This was a great experience! I signed up for a hand building class and I had so much fun! Can't…read morewait to use it! I was able to make a vase for my plants and it came out super cool with the guidance of the instructor. She was wonderful and so patient and had great tips for techniques. The place is small so not for a giant group but great for dares or just something to do with family or friends. In the front you can get a drink or snacks, and they have little trinkets you can buy. Great for last minute gifts or need a gift idea, definitely stop by here. Anyone wanted to build pieces with clay should definitely try Elly's place.

My friend hosted a small birthday pottery painting activity, and Elly's far exceeded my…read moreexpectations. They have a cafe in the front and a cozy section for the pottery activities in the back with a plethora of cute pieces you can choose to paint. For our reservation, they had all the tools/paints/brushes/aprons ready for our group. The owner was very friendly and walked us through how to paint our pieces. 100% amazing local spot - affordable prices, great vibes - I would definitely come back for another session and check out their other art offerings!

The pictures alone tell a story that ALL should be a part of. In a perfect world there will be…read moreworkshops teaching kids to play an active part in the celebration of cultures around the world, taking part in festivities, using their art to pay homage to cultures through decoration , costumes, and education. I love the potential of this place.

We've me and my brother Tom has been to this place a long time ago my brother loved this art class…read more We miss Mr.Chadney!

It's so funny that I joined the pottery class thinking that it would be a relaxing activity as a…read moretotal beginner. I was so wrong, but in a good way. There's a lot of technique and skill that will require your understanding, attention and intention to get things going. Be kind and patient with yourself, and remember that practice makes perfect. The teacher is also very encouraging and helpful. I was having some trouble finding balance with how much pressure to use and in which angles to apply them and her patience and continued instruction while I tried to figure it out was very much appreciated. There was a moment when it finally clicked and I made 6 pieces that day, and she was genuinely happy and proud of me for not giving up and that feeling had me floating for the rest of the day. It's 3 hours of labor where you get to use your hands to learn, create and play. You also get studio hours with your package so you can come back in your own time to practice. It's an arduous hobby to pick up, but I'm sure in time it would grow into a calming and therapeutic one. I'm grateful for the experience and I definitely recommend. You might not look like those people in the movies that make it look all artsy and romantic, but in time you definitely might haha ;)

I took a pottery wheel class at AlterWork Studios in February. The class was intimate (only 6…read morepeople), informative, and fun. There was a ton of one-on-one instruction, and our instructor was able to tailor her teaching to each person based on their background, skills, and interest. Everyone left with several completed pots, bowls, or mugs after the class!

Mrs. Ma is a great artist and teacher. She is also very honest and straightforward about her…read morestudio's policies and schedules. Mrs. Ma has high expectations but every professional does. She is very caring and has a heart of gold. I have always appreciated her candor and her hard work and dedication to the world of art and education. My children have taken lessons from her studio for years and it was always a positive experience. There are other art teachers that work during various times of the year so there are different perspectives as well. If anyone is truly interested in a real quality art experience for their child, they can schedule a trial class. Sometimes it's about the fit between teacher and student.

Mrs. Ma is the most talented and hardworking teacher I have ever met. When she teaches, she puts…read morenot only an immense amount of time and care into her students in art, but also their lives in building children in general. Her teachings and classes have shaped many children's lives and produced very diligent and creative thinkers. Some students have gone to prestigious art high schools and colleges, and won art competitions with Mrs. Ma's help. Others students who just thought of art as a hobby, were able to open their minds and gain new experiences through art. Mrs. Ma has taught me much not only about art but also about myself as a person. Many of my friends who took classes had great experiences. She really cares about her students! I implore those interested to visit in person. The studio has an annual art show which showcase all of the wonderful art the students make. Stop by and talk with Mrs. Ma; or you can check her website and facebook page. I also noticed there are reviews that are "not recommended" but were written by her students, so feel free to read those as well

I love painting pottery stores. There aren't many of them anymore. So I was happy when I found Mud…read moreGenius in Bayside. This store is a little small. So when the place is full or there's a lot of kids, it can be noisy. But it's too be expected. There's also a couple small dogs in the store. They keep to themselves. They had a decent selection of pottery to choose from. However, I think we wished there was a little more. We wanted to paint some of the marvel characters that we saw in a picture and also saw as a finished product on the shelf, but they were sold out. It's $8 to sit and then the price of the pottery on top of it. It's not cheap, but you're paying for the entertainment of it, the experience and memories, as well as, bringing home a one of a kind painted pottery. Additionally, there's a credit card fee if you pay with credit card. So I opted to pay in cash. Owners/staff are friendly. The staff offered suggestions on how to start painting (e.g. sketching out my design with a pencil first). But be patient, the owners have broken English. It didn't bother me, but I could see how it may be frustrating for others. Overall, we had a nice time at Mud Genius.

