Love this place. The instructors are wonderful. They are great teachers, helpful and patient…read more There's absolutely no pressure at the studio! They want you to do you. Fun and relaxing. I make pottery and go there to throw or hand build using clay. Jim and Mark are very knowledgeable and help with all of my questions. There's another instructor who runs painting classes. I've been going for a few years and recommend ALNB to beginners and experienced people. If you're a beginner interested in learning about pottery I highly recommend ALNB. There's zero judgment. You will only get positive support from everyone!!!!

This place was nice! We went for a group outing of seven people. When I called earlier in the week,…read morethe guy said we didn't need a reservation and could just walk in for Saturday. We all planned to meet there at 5 PM, but when we arrived, they told us we actually needed a reservation and had to come back at 6:45. Thankfully, West Hartford has plenty to do, so we walked around, grabbed some food, and returned for our reservation. One thing to know is that you pick the pottery you want to paint it's not a place where you make the pottery yourself. That has pros and cons, depending on your preferences. I'm honestly not that artistic when it comes to freehand painting, so I picked a simple snowflake design (probably the cheapest option at around $14). My friends picked reindeer, cookie trays, and other fun items. Painting was fun, but you have to leave your piece for 2-3 weeks to be glazed, so don't expect to take it home the same day. The space is small, but I liked the intimate setting. The staff was also very nice, and overall, I had a good experience. I would definitely go back.

I have not had a hand in pottery since high school so this was a nice activity to do and spend…read morequality time with friends and family. Claypen is located on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford Center between Walden and Dale streets. Lookout for the sessions posted outside if looking for something specific. I was attracted to the Studio Ghibli theme they were having and immediately made a reservation. I honestly didn't know what to expect until I arrived there. Upon check in, we were shown where we'd be seated and were told that we select any ceramic on the shelf and will be provided the paints and can even replenish it ourselves from the shelf. As well as take as much time as we needed to complete our design. My daughter did her own thing and drew Sanrio on different sides while I wanted to paint Haku and my friend, Totoro. I think it all came out really well!! I looked up an image tried to copy it onto the jar. Originally using a pencil and lightly tracing it onto the surface to not affect the image, although I was told that the pencil burns off during the baking process. We were also instructed to paint more than 1 coat so that the paint will show. The whole process was easy enough. When finished, everything can be brought to the counter for payment. Essentially the painting is free, it's the ceramic that needs to be paid for. I would think that the piece is averagely priced. If wanting to be sure, definitely ask before picking a piece. I'd certainly do this again.

I'm a complete beginner to pottery, and finding Grit and Grog Clay Company felt like stumbling into…read morethe right studio at the right time. Katie creates the kind of environment where you feel welcomed the moment you walk in. She's encouraging without hovering, patient without making you feel like you're slowing anyone down, and genuinely excited to help people grow in their craft. You can tell she's building something special here. The space has this calm, creative rhythm to it, and every class feels like you're learning and relaxing at the same time. I've already made pieces I didn't think I was capable of. If you've been looking for a place to start pottery, reconnect with creativity, or just try something new, this studio is absolutely worth checking out. Katie brings out the best in beginners. Highly recommend.

This is a cute little art studio located in downtown Hartford. The people that run this place are…read morevery friendly and knowledgeable. They offer a variety of art classes from drawing, to basket weaving, to painting, etc. It is a little hard to find on the street since if you walk past the door you might miss the entrance to the second floor. Otherwise, next time I am in the area I will drop by for some art lessons.

I took a beginner's clay class with a friend back in March- it was taught by the owner, Bree, who…read morewas knowledgeable, funny, and super sweet! The price for a 2 hour clay class honestly felt like a steal. Bree taught us all the basics- how to wedge clay and roll out a slab with the slab roller machine, how to slip and score, how to work with porcelain clay vs. stoneware clay- it was AMAZING how much she was able to fit into 2 hours, and she did it without rushing. She was patient and explained things very well, and gave a lovely tour of the entire studio. Plus, her dog is adorable and well behaved! I can honestly say that this is one of the best values for your time and money, and with the options to come back and choose a more advanced class if you think that you're ready to try something more difficult. This is definitely a hidden gem- support a local business and spark your creativity here! It's SO worth it!

Connecticut Art School is a beloved bright spot in South Windsor, with so many different types of…read morecreative art classes delving into various mediums and techniques. The staff are all so talented, friendly, and caring. They really get to know each student, to bring out their strengths, and come up with new ideas in step with the times. (Come on, a Taylor Swift themed class? My neighbor's daughter had a blast!) The annual art show is breathtaking in the plethora of pieces on show, as well as the variety of mediums and ideas. You can tell that they clearly bring out the best in each artist! Even if you do not have a student's work in the show, it is 100% worth viewing! Thank you, Connecticut Art School, for what you bring to our community.

CT art school is a gem. M 9 yr old grandson has been attending on Sat mornings for about 3 years…read morenow. He loves it. The school and the teachers have certainly brought out a creative side of him. I love watching how he has progressed over the years. The projects are always fun and he does a great job. There is always something fun and creative going on at the school. Props outside to take pictures for the fall, the Halloween "paint brush" which drops candy into the kids hands. My grandson looks forward to attending classes and showing off his projects. Well done CT Art School.

I just finished the first of my three classes with Rachel, and I truly can't say enough about how…read morepatient, knowledgeable, and experienced she is. The class is two hours long, and we got started the minute I walked in and worked right up until the very last minute. She really maximizes your time -- you feel like you're getting every second of personalized instruction, with no filler or disorganization. I'm so excited for my final two classes and can't wait to keep learning. I highly recommend signing up for Rachel's classes or services and taking any opportunity you can to learn from her!

Rachel is a fabulous artist and teacher. My teenager has been taking weekly classes with her for…read moreabout a year and her patience, good humor and encouragement have resulted in huge strides in ability and confidence. I highly recommend her classes.

I'm a complete sewing novice, who picked up an old machine somewhere and started sewing without any…read moretraining. Eventually I needed a little help and reached out to Hartford Stitch (through recommendation of a friend) and took a workshop. The owner Laura, made everything fun and uncomplicated and gave me tips which I could incorporate into other sewing projects. Sarah, one of the other instructors, recently gave me a private lesson to help with a zipper project, and again my experience was amazing. They make sewing fun and non-stressful and offer many awesome projects to do in workshops for all levels. If you want to try something new, increase in knowledge or need help with a specific project - Go see them!