Losina Art Center

A friend who was making remarkable progress as an artist at Losina Art Center introduced me to Olya and inspired me to finally take the leap and begin art classes myself. After a few classes I knew I had found an extraordinary teacher in Olya so I signed up for the annual membership.
What makes Olya’s approach different is that she not only teaches the artist how to draw and paint but more importantly, how to see. This process has been very enlightening for me as I’ve begun to peel away the layers of seeing from my conditioned mind to seeing and painting what is actually there. I have witnessed profound artistic breakthroughs in myself and my fellow students. Olya has the gift to hold the space for many to find their true artist’s voice. The result is fresh, unique art. She is a rare teacher and I feel very fortunate to have found her and the Losina community.

Olya is a remarkable art teacher. She has expanded my boundaries and helped to «unfreeze» me when I’d started feeling constricted from my last group. Her knowledge of the science behind how we see and how the mind works with art/​color/​shapes is astounding. She says the most fascinating nuggets of information that shows her fine arts education with the masters. She is also gentle with tender feelings we artists have! She’s wonderful!

This museum always has interesting exhibits. I love the good food you can find their cafeteria. The Japanese pavilion is worth a look.

If I could give more than five stars, I would. I have known about Olya from a family friend for years as she took art classes from her for at least 10 years. As I was living out of state I never had the opportunity to take any of her classes. Now that I’m back living in San Diego, I actually was given as a gift the 1 day learn to paint workshop. I have never taken any formal art lessons but I have always loved to paint, draw, or anything related to art. Starting the workshop and afterwards her classes offered during the week, I have been amazed at what I am able to do. Olya not only gives you the confidence to learn and to get outside of your comfort zone, but she is an absolutely amazing teacher in the most natural way. I have already started to recommend this art class to my friends and colleagues. I cannot encourage them more to try at least one class out. You will fall in love.

I have been enrolled in class here for 5 months now. The most recent art class for me prior to Losina was 5^th grade public elementary school art class.
With every passing moment, I grow more aware of how truly privileged I am to be learning by doing– MAKING ART– in this setting, with Olya as my guide.
Olya is an old soul with a rare gift for instruction and a vast and awesome array of curriculum.
The studio is a great space to work in– with or without simultaneous instruction.
The two class trial deal hooked me.
Classes are continuously revealing truths applicable to all areas of my life– as great truths tend to be.
Classes have consistently been liberating, productive, challenging, playful, informative, intuitive, and inspiring.
I can’t say enough good things.

I found Losina Art Center via a google when I was searching for Art Schools here in San Diego that might be able to help my teen-​aged daughter with an art school portfolio. Olya, the art instructor at Losina met with us and didn’t just immediately accept her. While a client might be able to come in for some lessons, the College Art School Portfolio Prep Course requires a lot of time and dedication that not all students, especially a young teenager might have. She didn’t want to just take our money– she wanted to be sure that my daughter was determined to become a better artist and would put in the time required. She reviewed her sketchpads so far, and only when she saw how my daughter had a breadth of work that showed improvement over time, did she then accept her into the course.
That was almost a year ago. Now, my daughter is such a vastly improved artist that her portfolio has already had interest from 3 different art schools– one of which is in the top 10 art schools in the country (whose advisor said her portfolio was as good as any of the ones that earned admission last year.) Both my daughter and her art have matured, and each show a level of confidence and talent that has only blossomed under Olya’s teaching. I would highly recommend Losina Art Center to anyone wanting to become a professional artist, or someone just wanting to learn to paint. She is amazing and I’m so glad we entrusted my daughter to her.

