Retreats in the Redwoods of Corralitos, Big Sur Sleepaway-Write/Edit/Rewrite Camps and Corralitos…read moreCoffee Roasting As Class in itself. We miss her Artisan Coffee Beans at the Sunday Market. Summer Camps upon the Unsalted Shores of Lake Michigan Readerly-Writerly #hipcamp Near Oxbow.

If you want your art world rocked or at least melted a little go take a look at Art du Jour Gallery…read more& Studio. Better yet? Take a fused glass or glass blowing class because it was so much fun, I had to book a second workshop and now ... I think I'm hooked! Fabulous and fun instructors had me feeling comfortable and able to create what previously I had only seen other people make. Art du Jour Gallery and Studio is located at 1013 Cedar Street in downtown Santa Cruz. The cool thing about the location is that it's cozy, feels welcoming and has a relaxed pace. It's really a perfect environment to explore and experiment with glass, metal and paint. Bring a friend ... or two ... or three. We booked my bridal party there and had a blast - Now we all think we're artists! Whoop whoop! For details: WWW.ARTDUJOUR.ORG Phoebe S.

My wife and I can't say enough great things about Alyssa and everyone working at Seven Directions…read more Our daughter loves the time she spends working on all the art projects and learning about the animals. If you are looking for a place for your child to be creative and have fun this is the place.

From the owner: Seven Directions Institute is a place where children and teens can learn about art and science in a…read moreway that nurtures their individual learning style. Creativity and education go hand in hand in all of our unique class offerings! We teach: Engineering, Physics, Anime Art, Pokemon Art, Cartooning, Lego Math and more!

What a wonderful experience we had here. My 9yo daughter attended the 3-day snow-themed winter art…read morecamp and had a fantastic time. I was very impressed with artwork she brought home. She learned a lot and now we have gorgeous snow-themed art projects all around the house, it's like a winter wonderland. We will definitely try more classes and camps.

I love the Art Factory, I use their services for different things once in a while…read more.. Yvette is definitely trustworthy and very nice!

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From the owner: All inclusive Visionary Art gallery! Transformational, spiritual art and artists in their working…read morestudio spaces. Take a class, leave with a gift, or paint on our communal canvas!

My 4 1/2 year old started about 4 weeks ago and Celeste has been such a wonderful teacher. Our…read moredaughter is on the shy side and I was worried that the class would not work out but it's been the opposite. She loves going, she is focused the whole time and she is learning some really great concepts. Every time she comes out of the class she is calm and in a great mood. I am so thrilled we found this studio. Celeste is just wonderful!

Jenni facilitates a warm and comfortable setting for children to create. She seems to understand…read morethat children need a safe and relaxed place to be able to find their inner artist. We've been taking classes with Jenni for 2 years and love, love, love it!!

Amazing and talented artist/teacher. Rare to find such a creative and child-loving soul as Jenny…read moreWard. She brings art history into art making and mixes it all with loads of joy and fun. Wd recommend for any child who is ready to explore their inner creativity. Most amazing is how Jenny makes room for kids with special needs as well----very, very gifted. U. O'Farrell

The classes are so unique, and the results are adorable. Cayce and her helpers are so kind and the…read morekids have a blast. Love Blue Apple Art!

I love this place! Cayce is the most patient, kind, creative teacher. The experience for both…read moreadults and children is fabulous and getting to leave with a finished product evokes pride and a sense of accomplishment. I can not recommend ANY of the classes at Blue Apple !

My daughter has been taking studio art lessons at Lei's Art Studio for several years, and we…read morecouldn't be happier with the experience. Mr. Lei is a wonderful teacher--patient, kind, and truly supportive of his students. My daughter has not only learned valuable drawing and painting skills, but has also developed a genuine appreciation for and joy in creating art. Mr. Lei is a talented artist himself, and it's great to see his recent artwork displayed on the studio walls whenever we drop off our daughter and that's a big plus :).

As beginners, my friends and I went to Lei's studio for around 2 ~ 3 months, the skills we learned…read morewere amazing: we have our own jobs, so we only go to the studio at weekends, 2 hours per week, but still, we finished the basic sketchy practice within 2 months: I can even paint my favorite actor at that time! We plan to go back some time this year as it was really a good experience!

