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Masha Ashikhmina

Masha Ashikhmina

Teacher, MV studio manager

San Jose & Mountain View studios

Graphic and stage set designer, illustrator.

Graduated from the Moscow State Textile University and British Higher School of Art and Design.

Worked at branding companies and advertising agencies, TV and theatre.

Adores illustrating children books, loves comics and graphic novels, spends her spare time sketching.

 

From a very young age Masha was constantly drawing, painting, composing, and telling stories through pictures. Her love for art has enable her explore several mediums of art and craft including all types of water-based and oil paintings, sculpting, fabric painting, crafting with different materials and sketching. She believes that sharing this knowledge with children will help them to develop strong artistic skills and will expand their ability to express themselves.


Masha is the author of the Soft and Oil Painting Curriculum.

Students' reviews:

Carly W.

Berkeley, CA

I have taken 3 adult art classes here over the past year or so (Beginner, Watercolor and Soft Pastels). I have always wished I could be better at art but found it hard to even know where to begin. More than the specifics of what we learned in each class (how to draw a nose, petals of a flower, etc), I really am grateful for how we were taught the general process of starting and completing a piece. More than anything I think that has enabled me to go off on my own, practice more and have a framework of where to begin and not feel intimidated.

Masha taught all the classes I took and I specifically picked the ones she taught. She is fantastic, a great balance of helpful critiques while not overwhelming you. I know I can sometimes feel really subconscious of how bad my art is, but I think her style really helped me grow while not getting dejected.

I will almost certainly be coming back to take more classes.


XiaoWen JI

Masha is a skillful and patient teacher. Inspired by her a lot when taking classes of key elements of fine art there.



Jill

Had a class with Masha and it was great! Class was well structured and planned. Masha was very nice and helpful at giving advice! 10/10


Nina Li

I took the art classes with Masha and absolutely enjoyed the classes! The schedules are well designed such that I got exposure to a breadth of key elements of art. The instructor explains the techniques well, and is very encouraging!


Carly W.

Berkeley, CA

I have taken 3 adult art classes here over the past year or so (Beginner, Watercolor and Soft Pastels). I have always wished I could be better at art but found it hard to even know where to begin. More than the specifics of what we learned in each class (how to draw a nose, petals of a flower, etc), I really am grateful for how we were taught the general process of starting and completing a piece. More than anything I think that has enabled me to go off on my own, practice more and have a framework of where to begin and not feel intimidated.

Masha taught all the classes I took and I specifically picked the ones she taught. She is fantastic, a great balance of helpful critiques while not overwhelming you. I know I can sometimes feel really subconscious of how bad my art is, but I think her style really helped me grow while not getting dejected.

I will almost certainly be coming back to take more classes.

All locations
San Francisco

1603 and 1601 Irving Street, San Francisco CA 94122

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1954 Old Middlefield Way #K, Mountain View CA 94043

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700 S Winchester Blvd #15, San Jose CA 95128

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1510 4th Street,

San Rafael, CA 94901

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Live Zoom classes, Pacific Standard Time

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1530 Bonanza Street, Walnut Creek CA 94596

Winter-Spring 2026 semester: 
First Day of Classes: January 5, 2026 (Monday)
No Classes May 23 (Saturday) - 25 (Monday) - Memorial Day weekend
Last Day of Classes: May 31, 2026 (Sunday)

Summer 2026 semester: 
First Day of classes - June 1 (Mon)

No classes:
  • July 3 (Fri) - July 5 (Sun) - Independence Day Break
  • Last Day of classes - Aug 31 (Mon)
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