Gage Academy of Art

This review is for the Drink and Draw event only. I was very excited to try this experience and from the moment I walked in, I knew it was going to be fun. The front desk person was super nice and welcoming. The music, the light, the ambiance in general was so relaxing. You get art supplies and different sitting options (sofa chair, stool, or an artist bench). The stage was nicely decorated; plants, head bust, drapes, fairy lights above made it look just perfect. The invitation said that the Gage monitor will "offer up some drawing tips throughout the session" but we didn't get any tips. However, I still enjoyed my experience. Love the location too.

gage is awesome. been going for couple years now and have learned a lot from some cool teachers. recently took a class at new building in slu and had a good time. lots to do around new neighborhood

I was very interested in going to a school where I could focus mainly on graphic design, but I decided to back out. Before I could get any information from an advisor I had to pay nearly $200 for my application. Once I did that, i found oit the my VA and Financial aid benefits wouldnt cover the full cost of my education. I would've needed to take out loans every semester/quarter. No thank you!

Atelier style + level of classical art instruction - I love this place. It's old school, no more like olde school. I'm thankful we have access to high quality classical art instruction in Seattle. Most of the classes are instructed by phenomenal professional artists. Agree with other reviews, if you're serious about building fundamental skills in classic mediums this is an amazing place.

My pre-teen daughter attended a week-long summer camp at Gage and enjoyed it. The camp mostly involved art (collages with modpodge, book cover designs, cardboard creations, other art with pen and paint toward the creation of a zine, etc.). She also did some creative movement, which she found interesting. Overall, she enjoyed the camp. The location is easy to get to and there are places to park as you do dropoffs and pickups. I wish they did more writing with the book projects, though. It was heavy on the art and not much on the story or writing. I also thought more directed instruction with techniques could have made it better, but I think providing a space for the kids to create on their own, following their own inner artist, so to speak, was worthwhile. The room didn't have AC, but kids didn't seem to mind much. The room was oozing with a sense of art and project-making/building.

Gage Academy of Art is a gift. The instructors are highly capable teachers and artists, offering an opportunity for students to learn more in a few classes, than may be possible in an arts degree from larger schools. Gage's strength lies in providing classes solid in foundational skills for drawing, painting and sculpture. I highly recommend any class taught by Mitch Albala. HIs Landscape painting course was stellar. 5-stars. Gage's youth program is also an incredible opportunity for teens (and kids) to learn solid skills and gain confidence. My teen is thrilled with the classes she's taken (4 so far), feels supported by the instructors and empowered by engaging in a class that gives her a skill set of understanding and focus. She said "If I could learn this much at High School, I'd LOVE to get up in the morning!" (no small feat). My only regret in regards to Gage, is that it wasn't around when I was a teen, it would've saved me years of 'learning the hard way'. So for Fun, or for professional development - don't hesitate - take a class, or two...

I’ve been going to gage for years and have taken several classes, they’ve all been high quality with great instruction, and amazing instructors. I can’t wait to take a class in the new slu building!

I registered figure drawing and didn’t receive any confirmation email from the school. So when I went for the first class, I was locked outside. I tried to contact with the helper desk, no one answered me. I tried to get my money back but the director told me I couldn’t because they could only process a refund before the first class??? Definitely not to choose it!

I've taken a number of classes at Gage and am so impressed by the caliber of the instruction. The instructors seem genuinely interested in assisting students to improve their art, whatever their past art experience may have been, if any. I studied art at the university level and have found Gage classes to be far superior. And the new building is wonderful! Gage is not just an academy, but a community. Kudos to Director Kathleen Allen for her efforts in establishing Gage in its new location in the Westlake area, the heart of Seattle.

Gage is my favorite place in seattle to learn and practice art, and hang out with other arts-centric folk. The instructors are all incredible, and provide such thoughtful teaching whether you're an advanced student or have never touched a paintbrush. I've been taking classes for years in capitol hill, and I'm excited to take more at the new location in south lake union. The art instruction you get here is unmatched, and its cool to see artists who have come out of Gage have their work in galleries and other professional establishments.

Gage is a unique institution. It offers instruction and studio experience for all levels of skill and all ages. Being in a class with a group of enthusiastic artists, working from life has been my passion outlet since 1995, when I took my first workshop. Teachers are knowledgeable, patient and supportive. In the almost 30 years I have worked at Gage I have taken classes in painting and drawing and am currently in Mike Magrath's Sculpture Atelier. If you want to explore your creative side, this is the best.

