warhol, Matisse, Miro, Chagall, Klee, Monet, and…read moreothers...at the fabulous Des Moines Art Center! I did not expect to see some of the world's greatest artists in Des Moines. Instead, it was an elite venue at an incredible price point. Located in Ingersoll Park, 20 minutes from Ankeny and 10 minutes from the State Capitol, the Art Center is a must-see, beautiful venue with spectacular works, considerable spaces, and gorgeous grounds. Amazingly, it is free. Loved the Samantha Box "Caribbean Dreams" exhibit, a fantastic collection of photography and art. I also loved works by Stella ("Interlagos"), Kiefer ("untitled"), Francis ("Summer #2"), and Schnabel. We also liked the postcard exhibit. The building has an awesome vibe and incredible visuals throughout its spectacular architecture. There is a great gift shop and discounted items near the entrance. Sensational guidance and kindness from the museum's docents, notably Loretta, Issac, and Gabby.

We were so excited to come in and make our own pottery for a reasonable price. The class was fun…read moreand we were given the option of painting it then or we could come back at a later time and paint it with studio paints and make designs, so we chose that option this class was in November). We went to paint these on February 13. We did very detailed pieces with flowers and intricate designs. The studio told me that they would be done within two weeks to a month. After a month passed, I called to see if our pieces were done, they weren't. After this, I called every week as the studio never followed up with me. Our pieces were finally done on April 3rd. So, I went in on the 4th to pick them up at opening. I waited an extra 15 minutes after opening and they had no one there, I knocked on the door and no one came. They did not have it anywhere that they were closed. I finally picked up our pieces and this studio absolutely destroyed our pieces. They melted the glaze and did not heat them in the proper temperature and ruined all our work designing them. So after 6 months, our pieces are going in the garbage. There was no apology for trashing our pieces or offer to reimburse us or to come in and redo them. It was so unfortunate that the team did not care to make things right.

This is such a great place to create! Families can walk in and pick a project right off the…read moreshelves and start creating. From simple projects like painting a piece of pottery (you take it home THAT DAY!), to projects that are more intricate, there is something for everyone! Owner, Stacy Schuurmann is so creative and offers many ideas for kids and adults to have fun with art!

Wow...I saw Kathleen's work at the Iowa Arts Summit in August of 2018 and was able to watch…read morethroughout the day as it progressed. It was unbelievable to see the depth of her creation and to see how effortlessly she pulled it off. She was also very approachable when interrupted for questions or comments. At the end of the day, several of us had to have out photos taken on her final project.

We were staying in the Des Moines area and looking to kill some time before heading to the theatre…read moreon a Saturday, and a quick Google search brought us to Painting with a Twist. We were intrigued by the idea of painting and pouring a candle, even though we aren't artistic by any means and felt a bit out of our element. We were "walk-ins" and when we arrived, they set us up with paints and materials, and showed us the books to choose a design with step-by-step instructions. Beverages were available for purchase - we had cans of soda (2 for $3, very reasonable!). The vibe is creative and welcoming, and the staff are friendly, encouraging, and make you feel artistic even if you're not. There's space for both scheduled sessions and walk-ins, as well as painting classes (one started after we arrived). Everything felt very organized and cohesive. Once we finished our paintings, a staff member guided us through pouring our candles - we even mixed scents, and they smelled amazing! After pouring, we left and returned about two hours later to pick up our finished candles. We had a fantastic time. This was a fun, creative, and inexpensive experience - just $63 total for the two of us to each paint and pour a scented candle, plus two beverages. Highly recommend! Disclaimer: I said I'm not an artist, so go easy on me when you see my pics! :-)

Great experience! Had a blast for a birthday party…read more They let us bring in food. They offer drinks! Super fun atmosphere. Staff was lovely. Would definitely go back with friends!

Such a fun first visit, as we attended a watercolor class and it was an enjoyable experience that…read moreended too soon. Easy parking, visited without lofty expectations, as it was a brutally cold day and we were happy to be out of the house and wanted to have fun. Joanie and Megan made the whole experience a great time! They are pleasant, knowledgeable, encouraging, and talented. We enjoyed interacting with our fellow total of ten attendees, and they made it a better event. I like how you all sit at a community table and experience it together. I learned how to do really fun watercolor strokes and designs, but also had a terrific time doing it. We will return, as it is a great place to get away and have some fun.

Loved coming in and making my project! This place is so fun and for all ages! Staff was so helpful…read moreand kind. Their boutique is full of gorgeous home decor and perfect for gifts.

What a cute new place! There are tons of different workshops and it is an extremely welcoming…read moreenvironment. With memberships and individual classes and open crafting hours, there are definitely tons of options for seasoned crafters! If you're a beginner like me, you may want to work on a few projects on your own before you sign up for a workshop or watch a few tutorials before you go. I have been to three and definitely felt frustrated and confused most of the time, but that's because I am a true beginner crafter! I think those who have a little art background would really enjoy themselves, and maybe I'll try again in the future when I have more experience!

Although I'm not crafty, I agreed to give The Glitter Factory a try. We grabbed our tween girls and…read morebought the 2 hour unlimited package. Mosaic art, painting, vision boards, and clay are just a few of the stations. We had a great time. Left with many art pieces to display at home. Fun time without a mess at home.