The kids have SO. MUCH. FUN. I'm impressed!…read more SFCAC does such a great job with their children's art classes and parties, and I'd highly recommend you check them out at the Fort Mason. As an amateur artist myself and someone who grew up going to art classes, I'd say SFCAC is hard to beat in learning, fun, and value. I love that it is focused on what kids discover in the act of creating art over the final product (although it's always nice to have something neat to hang on your fridge!). The classes are process-oriented and encourage kids to explore the materials in a very hands-on way. The teaching staff is wonderful and attentive, and they really understand how to engage with kids during these critical developmental stages. Their small classes mean lots of individual attention! Also side perk that it's located at the Fort Mason, which is super convenient with easy parking. The studio is charming and not pristine-perfect, so you can tell that lots of creativity happens there! They also offer to host birthday parties on the weekends, so your kids can bring in their friends for a fun art making session while you sip on some wine or head over to Off The Grid. Such an easy and cost-effective way to throw an party :) I'd definitely check them out!!

The SFCAC has been at Fort Mason since 1978. As a former employee and current volunteer I can vouch…read morefor the staff's committment to providing a unique child-centered processed oriented art experience. Gail Tarantino has been teaching at the Art Center for nearly 20 years. Her capabilities range from her amazing capability of engaging 22 months olds in the artmaking experience and creating thought provoking projects for children up to age 12. She then passes on her expertise to other staff. I would highly recommend the Children's Art Center to any parents with children ages 2 to 12. Scholarships are available so if financial hardship is a concern you can apply for scholarships. Private classes and custom classes for homeschooled children are also available. Please feel free to email me with any questions :) -Natasha

I came here for an art class with some of my friends. I had a great time painting a sunflower…read more Suzie was very attentive to all of us. Worth every penny.

Enrolled my child in summer classes. Instructors seem knowledgeable and fully engaged with the…read morestudents. The owner/teacher is always willing to answer questions and has an array services for adults as well (unfortunately, I don't have no artistic abilities whatsoever. Lol).

I bought this DIY clay set from C.C. Arts studio. My 2.5…read moreyear old son love it. He enjoy the texture and mixing up all different color. And I had a great time to finish this art work with him. Highly recommend their dry clay, you can feel the different by rolling them together. Also, no wired smell and sticky texture. As I know they only use non toxic clay and environment friendly grade. This DIY kit Set also come with Chinese calligraphy template paper, very worth to buy. And I am very satisfy. Thank you!

My child has been learning in this studio for more than a year, and I am very lucky to meet such a…read moregood teacher, who will guide children to draw with their own ideas. There will be themed activities in every festival, such as the past Halloween, where children are asked to draw on a blank wooden box, then paint it with relevant colors, and finally decorate it with colored plasticine, which is a very novel idea. The kids love it, too. Another example is to prepare for Christmas, the teacher lets the child paint on a blank Christmas stocking, painted with the child's favorite color, to give the child an unforgettable childhood memory. As a mother, I also like this studio very much, because I can see the results of children's efforts and their willingness to learn.

My 5 year old went to Spring break Art camp at Art Nook SF and he COULD NOT STOP talking about it…read morefor days!! He loves art, but he especially loved this experience so much that he was asking me if it's possible to continue it during the weekend and the following week instead of going back to school :D The kids got plenty of outdoor time, visited a museum and made so many amazing DIY things ranging from keychains, bead necklaces, lanterns, soap(!), coasters, badges, stamps (yes, *made* stamps - I didn't even know this was possible), bookmarks, paintings along with a frame, sketches at the museum, an easter bunny house, and a bunch more things! Of course, he would come back with a whole range of DIY crafts each day, but more importantly, with such enriching experiences that he would narrate to me in a great level of detail - how they went to a new park, drew paintings at the museum, tried a jigsaw puzzle that was too hard, how you need to be safe by wearing protecting gloves, what the protocol is if you see a coyote and on and on...this is what I mean when I said he wouldn't stop talking about it! Clearly, Najin takes great care in ensuring that the kids are safe, yet engaged and always learning. While he didn't get to go close to any equipment, my son knew exactly what happened when the clay was baked in the oven or the beads were ironed over so he got to observe and learn. We also got tons of great pictures and updates from Najin for the camp. My son will definitely be going back here again!

My six-year-old daughter has described the week-long summer camp she is attending at Art Nook as…read more"epic." After the first day, she asked if she could sign up for after care so that she could spend more time there. I can see her creativity, sense of composition, comfort using different materials, and growth as an artist all taking off this week. She has become more confident and is so excited to learn every day. Najin is warm, kind, and a wonderful teacher, as well as a talented artist. I am so thrilled to have found this new gem!

My daughter is absolutely obsessed with Young Art Studio! We've always known she had a creative…read morespark, but it wasn't until she started classes here that we really saw her artistic side blossom. She looks forward to class every single week! Julia, the owner, is not only an incredibly talented artist but also a truly gifted teacher. She's so patient and encouraging with the kids, and our daughter has learned so much under her guidance. Each class is thoughtfully structured into two parts -- drawing/painting and then clay molding -- which keeps the kids engaged and excited. The mix of ages has also been wonderful, as our daughter (one of the youngest) learns so much from watching the older students. We couldn't recommend Young Art Studio more for any child who loves to create and express themselves through art!