I've taken classes both online and in-person at Gage. The level of passion for the arts here is unbeatable - a great community all around!

At Gage, some courses are better than others. Unfortunately, a recent course that I signed up for doesn't adequately teach the subject matter, and is one of the worst classes I've ever taken across institutions. The instructor enjoys making condescending remarks to students while touting that they are really busy externally (thus regards teaching as too much of a commitment). Critiques run over time and are often rushed. And to reiterate, there is no curriculum; there is also no student practice or execution per 3 hour lecture (in painting). I sent a message of concern to Gage's main contact email and received no response. I used to admire Gage immensely and would visit their student exhibitions as well as take other courses. The classrooms are also quite nice when they are available. This time, the level of instruction is so laughably poor, it feels like false advertising. So, customer beware. Before letting Gage take your money, try looking up other courses, platforms, & institutions in the subject you're interested in (online or not).

Drawing Jam review only: I haven't done much art, if at all, in almost 10 years. So on a whim, I headed up here for artsy time. It was neat how you could walk about to the variety of studios across 3 floors and the next door auditorium/gym space. After some walking around just to soak it all in, I setlled in on this one studio on the 3rd FL where, despite hearing an anticipated larger event crowd, it was just me in there! I s'pose that was my cue. I started a bit, then just fell on tangents and doodled in my own world. ;) I usually enjoy geometric, archtectural & random stuff and not still props... I was considering the Visual Art HH but glancing inside past the line, it looked like just small snacks and wine? I think. You had a variety of supplies at your service and the studios were quite diverse; you had still life objects--all the way up to Nude poses. I believe this was a family-friendly event, too, as there were kids, seniors and everyone between.

I had been an avid patron of Gage and have taken a number of courses there. I always liked the caliber of their teachers but after today's conversation/phone chat with the finance director, I will never take a class there again. I signed up for a class in mid 2013 before I knew I was pregnant, but due to the difficulties I experienced which required lots of rest, my doctors advised me to take it easy and stay off my feet. When I withdrew from the class I communicated my situation to the previous finance director, who was very accommodating and allowed me to keep the ~$400 credit I had on file beyond one year. After having my baby it was impossible to return to class (as any new moms know), and I emailed the director to let him know. He said it was fine but after a few additional unanswered emails in late 2014, I decided to call them today to check in. I was transferred to a new finance director who had replaced the guy I corresponded with, and the new woman was curt and rude from the start. I asked if there was anything she could do so I wouldn't lose $400 and she acted like the old director was already doing me an inappropriate favor for keeping the credit on beyond one year. She also kept mentioning that none of this was communicated to her, as though it was my responsibility to make sure the two of them discussed these things before she came on board. I even asked her if there was a way to donate the $400 instead of just letting it disappear and she basically wanted to hear nothing of it. I really expected her to be a bit more gracious in response to a donation offer, even if it couldn't be done. When I asked her what the refund policy was after the first class took place, she said she didn't know the details and told me to go to their website. Really?! For a finance director, isn't it your job to learn the ins and outs of your program before you take the job? In the end she begrudgingly said she'd give me 15% off a class but it had to be used by the summer (3 months). I had already mentioned to her that as a new mom it was hard for me to get away, and her measly offer was a grand discount of, what, $60 due to expire in 3 months, when I had given this institution $400 for free. I really wasn't trying to get $400 back from her but just wanted to sync up and see what could be done. I would have happy accepted the sunk cost had she been more sympathetic and nice in the way she communicated. It's all about how you come across, and she was so busy trying to fend me off and make me feel bad rather than just listen and offer some kind of apology, then we could have both been on our way and had a good day. Instead she really upset me with her attitude and now I will never take a class at Gage again, as I don't want to support this institution that hired a very unkind and condescending director. Just a note, my favorite instructor has left Gage anyway so it's not a big loss. I gotta wonder why he left after teaching there for so long. Do they treat their teachers well?

Just be sure when a course is described as "All Levels Welcome ", that the teacher has prepared for beginners ! I have paid handsomely for a class so described only to find that the class activity was way above my level of ability! The teacher did very little 'teaching' and spent a good deal of the class time lying on a couch in the coffee room fixated on her iPhone !

