After being inspired by art museums in Spain, I decided to step outside my comfort zone and learn…read moreoil painting. I was so incredibly lucky to find the Art Academy of Somerset County - the instruction is simply fabulous! Halley Murphy is a great instructor, and her teaching method allows her students to see their painting skills progress every week. The class atmosphere is calm and focused, and the quality of the artwork produced by her students is astounding. Both my wife and daughter have enrolled, and we all strongly endorse the Art Academy!

I am actually giving a review for The Art Academy in Chester, NJ which is a painting academy whose…read moreteachings are actually based on The Art Academy in Hillsborough Township but is located in Chester, NJ. Meghan (the owner) is an artist who has been trained by the artist that owns The Art Academy in Hillsborough Township. Meghan's academy is actually a little over a year old and I couldn't find her yet on yelp, so I am putting my review here and hope that's ok. I am an oil painter, and came to The Art Academy in Chester through a referral to Chester school. I have a strong set of skills in oil painting, and have begun to sell my work. I came to Meghan because I wanted to strengthen my foundational skills in the realistic painting style. Meghan is absolutely the strongest and best teacher I have ever had. She has classes for children, adolescents and adults, at all levels. She is so talented in teaching the fundamentals of painting and it has most definitely strengthened my skills, just as I had wanted. She is a master at working with children and adolescents meeting the individual student at their current level, providing a strong education and support in a manner where I've seen children and adolescents blossom into really excellent oil painters. She focuses on teaching values, and color, which are two very important keystones in being able to paint well. She is an absolute gem. As an adult painter, I find her lessons to be critically important and I have seen a great change for the better in my work. If you are looking for an art school that is both wonderfully supportive and highly educational, this is THE place.

I took night classes here and then transitioned into the full time adult program. I have learned so…read moremuch over the past couple years from the invaluable knowledge and expertise of the instructors. I have learned not only a great deal of technical skills but also lots of interesting art history that has shaped art as we know it today. Princeton Academy of Art is a fantastic place to take your art to the next level, regardless of your age! I can't recommend this place enough!

A real gem tucked away on a second floor on Nassau Street. The adult classes build skills - a LOT…read more- and also change the way you see and think about art. A nice space, a positive environment, and (I think) a mind-blowing art education.

I took sewing lessons for well over a year at duCret. Although myb instructor was a competent…read morepattern maker and sewist, we ultimately had a falling out. She really was a rude and nasty misandrist. The unspoken problem appeared to be our differences in politics even though we never discussed these. In fact I bent over backwards to avoid any contoversial subject. I was learning how to hand sew Revolutionary War reenacting garments and it is my opinion she resented this hobby. In addition, she would often make disparaging remarks to me in front of the class. I wrote a complaint letter to program director and never even received the courtesy of a response. Putting my interactions aside, the facility itself is completely run down. The bathrooms are disgusting, the hallways and offices have musty odors, there is no adequte air conditioning during the summer, the exterior grounds are a mess, and the building would likely fail a fire safety inspection. I have subsequently found several superior alternatives.

I was in advanced classes, the school encourages you all the way. Instructors are long term, the…read moremost professional artists that will help you reach your goal. I attended years ago, but the school has assisted well past graduation when I wanted to advance my advertising agency or seeking to further my education they were there to help me succeed in a very competitive field. If your considering art as a profession this is the school. If there were 10 stars it wouldn't be enough.

I have heard great things about the "paint party" concept, but have never done it prior to coming…read moreto the Paint Party Studio. I went with girlfriends & family for part of my cousin's bachelorette party. We had a BLAST! We brought some wine & snacks, and had the best time. Eileen was great to work with to set up the night - and very accommodating. The people that help run/teach the class were awesome - Lucy was so much fun! We are still talking about what a fun night it was. It was more about getting together and doing something different rather than painting something to bring home and hang. Will be back! Thank you for a great experience!

My daughter recently attended a birthday party here where the goal was to make a blanket made of…read moreyarn--great party favor, right! The only issue was that it didn't seem as though enough time was given for 9/10 year olds to successfully complete the task within 2 hours... that also included pizza and birthday cake time... and you know, just having fun! I believe some of the children's attention span wandered... and it was absolutely freezing in there... that didn't help the overall experience on a very cold, raw, rainy January day. Some pros were that there was plenty of parking in front on a Sunday. The assistant, Adrianna, was a very pleasant, helpful gem.. and the blankets (those that were finished) came out really cute and soft. Great idea, a little rusty in the execution.

I went to this school for weekend sketch classes for years. Fernando is one of the best art…read moreinstructors you can have. Not only does he have decades of experience, but he has a way of connecting to students that makes the lessons really stick. Students get a discount on art supplies too, so go ahead and take some weekend sketch classes or enroll in their full time program!

Dave Perkins is an excellent piano tuner. He has tuned our piano for more than 6 years. Our piano…read moresounds terrific and is in great shape.

This is truly a co-op artists gallery. Each show is an eclectic mix of many styles and genres. The…read morepeople involved are interested and form a hub of local creatives, they are welcoming and wonderful. Great place to show your work or buy affordable but quality art.

In my tradition of rating places "for what they are", I give The Art Alliance 5 stars as a co-op…read moreart organization. For a very low annual fee, a new artist can exhibit along side professional artists in wonderful monthly exhibits. Members receive a newsletter that keeps them informed of upcoming exhibits. Their dedicated staff is all composed of volunteers whose commitment shows. A variety of art classes are also available. So, for new artists, this is a great opportunity for you; become a member! For experienced and well established artists; you will be in great company. For art lovers, you can come just to look. There is always a beautiful, fresh, new show hanging in the walls!

My daughter has been attending art classes at Inspired Minds for over a year now. Miss Heather is…read moreabsolutely fantastic!! Not only has she helped my girl to grow as an artist, but she has also given her a comfortable place to go to be completely/authentically herself, to laugh, and to just enjoy life! What a gift for a middle school kid!!

My 6 year old has LOVED his mixed media art classes! He's always excited to go, they let him…read morefree-draw at the beginning of each class, his instructors are the sweetest and so supportive, and the projects he comes home with are absolutely precious! He also loves going to the camp day options when they don't have school! Such a sweet nurturing place for the young artist!

We took a Linocut class with Dawn and Emily and absolutely loved it!…read more I could go on for days about how great Blue Marble Studio and the dynamic duo that runs it are so let me drop as many details as I can below: - beautiful and clean studio with tremendous lighting and good vibes - excellent price for the class - great timing for a class (this one was Saturday afternoon midday) - making art can me intimidating but Dawn and Emily's direction and patience were super empowering - perfect location in Somerville to make a day out of with plenty of shops and places to eat / hangout Blue Marble Studio is a very welcoming environment to all levels of artists and I highly recommend anyone who's interested in learning a new skill or just shopping local art to give them a visit!

Originally found this studio through a yelp event, but plan to come with friends. The owner was a…read morepublic school art teacher, who has a passion for teaching adults. They have one day classes and longer-term workshops that cater to beginners, and those who have been doing art all of their lives. All you have to do is come in with your imagination. They offer acrylic, pouring classes, watercolor, classes, pottery, and more! I believe the classes are a good value for the price and so are the items that are sold within the studio. I highly recommend their handmade earrings.