I go to quite a few paint nites/painting and vino's etc... the problem is that everytime i'm heading out of the house my kids are upset that they can't go... VIP paints has family nights/kids only events/adult only events...how cool is that!?!? my kids both came here and painted snoopy's house...love it! i have a similar painting from a previous event...so happy to have found this place! tons of good spots in the area for pre/post food and drinks..or drop off your kids and have an hour of fun read more

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What a great evening!! Attended a painting session last night with my posse of 7. We laughed, some cried (haha) but we ALL had a great time bringing out our inner Picasso! Great stress relief for the moms in our group! Love that we can bring our own snacks and beverages (and no corkage fees). There are many paintings on the wall so you can see what others have created. Dora was our instructor and she was great. She took her time showing us how to create our masterpieces! I loved how she reminded us to take a drink to help us relax and not stress over our work! Fun time meeting new people and at the end seeing how different everyone's artwork turned out! Some even took liberties and invented new animals....spotted hyena-giraffe (Sandra!)! Haha Parking is the only issue but if you arrive early you shouldn't have to spend too much time looking. Try parking in the neighborhoods behind the studio. Some parked in the Vons parking lot but I advise against it as there are signs you will be towed. Thanks for a great time Dora!! We all had a blast and we will be back!! read more

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Doing what u love is the best utilization of time !!! Loved 1 hr 30 mins class learning about art of candle making . Class offered nice collection of containers n colors to choose from , best was the collection of essential oils ... I can spend hours mixing and matching those beautiful fragrances . Steps 1. Select jar 2. Select color 3. Select oils 4. Heat the wax 5. Put the wick 6. Decorate the jar 7. Pour the wax 8. Wait for 30 mins for wax to settle down 9. Yayyyyy !!! Amazing candle read more

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Our children had an amazing session at VIP Paints. They were so at ease and relaxed. The environment was very peaceful and positive. The instructors had so much compassion for their work that they were teaching,I was impressed. I love how they let the children's artistic side come out. Right when our children were done they asked if they could come back again. Hopefully our next visit, we could go on family night! Thank you again for such a wonderful experience! The Tucker's will definitely be back. read more

VIP Paints - Mr. CJ & Miss Neisha with their new masterpiece. - Art Classes Near Me

We had a really fun paint and wine night here! I've been to one at a bar in Little Italy and we'd come across VIP Paints online. What we liked about this spot was that you can bring your own food and wine in! I was first to arrive from our large party, it was very quiet and I was thinking this wasn't the right spot for our group but next thing you know the room was full, everyone was enjoying wine & cheese and ready for a night of painting! Dora was a great instructor and I have no idea how she kept our crazy loud group in control! We were all quite surprised with how well our paintings turned out as no one thought they could actually paint and everyone's pictures were pretty good looking! Dora walks you through step by step and really makes it seem easy. When you first look at the reference card and the actual painting it does seem difficult but with great instruction it's very possible to finish thinking you're quite the artist :) I would highly recommend this spot to someone and being able to bring your own food & beverage in was much easier than the last paint night I went to as you did have to keep getting up to go into the main bar area. 2 things to note, parking around here is not easy, give yourself plenty of time to park. Also I'd plan on arriving 45 mins-an hour before the start time, 7pm was our start time. By the time everyone parked and got there the class basically started so I didn't feel like I had time to mix and chat with everyone so I'd recommend giving yourself some time to socialize. Other than that it was a great night and I'd definitely book this again, maybe for a fun girls night out! read more

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I came here for a breast cancer fundraiser with a friend of mine and we had a great time. Dora was our instructor who graciously volunteered her time for a great cause. She did a wonderful job of guiding everyone and shared lots of little tips to help those who were new to painting. She was even very supportive of my decision to go a whole different direction with my painting. The room is set up so there is no bad seat and the atmosphere lends itself to lots of banter and fun. You can bring your own beer, wine, and snacks. Dora was kind enough to remind us to take a sip every now and then when we got caught up in painting. If you're thinking of trying a painting class I would highly recommend Taking a look at VIP's calendar and pick a painting you like. read more

