Mission: Renaissance Fine Art Classes

We have been attending for about 2 to 3 months and we are liking it a lot. I checked out a couple of other art classes but the ones that i looked at seemed to give too much freedom in terms of what the kids were drawing. I wanted to find a place that gave some direction and structure in how to draw and at the same time allowing them to have some freedom to be creative. I feel like this is the right art class where I saw the balance that i was looking for. I liked that the kids learned how to draw a certain picture of their choosing but in terms of color, kids could have more freedom with it. So there was a balance of giving kids the tools they need to know how to draw but also giving them the freedom to be creative. The fee is expensive but I feel like it is worth it. Also, the class is 1 ½ hours which i think gives kids more time to work on their picture. I have been to other art classes where the kids had to draw the same thing and although all the pictures turned out great, I wanted my child to have the tools and steps to know how to actually draw a certain image. I think it gives kids more confidence when they actually know the steps of how to draw something. I would highly recommend this art studio to other parents. Becky is the art teacher for the Anaheim Hills location and she is very nice and patient with the children. They also use the last 5 to 10 minutes where the teacher will go over the art work that each child did. The teacher explains what they drew and asks the child what they liked about their particular picture and then everyone claps for them. I liked this as well. I liked knowing what my child drew as well as what other drew and being able to clap for the kids.

I have been so happy with the art instruction at Mission. Instructors Becky and Sarah make the classes super fun while teaching your child art technique. Hour and a half lessons go by quickly as the kids are encouraged to use their imaginations to create their masterpieces. Being a music person, I love the background music during the class, which, in my opinion, helps creativity. We also had a birthday party at the studio and our guests LOVED it! It was a creative, stress free party (Yogurtland is right next door)! Becky made the studio fun and festive with decorations and balloons! At the end of the party, each child walked away with a matted pastel! Our guests’ parents were amazed at how well, with the right instruction, their kids were able to draw! The price point for the party was excellent. I would highly recommend this art school. High points: instructors who are patient and make the classes fun, location, price point, ability to provide birthday parties at an excellent price point, playing classical/​instrumental music in the background during the class.

Question: do you want to instill confidence in art AND life in your child? If your answer is yes then this is NOT the place to go. Why? I sat in on my daughter’s introductory art class and saw why some of the artwork looks so good. It’s not your child’s artwork! I watched the «instructor» go back to one child over and over again to paint her picture for her, one time spending ten minutes at her station painting her picture FOR her. The poor child repeatedly asked for help throughout the class because she had no idea what she was doing. How could she with someone else painting her picture?! Not to mention the fact that she will go home and show off her beautiful artwork to her parents who I am sure will be astonished and proud but she will never be able to recreate that kind of art again because someone else painted it for her. Is that confidence building? Hardly.
Others including my child were the recipient of this teaching style. My daughter did their free introductory class which is great because you get a chance to feel the place out before you buy ($ 195/​month!!!). The free intro class is good. They’ve got two aides for seven children. Also good. However, the girl «teaching» my daughter asked her to look at her picture and see what looks «wrong» about it. Next she told her this part «looked funny» when critiquing her imperfectly drawn circle (she’s seven). These are not encouraging words for a child! Or anyone else for that matter.
Next she proceeds to ERASE my daughters work and re-​draw the whole picture to show her how to do it «right». Isn’t art supposed to be about creativity and the artist’s interpretation??? Isn’t the best way to learn by doing it yourself??? «Imperfections» often turn out to be masterpieces and I fear my daughter’s frustration and doubt in not creating perfection the next time we draw. My daughter does not need to attach words such as «wrong» and «looks funny» to her own work or anyone else’s; THIS IS HOW YOU SQUELCH CREATIVITY. I guess if you’re into that sort of thing and want your kids to learn to be ashamed of any «imperfections» then this place is right for you. I can tell you right now though that this is not where we will be spending our money! Not a good way to foster creativity!

We have been going for almost two years. This place is a lot better than the other art classes. My two kids have progressed quite a bit and have enjoyed the classes.
They start with pastels and then move on to water color. Afterwards, they work with oil.
They continue to refine their sketching skills during this time.

Chantal is an excellent teacher! I have never seen my daughter happier than when she’s at art class. I cannot believe how quickly she is picking up the skills and CONFIDENCE — that is a direct result of Chantal’s kindness and expertise. She really has a way with kids. I’m so glad we discovered Mission: Renaissance!