I wanted to like this place. After all, there are few paint-your-own-pottery places left as any…read morequick Google search will tell you. Sadly it was a frustrating experience and I am left wondering if it's this place only functions when the wife of the husband/wife team is at the helm. When she appeared she at least made an effort at customer friendliness. We went in on a weekday. I asked for an ice cream bowl. The husband's owner pointed to the shelves. I said I looked and could he help. He pointed to them again. No help. Sigh. I pick out a big item for my 8-year-old. We sit down. He proceeds to lecture my kid on using a big brush so he will finish faster. Is fast the goal here? It was overbearing and he didn't get any social cues to back off. More people come in -- a 5 and 8-year-old. He insists they sit together even though there's plenty of space because as he says: "this way I don't have to keep walking back and forth." It's a small shop people. Now we are crowded next to a 5-year-old who has ants in his pants and is ready to climb the walls. Relaxing it was not. Then there's the dog, which they keep in the store. I don't mind dogs, but some do. One such customer said her kid was afraid and could they put the dog away. He is put in the back only to keep coming back out or yap. Now we have to listen to the drama unfolding. But, I think the final straw, after enduring all this was that when I asked for a fine point brush because all the brushes out had bristles that were worn out I was informed customers ruined them so that's what they had. The message here: We can't have nice things and neither can you. I get kids are the main customers but it's an art shop and I KNOW brushes are not that expensive that you can't keep some aside for adults who are trying to do some more detailed work. So, no, it wasn't much fun, and it was sure as hell not relaxing. We won't be back.

Allure Art Studio recently relocated from Jamaica Avenue to Linden Boulevard, and the new space is…read morea major upgrade. It is still conveniently close to the original location but significantly more spacious and comfortable, which really enhances the overall experience. The studio is a Black& woman owned business, and the owner was professional, welcoming, and very clear with her instructions throughout the session. I appreciated how easy it was to follow her directions while painting on canvas, which made the experience enjoyable and stress-free even for someone without a strong art background. This is a great creative space and a business well worth supporting.

MGHSPSA NY CHAPTER recommends Allure Art Studio in Jamaica, Queens NY. Amy, owner/operator is a…read morewonderful and personable hostess. We had our Meet and Greet for the Chapter there last night and she did a phenomenal job in keeping everyone engaged and entertained. Love her energy.... Kudos to Amy and Allure Art Studio

MorningSun Art school is fantastic. They're a family owned business and they really take the time…read moreto get to know you, which is why I've been going to them for years. They really push you to improve your skills and help increase your confidence and creativity. They help you establish crucial foundations in composition, color theory, shading, working with different media, and more. No matter what you hope to do with art/ design, they help you work towards your goals and aim high. I've never met art teachers who believe in you more. They also help you prepare your portfolio so that it's polished and representative of your skill and artful eye. I feel much more confident with my art skills and I am glad I have solid foundations. They also help propel your skills even higher so that you never feel like you've plateaued. Additionally, their supplies are high grade and they help you feel proud of your work. I felt like I got better each time I went. I highly recommend going here if you want to become a more confident artist!

From the owner: The MorningSun Art School program, founded in 2006, was developed to foster creativity. We…read moreencourage artistic expression and experimentation in order to develop confidence and out of the box thinking. The program teaches traditional, classic, and contemporary art techniques, which include skills such as painting and drawing. We cater toward students who wish to master analytical skills, develop a great work ethic, and excel in the visual arts. We offer classes for children and adolescents. For children, we teach drawing, painting, and other art fundamentals. Adolescents work on their portfolios in preparation for testing into Specialized Art High Schools and for applying to College.

We took two knife making classes here on consecutive Saturdays... wow, what memorable, fun and…read morerewarding experiences! I was clueless but excited and we dove in to the process. The teachers were all incredibly patient and helpful and let us do our thing, but guided us the appropriate amount. We now have amazing custom knives built by our own two hands! But, even better, we have this experience together! Life is good when you try something new!

This is a nice date night experience…read more Sorry for my late review work has been really busy but I didn't forget to write an honest review based on our experience. I booked a late Father's Day gift for my husband took him to the up-cycle Game Boy class. We love playing games together so I booked it for each of us to get a game boy in the end. You are given the opportunity of picking which gameboy you are going to repair, and you do all the work. You take it apart clean it dry it put it in a I believe was a laser cutter, You customize it and set you up your speaker, screen and motherboard. You get the full experience. He really loved it and so did I, I am not experienced at all in welding or anything like that and the instructors were so helpful and knowledgeable. The way the walk you through it was really helpful to the point I was able to memorize the steps and retake apart the game boy to replace a piece that was oxidized. Don't worry the staff will help you if you're second guessing your ability to do this lol. The best part in the end is you keep it. ^_^ I highly recommend this 1 day class it was very helpful informative and fun. I will be coming back to try to make the survival knife next lol.

Had my daughter's 4th birthday there yesterday and it was 2 hours well spent! We all had an amazing…read moretime. Perfect size location for a private event. Not too big or too small. Parents are able to see what their kids are up to and the kids are having a good time. They have a play area, some arcade games, activities in sectored off rooms at different times of the party. Although the time is running the staff is easy going and doesn't make you feel like anything is rushed. Only 3 staff members handling about 30 Kids and 30 Adults and it just flowed. I got so many compliments from friends about how enjoyable and easy the party was because with 30 young kids things can get crazy. Would definitely recommend and do another event here. They also handle decor, food, and clean up. Any additional things you want to bring is up to you but definitely make it easy to just be present as a parents of the birthday girl.

Celebrated my son's 2nd birthday here today. I loved the service so much, they were accommodating…read moreand really did everything for me which made it less stressful. Decor was 10/10 for the private room. Service from my private host, Luca, was really the best! There was a parking lot as well. Party was booked for 2 hours for 15 kids, and so much was done during that time. Game cards included for kids, character came to visit, kids played around, pizza and beverage for all guest, cotton candy, they got the cake for me, and really good service from staff. Sidebar, everyone loved the pizza. At the end, they cleaned and packed up the gifts for me. Did I mention the good service? lol Definitely made the right choice coming here. Place wasn't too big but definitely clean and organized. Staff communication was great as well before hand. I'd recommend to others.