VIP Paints - Our finished products. The colors were supposed to be like my friend's painting on the left. - Art Classes Near Me

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There's a first time for everything! Used a Groupon and was pleasantly surprised. I emailed VIP paints to set up a date after purchasing my Groupon. Booking was easy and painless. It's BYOB and snacks... they provide bottle openers, cups, plastic ware, and napkins for your use. I thoroughly enjoyed painting my own rendition of Starry Night by Van Gogh... it was neat to see how different everyone's came out! Following along was quick and it wasn't difficult to keep up. The time went fast. Just make sure you bring a personal fan of you tend to get hot. The temperature definitely rises as the room gets full. It was fun! read more

VIP Paints - Art Classes Near Me

VIP Paints is a good place to experience with family and friends. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by two lovely women and directs you to where you're seated. The ambiance is casual and you can bring your own food and drinks. They do have cups and wine openers for guests to use. The idea of it was to know art and even though you don't really paint or even draw, you can still create something beautiful with colors. At first i was nervous but excited i thought my work would suck but while we're doing it i felt more and more comfortable with my canvas. Hubby loved the experience and he's planning on doing it again with our friends. It's located near Vons so you can go there to park since there are no designated parking, you can also park along the street if there's some space. Overall, great experience! read more

VIP Paints - Doing something different on a Saturday night. He had so much fun, and i was so drunk LoL! - Art Classes Near Me

I had such a great time! I forgot the lady who instructed the class but she was amazing. Super funny and super nice. She did a great job explaining how to do each step. I am not an artist and this is my first time painting but im not gonna lie, my picture came out pretty nice. haha. I definitely recommend coming here for either date night, girls night, or even a family day. I will be taking my son here for a kids day sometime next month. Be sure to check out the deals on Groupon. read more

VIP Paints - Date night - Art Classes Near Me

We had such a blast! Dora is so friendly and helpful. I am THE WORST when it comes to being at artist so trust me. If I can have a great experience, follow along, and end up with a decent painting, you can too. (My 6yr old niece told us that we made the best paintings she's ever seen; I couldn't be more proud!) They have all the cups, napkins, wine/bottle openers so don't worry about that. Some people brought wine. Some people brought beer. Do whatever you want. They are so chill here. They'll tell you it's all about just going with the flow and creating "your masterpiece". I'll definitely be back. Really cool experience! read more

Fun! We purchased a Groupon and came here on Friday night. Our teacher was really descriptive. This was my first "wine and canvas" event, and I would love to come back if I see a painting I would like to paint. This place would be great to bring a group of friends here to paint and hang out. To me, the ideal size is probably 5-6 ppl. Note: You need to BYOB and snacks--awesome activities for a large group. The evening we were here, there were two groups, celebrating a birthday and a bachelorette! read more

Went here with my work team for the first time. It was also my first time doing a painting class. There were ten of us, but the studio could have held 18 by my count of seats and tables. The studio and people were nice enough, and the event was overall very fun. The selection of paintings is great - lots of variety, and it wasn't hard to pick something that everybody liked. Definitely a great activity for team building, people were very engaged. The studio is in a great location if you want to do lunch or dinner before or after, and there are handy stores to pick up snacks and beverages for the event located all around. Parking is kinda tough, but that's what you get in this neighborhood, it's densely packed. But the convenient location made up for that. The cost of the event was reasonable, and though we had reserved for 11 people, we were only charged for the 10 that showed up, which was very cool of them. There were some bummers though. The whole team felt that the instruction was kind of lacking. The instructor was helpful enough with direct questions, but spent a lot of time doing his own painting without talking about the process. He wandered around the room, but didn't actually provide feedback unless directly asked. We also struggled a bit with supplies. We each had one paper towel and a plate of paints, but most people had to ask for additional towels and paint, and we all had trouble finding enough space on our plate to mix the paints. It was fun though, mixing the paints to get our colors. That really added to the uniqueness of each piece. But without being able to change out our jars of water, and with the other supply issues I mentioned, it was really tough to get the colors correct because they kept mixing. The studio was supposed to be ours until 3, with 45 minutes after to clean up and move out, but right at 3 they were hovering and cleaning up around us. They even threw out beverages that people were still drinking. It felt like they were rushing to get us out of there, but we were all out by 3:30, so I'm not sure why they were pressuring us. Maybe they have problems getting people out on time and were being proactive. Overall, I would definitely do another painting event, but I'd probably try another studio to see if I felt differently about the issues we had. Maybe that's just how these events are, and since it's my first event I have to consider my inexperience as a factor. read more