I came to LAC as a beginner, with a vague sense of wanting to create space in my life for some type of art practice. I started out in the Wednesday night drawing class, and found Olya to be a wonderful and patient teacher. Within a relatively short period of time I felt I could draw just about anything I wanted and have it look pretty good. Then she said, «And now you must paint.» I didn’t know how to hold a brush, or how to mix colors, or even how to go to the art store to buy paint, brushes, and canvas. But I painted. My confidence in my ability has increased by leaps and bounds. Olya encourages me to make a mess, to learn and to grow from the experience of not knowing anything. She has taught me the difference between painting from knowledge versus painting from that artistic sense of «seeing.» Sometimes, the process almost seems like magic. I’ve been a student at LAC for almost 3 years now, and there is always something new to learn and to experience. Having started as an absolute beginner, I can honestly say that Olya’s teaching method is effective and quick. If you want to create space for an art practice within your own life, you need only come to class with an open mind and sincere desire to allow yourself to create your own magic. Having a creative life is possible. As Olya says, «Why not?»

I love this place! I’ve gone for their 5 class package and the learn to paint in 1 day. All my experiences here have been great. I always leave here feeling inspired. Olya is a great teacher and always manages to find time to help you individually which is so helpful.

This place offers so many different art classes and they work with you to pay for their class packages. I plan on going to their 8-​hour LEARN to PAINT IN 1 DAY workshop on April 12^th. Be sure to sign up before their prices go up for other workshops!

My experience as a beginner was very different from another reviewer. Other than slight difficulty finding the right driveway (watch for the address JUST BEFORE Dixieline — heading west on Sports Arena), I was very pleasantly surprised with the reception by the teacher and the students and with my first official «art class» experience. It can be intimidating for a «newbie» to walk into a totally new and foreign experience like an «art class» if you’ve never tried it before… and all the performance anxiety that it naturally brings up. By the time I left it I had an eager anticipation of the next class. I’m hoping to benefit from the teacher’s obvious broad range of experience, knowledge and talent. I like the «open studio» aspect of the place. allows for much more artistic freedom for individuals but still provides enough structure and individual attention to support your inner muse. PS bring lots of canvases!

For any art lover, with a curiosity and desire to find and express her/​himself, should check Losina Art Center. No matter where you are with your art skills and confidence, Olya is there to guide you. She definitely has a unique talent to teach you to ‘see’, to observe the world from a different perspective, to help you comprehend what you have not seen before. Pure fun and lots of self discovery through art!
My only ‘issue’ — Olya is so savvy and knowledgeable about art (history), such a joy to listen to, that many times, I am torn between enjoying being focused on my paintings, and listening to her most interesting, useful and highly educational comments on art or somebody else’s work… She is like the finest university Art professor with the best practical, eye opening approach.
Very fun and friendly people and working atmosphere in the studio. Inspiring to be a part of it!

Just took my first drawing class at Losina Art Center yesterday. It was amazing! In just the first class I drew a lemon that seemed to pop off the page. And, I understand what I did to create that effect. I’ve taken art classes at other places before, but this is the first time things have been explained so that I understand them AND can go home and duplicate the project without guidance. I am definitely signing up for more lessons. Thanks, Olya, for opening up my eyes and my mind!

I absolutely love this place! I never really took art classes other than some mediocre ones at school. Coming here was definitely a new experience, the first week we painted huge canvases with mops and drew pictures upside down, which was at first frustrating but opened me up a lot as an artist. Learning to do art in these new ways has helped me become much more confident and has given me a lot more freedom as an artist. You definitely have to be open to new methods and advice to take classes here, but the end results are so rewarding. I definitely recommend Losina Art Center. Right now I’m beginning to build a college portfolio and Olya is very helpful, and I can’t wait to see what I create. It’s so cool to take class with different artists and see their methods and styles, and Olya has great advice and always finds the best parts in any piece of artwork.

I’ve been studying with Olya Losina for the past eight months. I truly enjoyed every class with her and our discussions outside the class. It’s probably not for people who just try to grab some techniques and leave. It’s a place where you delve deeper into the world of fine arts with each project you work on and develop an impressive body of artworks with Olya’s gentle guidance. Olya often shows you the work of Cezanne, