I have been going to the Clay Work studio for three years now and I love it! The classes are…read moreamazing - jam-packed with info - but they also offer 'independent potter' status, which gives you access to the entire studio. And the other potters are amazing, eager to help, and full of useful information.

Clay Work Studio is a wonderful spot to learn and grow. There is a place for everyone from very…read morebeginners to experienced potters. The classes are great ~allowing for lots of open studio time! It is nice to have opportunities to practice what you learn in class on your own. The potters are very welcoming and everyone is respected regardless of where they are at with their craft.

I've been taking handbuilding pottery classes at another space in town but I wanted to try out…read morewheel throwing before committing to a full semester. My hand/eye coordination is not great (which is why I tend to gravitate towards sculpture and more controlled building) but wheel throwing is such an amazing artform I wanted to give it a shot, but I knew if I didn't enjoy it right off the bat that I didn't want to be stuck for weeks doing it. Luckily, Yourist offers a "try it out" wheel throwing session once a month and I was able to sign up for the May session along with my husband, cousin, and aunt. It was so fun to do this experience together with my family and I surprisingly took to the wheel pretty easily. During this session you're given a tutorial on the equipment then a demo with explanation of how to throw your own bowl, including posture, hand positioning, and tips for success. Then you're given three balls of wedged clay and are let loose to practice on your own as they instructors work the room to help you if you're struggling and cheer you on if you're doing well. You're then welcome to keep any three of the bowls you make and they'll fire and glaze them (based on your choice of glaze for each piece) for you for pick up a month later. First piece is $10 with every additional piece $5. I'm proud to say that I made 2 very nice bowls and one bowl that turned into more of a sake cup after I got too ambitious and the top of my bowl collapsed. But they all looked nice in their own way so I decided to keep all three. The glazes they have are really lovely, too, and make any piece, no matter how wonky (like my sad sake cup) look beautiful. I also found I loved the experience so much that for my next class I signed up for a hybrid wheel throwing and handbuilding class so I could get better at both. I also really enjoyed my time at this studio and have bookmarked several classes I'd like to take there in the future, including day workshops focused on specific topics. Once I feel confident enough in my foundational education I hope to also join the community workspace where, for a monthly fee, you have access to their studio to work independently. It's such a welcoming environment, I highly recommend checking it out!

This is a cool little studio. I was actually just stopping in at the convenience store that's in…read morethe same little strip mall and thought I'd stop in to see what Yourist was about. They have a tiny one-room gallery, but it's full of nifty pottery. Some of the items are mostly decorative, but the display also included useful items, like an olive oil/garlic plate, a soap holder, mugs and so on. There were many items for sale under $20 and even several under $10, and this would be a good place to pick up unique gift items for the artsy friend on your Christmas list. The other half of the Yourist building is a studio/art school. They offer classes for beginners and more advanced students, ranging from a beginner's class in throwing pottery on the wheel to a class in learning to glaze and paint the pottery you've already created. In addition to several classes for adults, they offer after-school kids clay classes as well, at pretty reasonable rates.

Glad I was able to check out Ypsi Bloom when I did, as they now have a closing date. The space was…read morea wonderful place for artists and art appreciators to gather. Sad to see them go!

The owners are very friendly and patient. I looked into places closer to me for my 10 year old, but…read morecouldn't find what I was looking for. I saw this studio recommended by a friend and took my son, who.is 10. He is shy and they were able to help him come out of his shell and show his creative side. I highly recommend this studio for your kids!!

After searching high and low in my own area for classes like this for my budding teenage artist I…read morefinally found Art 101. It's a 25 minute drive each way but well worth it. My son enjoys it very much. Staff is friendly. Interior well kept. Reasonably priced. I especially like the pay as you go policy. No $$ wasted if you miss a class. They are flexible about needing to come on a different day if your regular time slot does not work that week. Wrap that all up with individualized instruction and this place is AWESOME!!

It was a great experience. It feels like a community of people coming together to make or learn art.read more

I saw this place pop up in Berkley a few years ago and was intrigued. I don't consider myself an…read moreartist by any stretch of the imagination. I hadn't attempted anything creative since the last art class I had in grade school. But I was interested when I saw they offered a Zentangle class which promised the only artistic ability you needed was to draw a stick figure. I took the class and ended up really enjoying it. It is essentially structured, meditative doodling. I came back for several more Zentangle classes when I found it was a great way to relieve stress and get out of the rut of logical, left-brain thinking. I never intended to create great art, but rather to get in touch with the creative part of my brain and to enjoy the meditative qualities of creating art. But I enjoyed Zentangle so much that I eventually branched out and tried several other classes that included things like intuitive painting, sculpture, and traditional Japanese Sumi-e black ink painting. Each class was fun and informative, and I was surprised to find sometimes I actually liked some of the art I created, too, and not just the process. The owner, Debby, and the instructors have all been great. They clearly love helping people learn and get in touch with their creativity. Articipate offers a wide variety of events, classes and lessons. It seems like there is something for everyone - regardless of age and whether you consider yourself artistic or not. It seems like a glut of places have popped up in the past few years offering private "paint parties". I have been to a couple of those and while they can be fun, this place takes an approach that is much more fun and engaging than a one size fits all "paint by numbers" approach - regardless of artistic ability. I encouraged anyone interested to check out what they offer and let the friendly owner and instructors help you get in touch with your creative side.

This. Was. So. Much. Fun!! We did it for a work outing and there were kids and adults. Jamie was…read moresoo helpful and a delight. She was kind sweet and so very talented. I would say both beginners and advanced artists if all ages would have fun. I want my friends and family to do this and would recommend for sure. Jamie is great and felt compelled to review because it's such a cute place and I love to support local!

My mom didn't need any "stuff" for her birthday so I decided to give her a night out together at…read morePop It Paint It. The experience was a hit. We loved creating the monogram artwork. Jamie did a great job teaching us & coaching me through my inability to match colors. When I got home, my husband couldn't stop raving about how cool the project was. Can't wait to go back!!!

"A creative adult is a child that has survived." - Unknown…read more Calling all craftaholics!! AR Workshop is a DIY shop where you can sign up to do pre-determined crafts throughout the week and weekends. Examples include cake stands, signs, tote bags, and clocks. The inside is adorably decorated with a modern rustic theme. There are large tables where you and your group can sit at to work on your crafts together inside. You can also book a private event in advance through their website which is pretty easy to navigate. There is ample parking space which is always a plus. I came for their grand opening with a friend. This event was well-planned and so much fun! They had teal decorations and balloons everywhere and were well-stocked with alcoholic drinks, water bottles with their logo, sparkling juice, a charcuterie platter, shrimp with cocktail sauce, and burritos. Guests were able to make a simple craft which were small wooden boards with various stains and cute phrases stenciled on top you could choose to paint with a variety of shades and colored glitter. They even had a cute photobooth 'van' outside, live music, and raffles throughout the evening. Seriously well-planned, my friend and I had a great time. This would be a great place for showers, bachelorette parties, birthdays, and special celebrations. I'm excited to come here for another event in the future!

Meh. If you're into mediocre decor, this is the place for you. But beware, the employees don't…read morealways get your design right. One person in our group actually had an employee tear off her stencil before she was finished so she didn't even get to take her work home since they had to "fix it" for her. And if you step away from your project for more than a second, the employees take the liberty of doing whatever they want with it. I definitely wouldn't recommend this place if you expect your work to be "yours." They take it upon themselves to do whatever they choose to your project. I actually left without them even putting the legs on my stand because they split one of my friends projects by nailing where they shouldn't have. They ruined the whole look. I recommend going elsewhere or ordering your own design from Etsy.

So sad that this place has now closed. I went to the Art…read moreFactory with friends to celebrate my birthday. We were offered stencils or free hand painting. Instructors not available as they were literally closing. The staff was very helpful but there definitely was a sadness in the air. If anyone in Belleviile is reading this review, I ask that you take an interest in our city and support our local businesses. TY

What an awesome spot! I took my mentee here to do splatter painting and it was such a cool…read moreexperience. We not only painted our canvas but got to paint the walls and the ceiling. Can't wait to come back and check out their other offerings!