Went here with some family for the first time. It was my first painting experience. Parking is horrible so get there with enough time to drive around to find some. The people who work there were very nice and it was a packed house. I was excited that our paintings turned out as well as they did. My only complaint was that the instructor did not really know the painting very well. It seemed as though she was learning to paint it as she went. I think had she painted it in advance and then taught us based on her experience we might have had a little bit better direction. It was as though she had seen it for the first time and had to figure it out as she went. This would probably be fine for experienced painters but for us newbies it made it a little harder. Overall the experience was laid back and fun and I would definitely do it again but I would bring booze... :) read more

I have been to a few drinking/painting classes and VIP Paints is by far my favorite. For starters, the location is in the heart of North Park- being someone who isn't in that area often, it was a great excuse to head down there. There are tons of breweries and restaurants in walking distance before or after the class! This was my second time taking a class here and as soon as I walked in, Dora immediately recognized me and welcomed me back! Now that's how you run a business- you could tell how sincere and happy she was to not just have you there but to have you back again! We began the class and we led step by step from sketching through painting. I personally liked how they had you sketch the piece first rather than just going for the paint straight away like other classes have. This allows for you to really detail and plan out your piece instead of feeling stuck that you've already painted something on the canvas. The instructors are super helpful and available for questions when you feel like you've messed everything up. They somehow guide you through and viola! You have a masterpiece! The best part is being able to bring your own food and drinks with no cork fees. They have openers, glasses, and plates to use too! Overall, this place more than deserves the 5 star rating. The calendar has a wide range of different paintings with options for anyone brave enough to try one of the classes! I will definitely be back and if you haven't check out this place yet, DO IT you won't be disappointed! read more

What a fun painting class! The instructor Dora was incredibly friendly and makes you feel welcome the second you come through the door. She was very encouraging during the whole process and made it relaxing and fun. I've been to other paint classes in the past where the instructor rushed the class and made everyone feel like we had to hurry and get out but Dora didn't mind us few of us that stayed a little longer to finish up. We got a great deal from their Facebook page and paid less than $25 for the class which usually goes for around $50. Also there are some deals on Groupon that are worth checking out. I love that we were able to bring our own food and drink (even wine!) I would totally recommend this place for couples, girls night out and mother/daughter outings! Will most definitely be back! read more

Really disappointed with their kids painting class. The setup is such that half the kids see the back of the instructor (Dora) for most of the session. Some never saw her paint the lines because she demo'ed to one side of the room only. And that entire table lost interest and stopped following the instructions. And the instructions were really poor and hard to understand for kids (or adults). One part was described as looking like thunder? I assume she meant lightning, but that was a good example of the quality of instructions given. Dora was unable to control the room and two kids just painted whatever they wanted and negatively affected others by not being asked to follow the instructions. Next time I will just take my kid to an adult painting class where the instructions are way easier to follow and more help is given. And she had no idea how to deal with one kid who was frustrated and in tears. So sad to see her helplessly smile at the kid which just made her feel worse. And when I spoke to her about my dissatisfaction, I was told "you have no idea what you are taking about" and "this is not the place for you". She's right on it not being the place for me, but given that she is the owner, I'd say this isn't the place for anyone who wants to be treated well. EDIT: As you can see by Dora's reply comment, she is unwilling to address my concerns even in this review, for example the poor classroom set-up and why she lost the attention and participation from that whole table, and is instead placing all blame on me. I have rarely experienced a business owner so unwilling to accept that they are not perfect and improvements could be made. read more

