Art School of SF Bay classes are a true treasure for parents who want their child to genuinely fall in love with drawing and art. Art cannot be forced - especially for a developing child. Like all true creativity, it must come from within. So choosing an art class for a child, even one who may never become an artist, is important - because if a child learns to understand and use art as a language, it will enrich and expand their world.

Over the four years my child has attended this school, they have developed not only the ability to observe the world around them, talk about art with confidence, but also gained the skills to express it with confidence through their artwork.

The school has a wide selection of classes, we started from Art Fundamentals and progressed to the Contemporary Art / Art of the 20th Century class, which we have attended for 3 years now. The class is versatile and is a hidden gem in the school. It is suitable for any level, and even beginning artists would greatly enjoy this class. It inspires children to develop a genuine interest in art, learn various techniques and materials, and help them build the skills that help them move from spontaneous, intuitive creativity to a more refined and thoughtful artistic expression.

We have been devotedly attending the class led by an exceptional teacher, Masha Ashikhmina - patient, kind, and truly a master of her craft. She is deeply committed to helping students reach their full potential. Masha is a true mentor. She guides her students with care and patience. She can both support and challenge students to reach a high standard, helping them build skills and create original works based on the themes and materials they are learning. As a parent, I value a teacher who is not just there to deliver information, but someone with true expertise and sincere commitment to the idea of the child’s flourishing - someone the child respects, learns from, trusts and is willing to follow in their artistic pursuits.

Natasha Vorontsova