The Art School, Inc. - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

tim polley

The Art School was a fantastic experience for me due to environment, instruction, session cost, and inspiration. I would recommend it to anyone - youth or adult - that is willing to pursue their passion to learn to be an artist. Lisa, co-owner and instructor, made us as students feel very comfortable with her approach and ability to guide each of us, regardless of stage we were on in painting.

I can’t say enough about my positive experience there as a newbie painter and would still be taking classes if not for my job relocation out of Milwaukee.

Good luck to you on your journey, but I highly recommend the Art School in Milwaukee for anyone interested in learning.

joshua achatz

We had high hopes for the studio, but we felt the instructor was not equipped to teach children. She misinterpreted our child’s timidity for disrespect and rather than approaching it with the sensitivity that you hope a teacher would have, she took the approach of embarrassing them in front of the class saying things like “Do you think you know better than me? How about you teach the class! Why are you even here? Let’s just call your parents!”
As someone who has also taught children of all ages in an artistic field (music) I was extremely disappointed that our child was treated with that level of disrespect on their first day of class. I sincerely hope the unnamed instructor will not take the approach of bashing and insulting our child on this thread (as she has in response to other poor reviews) as it is extremely inappropriate. If she had attempted to understand where our child was coming from, she would have likely seen what a sweet and sensitive kid they are, and realize it was a miscommunication. Instead she had an intense emotional reaction and tried to humiliate them in front of the other kids. When I calmly confronted her about what happened, she essentially gaslighted my child and acted confused as to why they had their feelings hurt. In my years of teaching I have never, and would never, treat a young child with the disrespect she showed. An apology or attempt to understand would go a long way, but that doesn’t seem to be the route they take at this establishment.

Amanda Berg

We were looking for an opportunity for our daughter to grow and develop her already strong art skills & passions. She has enjoyed the work & time to hone her skills with Ms. Lisa. We are very happy with the time given to use different mediums & practice a variety of detailed skills. The classes are small & students are given lots of attention. The hours are good & the cost is very reasonable. Plus she’s made new friends at art school!
Below is her first charcoal piece.

Molly Murphy

I've come to update my review. I've been coming here for a few years now and cherish my experience. Lisa is so knowledgeable, encouraging, and kind. With her guidance I've made art I didn't think I was capable of! It's really a great space. Highly recommend.

Christina Cruz

Seemed like a great school but they don't communicate if children misbehave so the problem can be corrected and not repeated again. They claim to be teachers, however, they don't have any background in child education. They do not seem to understand the negative impact they have on a child's self-esteem when they are expelled due to issues that could have been fixed had they been addressed. They do not reach out as a courtesy to let parents know if children misbehave, and when you ask what disrespect was done they simply say, "We do not discuss bad behavior," making it appear as though they have something to hide. This is a repeated cycle as there are other parents with the same story and if you push back, they scream they are being assaulted and harassed, literally. If you leave a negative review, they ask all their friends and family to bury it with five-star reviews to silence you for speaking up about the overall mistreatment. This is not about expecting a private art school to discipline children because the parents cannot. This is about a "school" with such lack of communication and confrontation, that their students suffer in the long run. As I've said, this is a repeated cycle as I've had other parents personally reach out to me online, telling me their similar stories. One mother has a special needs child who was disregarded and mistreated as well, then expelled before the parents could rebuttal. I have reviewed this company on every platform, I have reached out to their cities alderman, I even made a complaint to BBB. We will not be silenced

Natalie Pilmaier-Barrack

My daughter has attended this school for quite a few years now. I cannot say enough about Lisa and Andy! They work in conjunction with the students on projects of the child’s choosing. My daughter is 17 and it has been so gratifying to her that she leads what projects she chooses to do and then Andy and Lisa guide her along the way, giving her incredible, valuable advice on how to proceed, sizing of project, what types of paint would best suit the projects, and professional advice on shading, paint strategies, and techniques. They have also been an incredible help and guide in supporting my daughter as she decides on colleges and preparing a portfolio for her applications. Andy and Lisa always act in a professional, calm and kind demeanor. My daughter, who is incredibly shy and was unsure of her abilities as an artist, is now confident in her skills and absolutely adores and looks forward to every session at the art school. I am incredibly grateful we have found this school for my daughter. They are truly the best!!!

Annette Jacobson

Lisa is an amazing teacher of art. I have taken classes for about 1.5 years at The Art School, and I have been impressed by her ability to bring out the creative talent of the students in the classes, from beginners to experienced artists. She has great breadth and depth of knowledge and skill of artistic tools and techniques. Her interactions are always kind, constructive, tactful and fair. Whether you are a beginner or have been creating art for decades, you will find The Art School a great place to explore your creativity.

Dana B

The Art School is a true gem, I feel so lucky to be a student of over a year – it’s been wonderfully rewarding and the classes continue to exceed my expectations. I’ve taken many art classes, over decades, and I’ve never learned so much or felt as capable as I do under Lisa’s masterful tutelage. Lisa is truly a gifted teacher. She knows how to inspire and expertly guide, her positive communication style is uplifting, and her investment in her students and our projects is palpable. I appreciate how Lisa instinctively knows when to push me, when to let me explore, and how to help me make progress. The Art School is for ANYONE who is serious about developing artistic talents through individual projects. This place is a very welcoming, professional, safe, and delightfully creative space. No matter your skill level – beginner to expert – you can achieve more than you think you can, and The Art School can get you there. I highly recommend.