I have been taking hand building classes at the studio and discovered a passion I didn't even know…read moreI had. The flexible open studio schedule allows me plenty of time to explore independently. Everyone there is really friendly and encouraging. The classes aren't cheap but the cost seems on par with other studios in the Bay Area, For me, it's well worth the price.

I recently took the 6-week Intermediate class with Miki on Wednesday evenings and had a really…read moregreat experience! In this class, we made: - a set of stacked bowls - salad/ramen bowls - lidded forms - tall vases formed by stacking two sections - hand built teapots I've taken classes at a few studios and there were a few things that were different about this studio compared to other studios where I've taken classes: - Clay was included and our class shared bags of Bmix and recycled clay. - Open studio hours were $50 extra and hours are dependent on the class you're taking. Ours was weekdays before 6 PM and weekends between 1:30-7 PM. - There's plenty of shelving at this studio but you need to add stickers to green ware with your name and class code. - After the class ends, they store finished pieces in boxes on a shelf to make room for the next class. I loved that they had test tiles for every combo of glazes! I also love the Google Drive they have for students to share pictures of their favorite glaze combos. My personal favorite glaze combos were: - Hyacinth under Koke Blush - Hyacinth under Castile Blue - Hyacinth under Burnt Caramel - Cappuccino under Lunar Grey - Cappuccino under Hyacinth - Cappuccino under Coral Spice - Cappuccino under Koke Blush - Cappuccino under Castile Blue - Lunar Gray under Kelp Forest

Had our 4 year old's birthday party here... Possibly the…read morebest place to have a unique birthday party - saving us the hassle of cleanup as well. Love Lisa and her patience and engagement with the kiddos.

On a whim, I signed up for a handbuilding class through the City of Cupertino. I have not yet…read morecompleted my projects. However, it is becoming the highlight of my week as it takes me out of my professional role and mother of twins. It is at least 2 hours of protected time without judgment and let's me work off stress thru the arts. We recently completed a pumpkin session that involved the children. My 6 year olds made it chaotic. Even tho I found it stressful juggling myself & the twins, I was appreciative of the session & look forward to the next ones for the same reasons as the above. I was grateful for Lisa's incredible patience and empathy. I look forward to continuing this new hobby!

In response to Maria: I have no incentive nor desire to mislead readers. I am telling the truth…read moreabout my experience with your business. Respectfully, within our exchanges, you did not address my concerns, you doubled-down and responded in a defensive way, as you are doing in your response here. You responded to what you thought my concerns were, and sent the complaint directly to the teacher with no context, leading to a situation wherein my concern was not only not addressed, it was inflamed and taken out of context. It felt like being ganged up on. The difference in the public response here, however, is the apology. Offering to essentially boot us from the class is not akin to working with us towards a solution to keep us as customers. It reads as, "my way or the highway", which is not exactly a great way to deal with children and families. Notably inappropriate is also posting the status of my payment method on a globally public thread. Highly unprofessional. It shouldn't matter, since you were going to refund me anyway. I did not receive an email beforehand that the card didn't go through, either. We have been attending classes at this location for months with no issue with payment, and attended one class that I found out through this exchange was unpaid for due to a card being compromised. Is it not your job to inform people when their payment doesn't go through? Why did you deem it important to publicly shame/blast someone for their payment information? Very odd.

I've attended multiple classes for over a year here. Masha and Maria are dedicated and patient…read moreteachers. They're honest (psst.. it's constructive criticism) and enthusiastic to teach and show of what they know. The last course I took was the Human Anatomy and that was advanced but a ton of fun and a good amount of knowledge has been learned and applied when I'm no longer in class. I'm looking forward to continuing here. Thank you Maria and Masha!

I recently began painting under the warm and inspiring guidance of Shubhada. Shubhada is an…read moreincredibly calm, patient, and creative teacher. She guides you step-by-step, gently helping you discover the artist within. Her art room is filled with the soothing sounds of melodious music, surrounded by her stunning paintings, and energized by a wonderful fellow learners. It's not just a class; it's a retreat. Every session is a perfect blend of creativity, relaxation, fun, and laughter. I've cherished every moment learning with her. If you're looking to explore your artistic side while unwinding in a positive, joyful space--Art n Fun with Shubhs is the place to be! Written by Trupti Nangare

We had a wonderful experience at ANFS with Shubhs. She set up an amazingly relaxing environment for…read moreus to paint together, and even went the extra mile to decorate for Valentine's Day. We did the private session, so it was just us and Shubhs, and she made sure we were both comfortable to be ourselves and to maintain a positive attitude. We started off with writing positive affirmations for the painting session, and then we got to choose what we wanted to paint from the many examples she had on the wall. She was super flexible in what we wanted to paint, and even let us paint something that was not one of the examples. During the painting process, she sat with us and taught us step by step what to do to create a beautiful, and well blended painting. Throughout the whole process she was very patient and encouraging, which was so lovely as a beginner painter. She offered snacks and music changes, which made the experience even more personal.

