Kouta Shimazaki is an amazing potter and an awesome instructor. San Diego Ceramic Connection is…read moretherapy

Came to get my SONO Chili fest Ticket and Bowl. I was so mad I missed last years event (first one…read moreafter lockdown was lifted) that I knew I had to get here for the pre-sale! Did not disappoint! The line went down the entire BLOCK and around the corner-seriously!! At least 50+ chili heads were shivering in line when I got there around 6:40pm and they opened at 6:00! Who knows how long the line was before that! Picked my adorable bowl with the help of volunteer students from the studio and checked out super easy! The line turned out to be mainly because everyone was trying to find the 'best bowl that sung their heart song' lol. I even grabbed a yummy pizza and antipasto next door after, too!

The Madison Gallery is amazing! Located in La Jolla area of San Diego. Known as one of the Top…read more500 Best Galleries Worldwide, and I wholeheartedly agree!! According to their website, the space is 10,000 square feet and features contemporary art (of emerging, mid-career and established artists). At the time of the visit (June 2016), significant other noticed a piece (also located in New York City in the Time Warner building)! Talk about a little bit of NYC in San Diego; makes us miss NYC a little less. Woot Woot! There are some other interesting pieces that "spoke" to significant other and I including a stairway that went to nowhere. Impressive collection. Great place to feel inspired and motivated! Link: - Current Exhibitions - http://www.madisongalleries.com/exhibitions-current/

Friendly staff, knowledgeable about art and artists. I have been in here a few times since they…read moreopened, but my first time reviewing. They carry modern to contemporary works. They also can get just about any world available work or artist representation you would need. If you are looking for a representative work for a wall in your La Jolla home, certainly check out the Madison Gallery. and or If you are looking for a late night spot to deck away during the cold.. certainly check out the Madison Gallery. There is no charge to look and be inspired.

Alright. I don't know if Jeff is the man or not we didn't get too distracted from the wheel…read more I booked a class at Art Wheel for a weekday afternoon. When I showed up I was pleasantly surprised by the space, and the outdoor studio vibe. I was quickly driven to the various pottery he had laying around. He quickly instructed me and another student on how things would work. We started working on the wheel as he quickly moved through wheel throwing and techniques. I took a beginner class. I'm a true beginner (never done this before) I would NOT recommend his beginner classes to true beginners. It's not something that you can just figure out. And, if the instructor has a lot of experience (as he does) they don't always know how to slow down and or give clear instructions. Nothing against Jeff and his M.O. I simply wouldn't take his class again. I felt ignored in his class. For a long moment he was talking directly to the other student (she had significant more experience than me) and completely disregarding me. You really shouldn't be teaching a beginner class if its easier for you to teach advanced students. We are paying the same amount of money as the advanced students, and you are given them more of your time (when in fact they need less of your time). Sure, your job might be more fun, teaching advanced students. So you have to think about that as a business owner. I had to speak up and say "Hey! You are speaking directly to her, there are two of us here, we paid the same amount of money to be here!" he redirected his approach-ish. Not all artists are good teachers. Not all good teachers are artists (thank god). This instructor is not for me. On a positive note, he has an immense collection of pottery which has been created by him and or left behind by students. I mean this man could open a store. I bought a beautiful bowl that I use daily for my ceremonial matcha. It's so beautiful and I do thank him for that!

Good one time experience and I would recommend only if you purchase a Groupon with an extra promo…read moreor sale along with it. The instructor did his best to assist and accommodate all of us, but he is definitely not a people person and wasn't the best instructor. Often times when a student would ask for help, instead of instructing, he would just take over for the student, which would frustrate them, considering we did pay to learn. Jeff informed us that coloring/firing our projects would be a few weeks but we didn't get an email about the projects being ready for pick up until a month later. When I arrived, all of the pieces were shoved into a big bucket and I had to go through the entire bucket and dig for my pieces, which contained pieces from several different dates. When I got to the bottom of the bucket, I noticed pieces that were broken in half! I think it would be helpful if pieces are separated by date and if there is a better system where the pieces or organized piece by piece, and not stacked all over on top of each other. If people aren't careful while digging through the bucket, your pieces could break before you even pick them up! The finish on our pieces are okay, slightly better than expected. But there was white paint all over one of my black pieces. I read from previous reviews that if you wanted to color/fire your pieces, you had to pay $3 each, which is terrible. But, we were able to color/fire 2 pieces that were included, and each extra piece after that was $3, which is completely fair. Overall, I'm happy I made the decision to take this class and would recommend.

Great art from a wonderful local artist. Stop in and pick something up to beautify your space... I…read morehave 4 pieces and love looking at gem every day!

