I have just taken my first class here, and I will definitely be continuing. Elena is a delightful…read moreinstructor. She balances giving guidance with providing her students with the space to work thru their challenges. Her corrections and suggestions are meaningful, clear, and well-presented.

From the owner: Our school’s mission is to teach our students how to draw in the most efficient and impactful way…read more Teaching drawing and painting techniques passed down from the old masters. Become skilled in pencil drawing, charcoal and oil paint. Learn how to see and render form, how to capture light effect and even understand human anatomy like never before through our extended figure studies. Using the Sight-Size method of measurement, learn how to draw and paint Fine Art with precision. Also offering lessons in Digital Artwork and Muraling skills.

Very disappointing experience. There is an old adage: Just because someone knows how to do…read moresomething doesn't mean that he knows how to teach that skill to others. BSOFA is a prime example. A teacher, who, though pleasant, has no ability to teach. I took a beginner's class. (Though except for myself, there were no other beginners in the class. They clearly all had some level of experience.) The teacher would do a twenty-second demonstration (no exaggeration) of something, then expect everyone to immediately know how to do that thing perfectly. It was beyond frustrating. First class, I could tell that I wasn't executing the skill correctly. It was exceedingly obvious that my canvas looked nothing like the other, experienced students' canvases. But though the instructor walked around the table looking at the canvases, for multiple hours, he never said a word about mine. Never proactively provided any constructive criticism. He just let me flounder around for hours without any guidance. (He did interact more with the students who were doing better. There were about eight of us total.) Next class, I decided to make him provide some feedback. (Unsuccessfully, as it turned out.) I would stop him as he walked by, ask him to look at my canvas, and ask for feedback. He was non-committal. (Pleasant, but not helpful.) I would then point out something on the canvas, and say, this isn't right, is it? And he would sort of agree. But he never offered to show me how to do the skill correctly, or provide anything but a vague comment. During that class, I must have stopped him a half-dozen times, if not more, to ask for feedback, but received essentially none. By the third class, I had mostly given up. I listened, trying to glean as much as possible from the twenty-second demonstrations, but unfortunately accepted the reality that the teacher had no ability to actually teach. Again, the teacher was pleasant. But he was also a passive, low-energy person who clearly had zero ability to teach a skill to students. And, oddly, the less experienced the student, the more uncomfortable and non-interactive he became. In a beginner's class. BSOFA makes no sense. Do they not understand? People take classes because they want to learn. They pay good money to attend classes because they want to learn. Allowing a beginner to flounder, with minimal guidance, in a beginner's class is not only unacceptable, but actually a little cruel. BSOFA takes a positive, eager, happy-to-be-there student, and turns her into someone who never wants to experience any of it ever again.

Fantastic school. Instruction for drawing classes is very individualized. Raz keeps everyone's…read morelevel in mind as he helps with drawing and painting. Keep in mind that you will be moving fast. You will do in 4 sessions what would take years in a classical art school. As with everything, to be successful you must commit, practice outside of class even. (If you want to be a good skier you need to practice outside your ski class too). The school gives first class instruction. I am totally addicted to this place. Bravo BFA team! You bring Florence to Boulder.

Framing is an art, craft and a sense of design. Mercury framing does all of this better than anyone…read moreelse. They know what they are doing and glad to leave my name. Nancy Eastman

Have to give a shout out to Lisa and her staff for the stellar job of reframing a piece of art I…read morebrought them. I've been using Mercury for my framing needs for over two decades and they never disappoint. Appreciate the time they take to assist in choosing a frame and never feel rushed. Just amazing all around. Thank you!

I attended Shining Mountain Waldorf School from K-9 and cherish the magical experiences. I fondly…read morerecall the excitement of seeing new chalkboard drawings and hearing captivating stories in the cozy classrooms. Now, my son attends Kindergarten there and formed an instant bond with his teacher (not something that came naturally for him in preschool). Mrs. Cherie exceeds expectations by attending to each child's unique needs. All teachers offer individual care through home visits, parent nights, and meetings. Beyond being a great school, the parent community is enriching, and we're forming lifelong friendships. Some worry Waldorf's academic approach might not prepare students well, but my brothers, also Waldorf graduates, are now a urologist and a researcher at the Max Planck Institute. I'm a life coach with my own business. Success stems from joy in learning, which Waldorf fosters. I urge you to schedule a tour or email me for more insights at wovenwords [at] gmail [dot] com.

Being a part of Shining Mountain Waldorf School's Early Childhood program has been an exceptional…read moreexperience for my daughter and our entire family. My daughter has blossomed into a confident, playful, curious, and adventurous 5-year-old in the loving care of her teachers. The beautiful campus, nestled in the foothills, offers ample opportunity for free play in nature and daily walks to visit the school chickens, gardens, and a nearby lake. Inside the classrooms, natural materials of wood and silk create a beautiful and comforting space to learn and play. Kindergarten classes provide nourishing, organic food to the children daily. Overall, the school has a rich tradition of meaningful festivals that build a thriving school community. We couldn't be happier at Shining Mountain and look forward to continuing through middle school and high school.

I graduated from the Contemplative Education program in 2007. It was an awful experience due.to…read morerampant, unchecked transphobia. The "school's" diversity statement has changed since my day, and now includes transgender protections, so maybe today's students have a tolerable experience. The degree itself opened the way to a PhD program, but never enhanced my employment prospects or improved my understandings of the world. Really, my entire time at Naropa "University" was a big waste of my time and money.

Neat little private university. Came here for my brother's thesis. He was doing a performance as…read morepart of his thesis. It was a small auditorium but perfect setting. Sound and visual was excellent. My brother did an amazing performance and I can watch it again. Thank you for the wonderful experience. My family and I was humbled.