I came here when I was 7 years old, and now 10 years later, I can say that Young Artist Studio has…read morebeen one of the best parts of my life. This place is honestly like a second home to me. Im off to college now but I will always be back to visit. A huge part of why I love this place is so much is because of the teacher, Julia. She is the most supportive and kindest people I have ever met. She will give you the best advice on how to approach a drawing and she knows exactly how to help you grow as an artist. She celebrates every little improvement and reminds you that mistakes are just part of the process. Over the many years I have been at this studio, I have learned so many new techniques. But most importantly, I learned to believe in myself because Julia always believed in me, even when I doubted myself. One of my favorite memories is of a black and white drawing I did of a girl. I was scared to start it at first because I didn't have the confidence. I didn't think I was capable of making it look good but Julia encouraged me to just try it because she believed I could. I trusted her and I'm so glad I did because that drawing turned out amazing. It's one of my favorite pieces to this day. I'm so grateful for everything Julia has done for me. Thank you for believing in me and helping me grow. You've made such a big difference in my life. Truly the best teacher and friend I could ever ask for. I love you so much Julia.

If you're looking for an art summer camp or after school program, look no more. Artifact is THE…read moreplace to go. My kids have been going since they were in preschool and I have to say I single-handedly credit Lauren for my kids' interest in and competence at art. The pieces they have produced over the years are mind blowing for their age, and Lauren's creativity is off the charts. She simply knows how to keep kids engaged, no matter the age or gender. She can pivot programs to tailor kids' interests like no other. Truly impressive place and such a positive contribution to society. When my kids went to Paris last year and insisted to going to the Picasso museum over anything else, I almost cried from joy. Thank you Lauren! We love you.

The owner, Lauren, was very generous with us when my son was three years old and just starting art…read moreclasses. He's taken many classes at Sharon Art Studio since, as well as one at Fort Mason and one at Chris Babcock's Art Studio. My absolute favorite piece of his is his first painting, a self-portrait "Picasso" that he made at ARTifact when he was three. He still remembers the monster truck piece and was just talking about it the other night (!). We will definitely be back to ARTifact. Thank you so much, Lauren!

My 6 year old daughter has been attending Xing Xing Art since she was 5. Sean has been a wonderful,…read morekind and flexible instructor. My daughter started with color pencil sketches progressed to pastel drawings, and is currently working on watercolor paintings. She always looks forward to going to class each week. I love how there are so many class slots, and appreciate the flexible make-up policy. Sean is also very easy to work with and a patient instructor. My daughter also wanted to write a review: Xing Xing Art is amazing and fun because you learn skills in the art class and Sean (the teacher) is very nice! I think this is the best art class you can ever imagine and if you love art it will be a fun place to go. I have been here for over a year so I know. I recommend to go to this school because if you love art like me, this school will make you happy. I think Xing Xing Art earns 5/5 stars and more.

Sean is an amazing art teacher! He has a strong background in so many different mediums including…read morewater color, pastel, sketch, and oil painting. I have been at his studio for more than 8 years and he has always been a supportive and patient teacher. The classes are informative and fun having the option to choose from so many drawings to paint. He was also able to help me get into a local art high school, Ruth Asawa SOTA by preparing me for the drawings and having me practice. Would 100% recommend this art studio!

The artist Sirron has a bad attitude that is intolerant, bigoted and worst of all, unprofessional…read more Here's the story: I came to this artist in order to have a cover done for my upcoming book about blowing the whistle on Google. Everything was going ok however, at some point Sirron asked if I had "conservative" ideals. I was taken aback a bit, but I answered honestly that I said that I am conservative, due to my experience being inside of Google and how I saw them become evil and how I'm trying to stop their agenda. He literally then goes into a tirade about how everyone who's conservative is evil, and how whites have ruined the planet and how I should move out of San Francisco because no one wants conservatives here, and how he will never work with anyone who is a conservative -- Wow. Really unprofessional attitude. And just to set the record clear, I didn't insult Sirron or anything like that. He just tore into me because he wanted to. He could have just been professional and declined the work offer, thus avoided sharing his intolerant, prejudicial and inflammatory remarks. But nope. I really wish I had recorded the conversation somehow because this sort of encounter would have gone viral on social media. Seriously, it was that bad. Other's be warned!

I'm surprised nobody did a review after that amazing opening last night and I'm even more surprised…read moreI have a first review in San Francisco! Sirron Norris' new space is bright and welcoming. The characters are very fun - big blue bears, fat cats, and living cityscapes all in vibrant colors. 2010 is going to be Sirron's year. He's creating a global brand right here in the mission - murals, prints, shirts, hoodies, wallplates, and he's even done his own video game! Stay tuned for more fun stuff coming out of this studio!