I had no idea what to expect when we attended couples painting. It was the last day of our 3 day trip and we figured we would give it a shot. When we were done, it turned out being the best experience of the weekend. Dora was awesome and very helpful.! The craziest part is I left that night feeling relieved of so much stress.! Can't wait to go again. read more

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I set up a private party for my daughter's birthday this past Saturday at VIP Paints. Parking is a little hectic in North Park but that was expected. Sally was awesome. She was patient with the group of young girls. They were all around 6-7 years old. A few younger ones. She encouraged them to express themselves in their painting when some were distraught that theirs "did not look like the one on the wall". Thank you Sally and VIP Paints for an awesome birthday paint party. My daughter is already picking out the next picture she wants to paint. read more

VIP Paints - Art Classes Near Me

I'm so happy I found vip paints. My friend and I had such a wonderful experience!! Dora, our instructor for the night, welcomed us in with open arms. She was super sweet and a great teacher! When we started our painting class, Dora lead us through step by step and was super patient thought the entire process. She also reminded us to take a sip ;) ! She also walked around and gave advice on how to improve our painting; she was super encouraging. Overall, it was such a relaxing atmosphere.. I will definitely return! read more

VIP Paints - Our set up. - Art Classes Near Me

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This was my first time painting in a long long time and it was the best experience ever. Usually I shy away from anything artistic, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. My BFF and I did this for Gal'entines day and I really recommend it! The studio is super cute and the staff are so helpful and friendly. They give you direction and help you with techniques while at the same time allowing you to be hot creative self. I will be back to try more of their classes !!! Thanks for a perfect Saturday :) read more

VIP Paints - Wine bottle painting :) so much fun !!! - Art Classes Near Me

Why didn't I know this place was pratically next door to me before this weekend. This cute studio offers painting classes along with candle making and kids classes. The instructor was great and I loved the pace of the class. You are actually able to talk with your friends, drink your wine and complete your painting all in 2 hours. I got a deal on groupon and I will say it was well worth the $18 I spent for a relaxing and enjoyable painting session. read more

Bout this deal on groupon 25$ for 2 kids was a great deal!!!! Dora gave really go instruction, the atmosphere facility was nice I would definitely do this again! read more

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I can't give enough compliments to Dora. She has made such a positive impact on my step daughter. Dora teaches that 'in art there are no mistakes' and it is one of the few times our extra hard on herself daughter relaxes and doesn't try to make things perfect. I highly recommend any child to take a class here with Dora. Whenever I am in San Diego I sign her up for a class, i believe we have taken 7 or 8 by now. Thank you to Dora for your time and patience with children and honestly caring about teaching more than art. read more

I took my boyfriend to this for the first time and We had so much fun! I bought tickets on Yelp! and couldn't use them on the website, but all I had to do was call or email and she made sure that we had the seats for her class the next night. Very accommodating. Very friendly. Very fun atmosphere. We actually met two new friends and went to dinner afterwards. We had such a blast! We definitely will be coming back to do this more often! read more

VIP Paints - Had so much fun at VIP Paints! - Art Classes Near Me

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My bf and I went to one of these a year ago and both of us didn't have much fun because the teacher took it way too seriously and it made the atmosphere stiff. We had a much better experience today. The teacher was very informative but also not intimidating and allowed us to be novices and enjoy the experience rather than focusing strictly on technique which can Be a buzzkill. My bf and and are not artistic and our paintings are very whatever but we tried our best and had fun! We chose not to drink as we drank a bit the day before but they also allow you to bring your own wine or beer which helps keep the costs down for the consumer. The space is quite small but in a charming area. Overall, a good experience. We went to the couples one so our paintings are coordinated to one overall painting which I thought was such a cute idea. I wouldn't recommend this as a first date, my bf and I made several errors and only because we've been together forever did we not feel stupid or embarrassed, like when I forgot to give my gal a neck and he had to show me how to make it work or when his suit looked like a giant blob of blue until it was done! read more

