Stephanie has a large selection of frames and mats in Artifacts, her tiny shop. She spends as much…read moretime as you need to decide. I've been very happy with the four pictures she's framed for me.

Stephanie got glass cut for our antique oval frame and gently reframed the painting of our great…read moregrandmother. Such a great job and kept us up to date on the progress. She did such a great job, she has our grandmother's painting which is very fragile into one of the antique oval frames that we had.

J Studio is an art studio in which you can sign up for a time with add-ons or even rent the space…read morefor events. Materials and supplies are provided, such as mixed media paper, acrylic, watercolor, oil pastels, collage materials, colored pencils/markers/paint pens, glue, scissors, exacto-knifes, paint brushes, smocks, etc.). You can also do add-ons to your session, which allows you to use unlimited canvases and print 3D-printed objects of their existing templates. This space is open to all artistic-leveled patrons. You'll just have to give them a ring to access the space. Note that this place is not wheelchair accessible, so they can mail you a kit as an alternative. Staff are friendly, and there's street parking available. +art studio open to all +3D printer available +street parking available

I came here for my Galentine's Day date and the studio was perfect!…read more I walked in on a Friday night and the business owner confirmed my reservation then I grabbed a smock and some supplies. Your re permitted to bring your own food and drinks which was great. From this experience, I learned that I don't know much about art supplies so I will definitely be back soon to explore my artsy side. I was able to find 2 hr street parking in front of the building. If you are looking for a chill, low key night to have drinks and do some art, please consider this place.

Our first stop while visiting the Torpedo Factory Art Center was the Scope Gallery on the first…read morefloor. More than 30 area artists exhibit their work, and they have many different styles. We were taken with the work of artist Laura Nichols, and purchased some pieces for a friend. The artists also serve stints at the gallery, and we met a lovely artist sculptor who told us about the gallery and her work as well.

Amazing gallery! Great ceramic art, tremendous variety and terrific value. Must see if you are in…read moreOld Town or anywhere in the DMV.

"Where's your will to be weird?" ― Jim Morrison…read more This quote by one of Alexandria's favorite sons pretty much sums up this eclectic art gallery. Yes, just ask anyone from Austin, TX, and you'll understand why weird is indeed a good thing. I think weird art is cool. Weird art makes us think. Weird art keeps us honest. And nothing can be more cool, more provocative, more honest than the Artbot Gallery. I popped into this shop on a whim, and I was immediately treated to a visual feast of paintings, nick-nacks, and assorted surreal treasures. I quickly settled on a gift for a friend who simply adores Owls; it was a small portrait of a rather mean looking owl in a Victorian business suit. At first, I thought he might look too mean, but when I thought it over, I realized that if I were an owl, I would probably be miffed to be stuck in a suit as well. One perfect gift down! I soon found myself also purchasing a Krampos Christmas stocking and some unicorn band aids. Hey, where else are you going to find something so utterly cool and weird. I almost opted for a Krampos scarf as well, but I wasn't sure how that devilish image would be received with the hoi polloi...Best to not not to risk it, like Krampos I might end up scaring small children. The rest of the shop curiosity shop of art and magic. From the paintings of rainbow colored supermen to the Bigfoot lunch box, this shop has something for everyone. At first, you might be a little intimidated and think that this shop isn't for you, but I say give in to whimsy and let your imagination guide you to something really cool, something really wierd.

We stopped by again... Apparently, the business is now half art gallery and half tattoo shop…read more UPDATE August, 2017: Now they are closed. I hear they moved.

The Torpedo Factory is still wonderful as it has been, right on Alexandria's waterfront. We love…read morethe local artist's ceramic workshop. There are 3 levels, and on the ground floor there are models of old torpedos. The rebirth and repurposing of an old factory is very meaningful, as it is now a haven for local artists. However, there was forever a long line to the ladies' room. They should consider renovating the restrooms or expanding them. I understand with old architecture there may be constraints, but given how popular this place is, it is fair to ask.

10/10 A whimsical place I stumbled into one Saturday morning…read moreafter attending the Farmer's Market. It's a large space with a lot to explore designed in a way that doesn't make you feel overwhelmed. With 3 massive floors, it seemed like there was endless art to explore. It's fun and cool walking into the artist's workshop to engage and see what they're working on in real time. They were all so friendly and welcoming. Overall the experience here was a delight!

Great family business. I've seen it driving past my husband's work but didn't realize they offer…read moreclasses until I googled. So glad my friend and I came to take a short project class. We really enjoyed ourselves and will be back. Great instruction, designs offered, and value. They also have small gifts up front if you don't have time for a class, but want something hand made locally.

Fiscus Glassworks is a gem in Alexandria. I have now taken all of their classes from beginner to…read morestructure/dimension and design and build. I even entered my pieces I created in these classes at the Arlington County Fair and won the Reserve Grand Champion for my division! I now frequent their studio during open hours with their studio time passes. Brad and Maré are kind, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable! They can help you create patterns and make your stained glass visions come true. Definitely check Fiscus out!

This gallery, which is housed inside of Marymount University's main campus, is a non-profit…read moreeducational space as well as a place to showcase the talents of the artists that learn and teach here. Right now, the artist that is being shown here is from Santa Fe but has traveled all over the world. Her paintings have a southwestern twist but feature international themes and scenes. She works in mixed media. There's also a "don't miss" arts festival held here every March, The opening receptions here are fun and not uptight. And best part -- they are free.

I had a brief but really positive experience with Old Town Editions recently…read more After my father passed, my uncle sent me this really cool black and white photo of him that I wanted to blow up and frame. However, it was a picture of a picture. I got it professionally retouched in hopes that I could have it enlarged and framed, gallery-style in my home. I tried to upload it on an app, but the feedback there was just that the largest possible dimension while still maintaining a high level of quality was still fairly small. The issue was, I don't really understand these things and just wanted to speak with a human to explore options. So I reached out to Old Town Editions via email and they were so responsive and helpful. They actually provided me with specific information as to why there may be limitations and suggested some other options to explore. Their thorough breakdown and their willingness just to help, is exactly why I plan to return - whether it's this project or another. Their expertise is evident and it's just nice to be able to work directly with a person to navigate a project like this. Appreciate this business and their spirit to help and serve!

We absolutely loved working with the Old Town Editions team to scan and reproduce a beloved piece…read moreof artwork. We were new to this process but Clara and Rachel took great care of us and our artwork. Old Town Editions will be the only people we ever work with in the future!