Alan is one of the best art teachers I've met in the Bay area. He provides very thorough insights…read moreand tips on improving your skills and always goes above and beyond. I really enjoy going to his studio and would recommend anyone of all ages to try out a class.

This is an AWESOME studio!!! And why? Because the teacher, Alan Chan, is awesome!!! He is an…read moreaccomplished and inspired artist that understands the mix of soul and medium. In addition he is a remarkable teacher of ALL ages! As I hear him speak to his students with such patience, calm, insight and knowing he always teaches me much more of "where the paint goes"! His students all respect and love him! If you are looking for just that right art teacher, you just found the place!

I started taking classes at the Institute a couple of years ago and the only disappointment is why…read moreit took me so long. One of my favorite things about Bill Fredlund's lectures is how art is weaved through the narrative of history. Bill not only explains how painting and sculpture evolves, but why it does so based on what was happening in society at the time. Oh, and the goodies are often worth the price of admission. John D.

Silicon Valley is a world where 60-hour work weeks are the norm. Burn-out, exhaustion, and…read moreintellectual dullness are inevitable side-effects. What's a person to do??! Well, I found myself in that very state about five years ago. I knew I just had to find a way to escape a work-focused and technology over-dosed life and engage in something different/interesting. A friend suggested I accompany her to "a class at "The Institute" and when my plans changed unexpectedly one weekend, I decided to say "yes." It was one of the best decisions I've ever made! I have always had an interest in learning and education however, I really wasn't interested in adding any additional pressure to my life by taking traditional university courses (tests, papers, etc, YUCK!). The Institute has a completely different philosophy. It fits perfectly into my busy lifestyle! I've been attending classes, one night a week, ever since that first introductory class. I've learned so much and am earning UCSC course credits without the angst of final exams and term papers. It's helped to put some balance into my life - something for which I'm very, very grateful. Dr. Bill Fredlund makes each class not only interesting but FUN! Stanford should be proud they've produced such a brilliant, charismatic and entertaining professor! An added benefit is getting to know the people who attend classes at The Institute. I've made many new friends and have even made a trip, this past fall, to Amsterdam with one of my new friends. We saw many of the art works and historical sites that we had previously studied. And one more perk - every class is held in a casual and somewhat homey atmosphere. No stuffy classroom-like set-up here. There's always coffee, tea, wine and tasty treats to share - and a break half way through the lecture during which the class gathers casually to eat and drink and get to know one another. I cannot imagine NOT continuing to take classes at The Institute for at least another five years. Please don't miss out on an amazing opportunity to experience history, art, philosophy, cultural economics and all other aspects of Western Civilization. There's nothing else in the area that comes close to this unique, fun and life-enriching environment. I guarantee that you'll be hooked as well!

Yelena is a wonderful art teacher. She is full of energy, fun, creative, and absolutely great with…read morekids. She works with a variety of materials and introduces her students to different styles and techniques, always making the learning process enjoyable and easy to follow. Most importantly, Yelena truly understands children and loves working with them. She knows how to find an individual approach to every child. My daughter took both private and group classes with Yelena for several years. She made amazing progress, and her experience with Yelena was extremely positive. And you know what? After watching the way Yelena teaches children, I wanted to take classes with her myself! For the past two years, I have invited my friends to Yelena's home for a group art party, and we've had a wonderful time painting, learning, and being creative together. I highly recommend Yelena as an art teacher. She is talented, caring, creative, and has a wonderful ability to bring out the best in her students.

I signed up my son for art classes with Lena, he has been enjoying going to her and coming back…read morewith beautiful fun creations. She is a very fun and creative teacher and has a nice energy for kids and keeps them entertained with each class activities. I highly recommend both her kids and adults classes!!

This art center has an excellent environment and a creative atmosphere. I will be going to visit…read moreRainbow art studio again .

A gem for budding artists where they get not only a very organized curriculum but also TLC for them…read moreto develop thr much needed confidence for their talent to flourish.