I recently put together a bachelorette party at VIP Paints for my best friend. Dora was a delight to work with, as I planned this months in advance all the way from New York. Dora was so informative, patient, professional, and FRIENDLY! At the night of the event, Dora was so friendly and quick to greet me at the door. Our paint instructor, Fabiola, was so friendly and patient with our loud, wine-sipping group. She was great. All of our paintings came out awesome with the instruction of Fabiola and the help of Dora. I definitely recommend this to anyone! I'm definitely going back! read more

I recently took a soy candle making class here and it was so much fun!!! I love how low key this place is! The owner was very friendly and had a lot of great information to share with us. She let us make our candles all on our own and was just there to walk us through the steps. We also got to customize our own scents and colors! The main part that I loved about this place is she let you bring you're own food and drinks!!! Most places make you buy their own overpriced beverages and food. I highly recommend taking a class here. You will have a great time! read more

My first time doing something like this. I loved it and so did my husband!it was relaxing and fun at the same time. The staff was very friendly and attentive! Very good experience here:)) read more

LOVE! My sister and I attended the soy candle making class last weekend and we both loved it. We got to chose everything for our candles and the instructors helped us all along the way. We even brought snacks and drinks to share while we waited. read more

I haven't painted since kindergarten finger painting and wasn't sure I could do this, but I have now attended 3 classes (all taught by Austin) and learned so much and had so much fun. It seemed like all the students in my 3 classes felt much like I did--uncertain about our success, but everyone supported each other and we all had a great time. The owner allows you to bring in wine and food which makes the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable. I love that you walk away with a finished painting in just 2 hours and that the instructor teaches you something about the process so you can explore and make the painting your own. I plan to continue taking classes and hope to hold a private party there soon. I want all my friends to have as much fun as I did. Both the owner and the instructor went out of their way to ensure that I felt comfortable, had fun, and created a work of art. Very cool experience! read more

Painting today at VIP Paints was a fun experience and I look forward to coming back here in the future.

Me and my mom recently did a candle making class and I had a really good time! It was simple and the directions were easy to follow. Dora was incredibly nice and the environment was very relax. The best thing about these classes is that you can never have enough candles! I'd definitely do this again! read more

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I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday and we both enjoyed the experience. The instructor was helpful and we were allowed to get creative with our painting. I would like to return for the couples painting class which looks great! read more

First paint and sip and it was a wonderful experience. Staff was friendly very professional and it's very homey feel

I used a Groupon for the Day of the Dead painting event with my husband. We had a great time. The owner served us Mexican coffee and bread to celebrate Day of the Dead. The painting was very intricate and we ran way over time, but no one ever rushed us or told us to finish up. I would definitely come back here for another class. read more

I celebrated my Birthday at VIP Paints, there was 16 guests in my group and we had a WONDERFUL time!!! I wanted to do something different for my birthday and this was perfect. The atmosphere is nice and the music that was played was very mellow and not distracting. It's nice that I was allowed to bring in appetizers for my guests and there was a special table that was great for placing our food and paper goods. Our instructor Sally was very pleasant and didn't tire of us asking her to "Please Show Us Again!" Having a paint party for my birthday definitely falls into my category of most memorable. There was plenty of joy and laughter in the room! My guests also found sipping wine and painting to be very relaxing!! It was interesting to see the different degrees of artistic talent that was in our group & everyone loved their paintings. I attended the candle making last year and that was a great experience also. My candle is too pretty to burn and it still smells good. If you are looking for something different, fun and relaxing to do I highly recommend VIP Paints!!! read more

Awesome very fun hands on experience... they make sure your painting a great masterpiece and my mug came out so great

I came here for my cousin's birthday and we had a TREMENDOUS time. Sally was so funny and helpful. She made the party even more memorable. Dora was very nice and professional! They have something here for everybody and they definitely make you feel good about your art...even if you suck! :-) I am definitely coming back! read more

Took a date here for byob night. We had a blast and she said it was the best date ever :). We will be coming back next time for couple painting night. read more

I had a great time doing the soy candle making class here. You can BYOB and there is plenty of downtime to enjoy your date or group's company. read more