Great experience! Drew a bird of paradise, Wesley was a great help and encouraged creative decisions. Located in convenient spot too

Great experience. Would highly recommend, the studio is located inside the cafe with painting glaze and pottery mugs available to paint anytime while in the cafe. Pottery pieces are worth it for the piece. It covers the initial clay making, the bisque fire, the underglaze, and even the second fire. Which I found real nice because you only pay once whereas a lot of other studios make you pay multiple little fees that really really rack up.

The painting session was very useful and fun. Karina was amazing and helps a lot with colour selection and arranging tools, paints (I'm still sorry for cutting that poor sponge)

Would definitely come back biggest downside is definitely the carpark. Spots are not available during evenings because it's filled with restaurants and a Domino's pizza. Some dude literally forgot his handbrake and it rolled down the hilled carpark and ran into another guy's car.

Great studio, teacher and experience overall

What was the teacher like?
The session was very hands-off and social but people who wanted help could get plenty of clay tips and advice from two overseeing teachers. For our session it was Wesley and Eve, both very friendly, helpful, and just lets you do your thing.

How was the venue (if applicable)?
The Myer Studio Centre in the evening was great, as a BYO session, there were plenty of places to buy drinks (food court downstairs, a cafe right outside the studio, Coles also downstairs)
The room is set out in two-three long tables with plenty of seating (so you can hang out with your friends in peace).

If materials were provided, did you like them?
In this session, we were provided with plenty of clay (and could get more if we wanted to) that was good quality, dried fast (good for this quick session as some people prefer to take their sculptures home in a tray, or just for sculpting in general).

We were also given plenty of clay sculpting tools, some rolling patterned moulds, a cup of water (to rehydrate the thirsty AF clay).

We could go ham with our own designs for the clay, or were provided with several laminated inspiration sheets of simple clay sculptures we could do (animals such as cats, dogs, owls. Yoga poses, jewellery bowls). They also had basic tips for playing with clay such as making pinch pots, moulding techniques, enough to get you started.

Was the experience good value for money?
The experience is definitely good value for money. Between the La Cucina venue or the Myer Studio, I've found that the Myer Centre is much better as a location (safer, slightly less confusing, more drink varieties and choices). The socialness and hands-off do-your-own-thing is great as well. Would definitely book here again in the future.

What did you do / learn?
I learned how to sculpt with clay. I haven't done anything much with clay before but it was definitely fun.

What did you like most?
I enjoyed the clay-sculpting part the most, good materials, location, very nice vibe to the session. Makes you want to come back more often.

I also booked with a friend but they were unable to come last minute, but Wesley was really great and credited it into a ceramic painting session where I could continue onto the clay figures I made today.

Note: there's bathrooms right outside the studio, in the corner where Myer is (don't go out into the big hallway and get lost like I did).

What was the teacher like?
Wesley was our teacher. He was very patient with our group and constantly provided additional paint or materials if we needed. Made the experience very casual and enjoyable overall. You have the freedom to paint the artwork your way as the instructions given to you are general guides to get you started.

How was the venue (if applicable)?
The venue is pretty relaxed. Stationed outside the paint and sip store with a row of tables. Usually the restaurant Cucina by La Dolce Vita is open therefore you can buy drinks or food, unfortunately they were closed, however, there was a day's notice email to bring your own drinks and there are stores surrounding the venue to buy the drinks. Such as the BWS, or the abundant amount of food and convenience stores as soon as you exit Fortitude Valley Station.

If materials were provided, did you like them?
The provided materials are appropriate to what the price is. The paint is very difficult in maintaining pigment, so building up layers often caused the paints to muddle together like watercolor or outright make it transparent. Water is your enemy in this case so use the provided cloth towels.

The paintbrushes are decent- a wide brush for big gradients and a thin brush for small details. I do recommend bringing your own paintbrush though if you're really looking to paint. Give the provided brushes a check to see if they're clean.

There are plastic paper cups filled with water. It does not get emptied during the two hours so conserve it as best you can by working from light colours to dark colours.

You are provided paint on a paper plate. There is enough space for what you're going to need. Mix what colours you need but don't contaminate them- make a new space for each new colour. Because the paint dries over time you can reuse some areas too.

Canvases are nice. Not primed but it's fine. With an easel so it's pretty good.

Was the experience good value for money?
Definitely. Would recommend 10/10.


What did you do / learn?
We painted the hummingbird painting (will provide images). Worked from the background, to flowers, to branches, foliage, then the birds.

As the instructions are general guides, I used my phone for references of hummingbirds and the types of flowers they feed from.

There is a schedule for which paintings will be painted so check for that.

I learned that if you want a rich colour for whatever you're painting, dip thick and tiny dots with lots of paint in a cluster, use two colours of paint, and then gently brush them together so they combine but don't mix into another colour. (Eg. Hummingbirds' feathers in image)

What did you like most?
The most enjoyable part was the social experience even if you don't talk much. It is in a public and safe place, and you won't be pushed into presenting anything so it's very casual and relaxed. There are lots of stores all around the venue and there is always something to do.

Improvements?
I would recommend some form of system to wash paintbrushes.