When I first met Mee and visited her Gallery- I immediately eyed and could not stop thinking of…read more Blue Breath of Nature. Being a passionate lover of being on the water, an avid swimmer and a scuba diver it spoke to me. Several years later- I bought the original. I gladly paid asking price and would have never thought to ask for a "better price". I have since added her Aluminums, Steel Rounds, and Framed Reprints. Her art is breath-taking. She pours her heart, soul, mind, imagination and then finally her talent as a LIFE LONG Passion (& Wayne State MFA Educated Artist) -to bring an image to canvas. Art isn't for everyone & Mee's Gallery is free admission to view her heart, soul, and lifelong passion. She's been in same location for 13+ years. Not many businesses- who make millions, and millions more- can even say that - especially on India Street. Please don't ask for discounts when she spends at times months on a piece or you don't understand the background details to create such an image. Don't ask for pricing favors- like no tax- Mee Shim has to pay it on sales & so should you as buyer. And lastly- don't be rude, loud, obnoxious, disregarding her posting for "No Photos". Again this is her heart and soul- and she is an open, free Gallery for people to admire and perhaps grow with seeing her works. If you Love her Art- Tell Her, and Purchase an Original. If you don't connect, the open door you came thru is still open to leave thru. Be KIND- It will be better Karma than some Negative One Star Review you provide- and most important remember- The entire experience is Zero COST to you whether you loved it or otherwise. Her Gallery is a welcomed break from the hustle of restaurants, and Her Passion and Enthusiasm surround the visitor. Please visit- you'll be glad you did.

I've always had an interest in tufting. Being a crafty person myself, I'm always down to challenge…read moremyself and try something new. My partner and I decided to take a tufting class with Nick and it was such an awesome experience! Nick is very knowledgeable about the world of tufting and offers a positive, laid back approach to diving into this craft, whether it's for fun or to make tufting into a small business venture. Nick thoroughly walked us through the steps of making a rug and offered suggestions throughout the entire process. I was able to pick his brain to really understand his process of creating rugs and what it takes to create perfect lines, how to carve and shave to create dimension, and even how fabric selections can alter the appearance and the feel of the rug. I've learned so much from the classes I've taken under Nick's instruction. To this day, I'm still tufting and improving my craft (and still bother Nick from time to time on Instagram :) ). I even completed my first commission recently! Seriously, take a class with Nick and absorb as much information as you can. Whether you're serious about perfecting your skills or just want a fun date idea, don't hesitate to book a class! It's so worth it! Not to mention, you get a pretty awesome piece of artwork that you can say you made yourself.

So much fun learning from Nick! He knows what he's doing and is patient with beginners. Was taught…read morewith 0 experience and still got to make something super cool with his guidance. Recommend this class to anyone! Definitely good for a date, fun thing to do with some friends, or if you want to just turn a design into a rug. 10/10!

Wow I've come here a few times now in the past couple of years! The first time we came here was…read morejust stumbling around from being in the area. We came back again because they were advertising their free admission online. What better pastime activity than to be viewing some great watercolor art by local artists. This spot is in Liberty Station, which is in general a hub surrounded by so many amazing things to view and see. This is a great free spot to go to in the afternoon (I believe they are only open 11am-3pm most days). You can park next to the building or in their lots. Planes fly overhead pretty often since you're near the airport. Inside, there's usually an activity you can do where you can cast a vote to which pieces are your top ones. You can see which pieces have the honor of being first place with the badges. The people at the front desk are always incredibly friendly and welcoming. You can spend a good 15 minutes here to take a look at each piece!

I was just having a day with my mom and sister. Walking about and darting in and out of different…read morestores and businesses at Liberty station when we stumbled upon this place. We weren't initially going to go in but the people at the front desk beckoned us in and with a warm smile and the word "free" we decided to come in. It was much bigger than we thought. Ended up spending about 40 minutes here as we looked at and immersed ourselves with the international art pieces that were on display this month. Every month there's a new exhibit and a competition (you get to vote for your favorite piece on a slip of paper and caste your vote in a box in the front of the business). There's two ish rooms with pieces on the dividers and on the walls. It's bright and airy place. Pieces are available for purchase and they range from 500 dollars up to 3k and more.

Went to a fun comedy event at IN Gallery in Logan and was blown away by the high caliber of Irina's…read moreart. The pieces that she had on display this time were mostly of women underwater, rendered in captivating, flowing detail with an excellent eye for color contrast and ability to play with light in the oil medium. There were several other artists' work on display as well, even a few children's pieces, which added a lively feeling to the space. Irina is very personable and took the time to answer questions, explain to me and my artist guest the details of her creative process, and even generously providing him with some helpful tips on taking his craft to the next level. Can't wait for the Sensuality show in December, another great opportunity to support local artists and enjoy a sumptuous visual experience.

The IN Gallery is located in Barrio Logan, a hip up and coming area next to Gaslamp district, Petco…read morePark and the Convention Center. The place is like a surreal experience of warmth, love and light. Irina's paintings are vibrant and expressive, reminiscent of the happy childlike freedom we all long for. Brilliant reds and blues, water, dancing, sensual female bodies in all their glory! Irina is a master at expressing light and movement in underwater scenes, her work is so life like and ethereal. Looking through the canvas, I am transported to a happy place of pure bliss! There are monthly events at the gallery, with live Jazz, various guest artists with their beautiful art on display, tacos, bar, and lots of beautiful people. In this crazy rushed world of instant gratification and computer generated illusions, taking the time to savor these painstakingly created labors of love is a good nourishment for the soul. Check it out. You will not be disappointed.

What a lovely little gem! All the pottery here is so impressive! You can really tell all the…read moreartists care deeply about their Work. It was also lovely to talk to one of the potters who worked there. They were kind enough to spend about an hour talking with me and my friend about various things, and it felt like we had a community while visiting San Diego for a day. Will definitely drop by again if I'm in the area.

A little gem in the Balboa Park Spanish Village. You will find local artists' potteries. I love the…read morevariety of styles and items. Prices are fair, some unique/large pieces can be expensive but worth it. Great place to visit over and over again as they never have the same thing in the store.