Great variety of classes and great instructors. However, the studio assistants or "monitors" seem to lack work ethic. They consistently show up late and have to scurry in order to prep the classrooms. Drop-in life drawing session monitors are late or frequently do not show up at all. Classrooms seem to lack adequate equipment since the monitors (if they show up) have to pilfer equipment from other rooms. Communication from administration (class confirmation, etc.) is very inconsistent. Organization and facilities have been steadily declining.

Gage changed summer in-person classes to online classes due to covid in late May. I canceled my daughter's class because she did not want to take online class, and was charged a cancellation fee of $75. I asked Gage to reduce or eliminate the cancellation fee because it seemed excessive and because the cancellation was due to Gage's change in the class length and format, but Countess Stekovic (Gage's Student Services & Workshop Manager) refused and insisted that I canceled the class too late. I did not receive Gage's notice about changing into online classes in late May. In addition, in early May, I emailed Gage asking about any changes in class format and their cancellation policy, but did not get any reply. I don't believe that it is reasonable for Gage to charge the cancellation fee in this case. Ms. Stekovic was not service-oriented to say the least.

Took art classes here before. Price for a full class is $400+ but I heard scholarships are available especially if you can find your last tax return. Good overall instructors who seen to be proud educated individuals who are of course artists and educators. Also they have teen classes and one day or weeklong courses. Mostly students tend to be older, maybe this population has the time and money to make it worth their while.

I have attended classes at Gage for a few years. I've studied with six instructors as of this writing. My experience has been positive. Gage is a successful art school for one primary reason: it accomplishes what it sets out to do, which is to offer good instruction to artists of varying skill levels, varying styles, varying incomes, varying schedules, varying ages, and varying goals. Gage offers serious art education, from classical to contemporary. I started with drawing for beginners and have been building systematically with cast drawing, portraiture, figure drawing, anatomy, still-life painting, etc., focusing on the classical style. Gage appears to be quite discerning in choosing instructors, which, in my opinion, is critical to its success. Gage does have other goals, for example, nurturing the local art community through the annual collectors' gala, drawing jam, and other events; and offering kids and teens free or affordable art education; but my focus is on adult classes. My bottom line about Gage: I moved to Seattle in 2009 when I got married, and I discovered Gage in 2012. I didn't feel rooted in the Seattle community before I started taking classes at Gage, but now I do. I also never dreamed I'd sell paintings or produce portraits on commission, but now I am.

This place was instrumental in helping me get into art school. I have gone to countless open drawing studios (both for gesture and extended pose) and two drawing jams. My public high school had no live model drawing, serious art schools determine acceptance over drawing home tests, and drawing classes at Pratt were expensive and only offered at inconvenient times. Gage offered super cheap, no appointment, all levels welcome, frequent, conveniently timed open drawing studios and I spent a whole winter taking advantage of it. The staff was also helpful in getting me set up with a monthly discount pass. Though the sessions were not led by an instructor, the other artists in the studio were welcoming and offered me helpful critique. The skills I picked up from all the nude model drawing practice got me in a place where I was ready to draw realistically and with confidence. I ended up getting into every art school I applied to (and a few scholarships) and I fully attribute my drawing home test success to the Gage. The drawing jams were how I got first introduced to the Gage: great variety of studios offered, tons of people so get to a studio early for an easel with a good view, good free food on a cold winter's day, and fun live music. How often are you going to have the chance to draw intricately costumed live models in a room packed with artists with a string quartet in the background and snow piling up on the windows?! Super fun experiences, both times.

I'm taking a drawing class at Gage and am really enjoying the class, the teacher and the whole environment. But I do have to agree with some of the other posts regarding administrative issues. That said, I like the school and I'm happy.

Great teaching assistants! Anna was awesome. Loved learning more and improving my painting skills. Really ignited my passion for the arts. Will be back.

Life Changing No experiences are perfect, but when I have one that is life changing I give it 5 stars!! I attended a full time atelier at Gage Academy for three years. Prior to my experience at Gage I had no formal art training. Over the course of my training, I discovered new ways to express myself, developed painting and drawing skills that exceeded my own expectations for myself, and connected with a community and new friends that provided critical feedback AND encouragement and support. Thanks to Gage I developed the skills and confidence I needed to express myself and and share my work with others. Since completing my studies, my work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the country and included in national and international publications. I am one of only 140 artists nationally whose work has been accepted into the soon to open Museum of Realist Art in Boston, MA. But more important that all that... I now have the ability to express myself in profound ways I never imagined possible. Everyone's art and journey is different. Their art, even if representational, springs out of their own perspective and life experience. Having foundational skills allows an artist to make choices about the art they create. Having skills and choice is powerful in art. Gage can offer you that power.

Gage Academy of Art is amazing! Either to supplement a regular 4-year art education lacking in quality studio time or to get a thorough art education, you can't go wrong with this place. There seems to be every style of drawing and painting offered by teachers who know it and use it and are helpful, patient and inspiring. I took one class in portrait painting with Michael Lane just because it was offered on the weekend and expected to get a few tips and be left to figure it out for myself (my usual art class experience). What I got instead was a passionate and articulate teacher who seemed to have all of art history at his finger tips, whose demonstrations were astounding and who spewed information the whole time he painted (how can a guy paint that good and talk about what he is doing and why he is doing it at the same time AND slow down to make sure you get every move and why its being done?) and who was also a kind and approachable guy who wanted me to succeed. This guy even sent out amazing homework that was worth the cost of the class (in the form of word docs) which reviewed each lesson and included copy assignments which reinforced every idea in class and "pointed to" the coming weeks class work. He covered planes and anatomy and practical color theory and mixing and interspersed art historical references in a very practical and down to earth way. I felt like I not only learned about how to paint but how to look at paintings and whole centuries of art opened up to me that had been murky and vague before. I talked to some of the other students and they said they were taking the class for the second and even third time because it was so helpful and rich. I've never met an artist who was this good and this knowledgeable and, most importantly, this generous. They said that all the Gage teachers take that much pride in what they present and it seems like Gage has created an amazing learning environment for the people of the NW (I met one woman she came up from Eugene and guy who came down from Vancouver BC). I have since taken three more of Michael Lane's classes in different subjects and have found each one to be taught in the same way. What the hell?? Where was this guy hiding?! His background is pretty impressive but you wouldn't get that impression from him because he is so friendly and relaxed and also quite funny. Get to Gage and take classes! This place truly is amazing!

The instructors here are certainly top notch, but for the price you pay (I took a one week immersive which was $550+), their customer service is awful. As others have mentioned, they have a very cold approach and non-flexible policies towards students. I'd like to do more with them but have a sour taste in my mouth, so switching to Pratt.

Took a class at Gage plus attended the Drawing Jams. Great teachers and having said that, they have real administration issues. I was given a gift of a class at Gage to start tomorrow...I was informed today, late afternoon, that it was canceled. Had I not called twice and followed up with emails - Im sure I would have shown up and wasted most of a day. I have studied at many east coast schools and have never experienced such incompetence. They are very lax in returning emails and calls and the supply lists they hand out are excessive. I feel sorry for the people that might have had to make the investment for expensive materials only to find out at the last minute (if they were contacted at all) that class was canceled. Great classes can be found at Pratt and also North Seattle - with great accomplished teachers for a fraction of the cost.

I have been taking art classes at Gage for a few years now, and it is an excellent place to learn technique and to develop as an artist. In particular, the Foundation Drawing and Painting series and the color theory classes will be helpful to all artists. Good for classes for rank beginners to professionals.

I had been attending open drawing sessions since 2010. I regularly purchased 20 trip tickets which were always good for two years, this year they moved most of the sessions I attend up to the top floor of the building making it really difficult to make the big climb, so I ended up attending a lot less drawing sessions there. Then I found out that they had put a larger time restriction on the 20 trip passes and made them so they were only good for one year. I was stuck with a 20 trip pass that I was only able to use 10 sessions on. The office told me tough luck when I called and asked for an extension. I'm in my 60's, I have trouble hauling my supplies up all the flights of stairs to get to the top floor, at the same time they restricted the parking so chances are you might not find parking anywhere near the school. They also set the model poses to suit the moderators and you have to hope that maybe you will get a good pose to work from. I have to drive 37 miles each way and it would be nice that I knew I'd be able to park near by without turning around and driving back home it's a lot of gas to waste. I might go back someday when they start caring about their students again, otherwise there are lots of other options around the Seattle area where you can draw the model.