I've been a student at Ichen Art Academy for over 4 years now, and needless to say, I've grown a…read morelot within my passion because of the instruction I received at this school. I came in with a love for art, but little knowledge in the technical aspects. Through Ichen's summer programs, I got to explore many different media including charcoal, oil painting, and digital. The academy's instructors are very well educated in the arts and provide a plethora of resources and materials to help me succeed. They provided guidance in composition, technique, color, etc. while motivating me to enter my art into competitions... ultimately which I won a few! Ryan, Ichen Art Academy's Artist in Residence, has provided me with fantastic support over the years. I got a perfect balance of instruction and freedom to allow for the full expression of my artistry. I never felt bored or unmotivated because the instructors constantly provide me with ideas and recommendations when I'm stuck. My AP and college application portfolios both contributed largely to my successful MIT application process, and I am forever indebted to my time at Ichen for this accomplishment.

Our two daughters have been taking art lessons at Ichen Art Academy for the last 7+ years (since…read moreelementary grade level). Initially, many years ago, we researched several art schools in the Bay Area, specifically in the South Bay, and even tried out a local one near our home for a year (and discovered the instruction was limited). Then we came upon Ichen Art Academy in Fremont, CA. Both our girls have always been creative but needed more instruction on art techniques and development. A major attraction to their art program was the variety of lessons provided to enrich one's mind to the world of art. Ichen Art provided classes on Sketching, Charcoal Drawing, Watercolor, Oil Painting, Chinese Calligraphy and Painting, and Digital Art. Our daughters took the foundational sketching class, which provided a very good opportunity to build one's art skills. The classes and programs offered are very structured and well organized. Their Fremont office manager, Jessica, has been very helpful with scheduling and class registration questions. In addition, not only is Ms. Ichen Wu (founder and principal) one of the instructors, Ichen Art also provides various specialized instructors for the art class offerings, from sketching to watercolor painting to oil painting to digital art to Chinese calligraphy, etc. It was very beneficial to see and learn art from various forms and perspectives. Besides providing art classes, Ichen Art also provides other opportunities for students to enrich their art potential and personal development. They work closely with the Youth Art Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps provide art students leadership training and development (in which our oldest daughter is the student Director of Art). Ichen Art also invites art models to come in and pose for live body art sculpture drawing lessons. Ichen Art has also helped students participate and submit their work of art to various local and national art competitions, where several students have earned top awards, including our oldest daughter. Their various instructors also act as counselors/consultants to help with questions and guidance for the students. Our daughter's oil painting instructor, Ryan, has shared some great advice and guidance on painting perspectives and creating a portfolio. The academy also host seminars and webinars for students and parents that cover topics on developing art portfolios and college preparation. Our oldest daughter in high school developed an interest in fashion design and Ms. Wu set up fashion design lessons with a local instructor, which eventually led to the development of a summer fashion design program at the academy (and our daughter became a teacher assistant/co-instructor for the program). The time invested in the Ichen Art Academy lessons and classes for our daughters have been very positive. Our oldest daughter's interest in fashion design has led to her college pursuits having been accepted to the #1 fashion school in the US. Overall, if you are looking for a great comprehensive art program with very positive results, check out Ichen Art Academy.

Artisans & Agency is one of my favorite shops in downtown Santa Cruz. If I'm downtown, there is no…read moreway I can walk by without stopping inside, regardless of how much time I have! They have plentiful unique gift items, like jewelry, cards, local art, candles, bags, wood pieces, etc. My eyes are always too busy moving around to scan the store for all the cool new items that it's a wonder I've never tripped. The people who work there are also authentically friendly where you can actually ask them a question, and they won't judge you or ignore you! Love this store. Prices can be high, but I also think the quality of the products they carry are also high.

Artisans & agency is truly a treasure trove. With the holiday season quickly approaching, this is…read morethe perfect location to find a one-of-a-kind gift. This boutique is filled with an impressive selection of locally-made goods including pottery, beautifully designed greeting cards for every occasion, locally sourced spices and honey, and bold statement jewelry. I ended up taking home a variety of teas for myself and friends. They're located in central downtown, next to a ton of other great shopping locations. Parking is pretty easy to find since it's a high traffic area. Whether you're a local or passing through, you won't forget this Santa Cruz business.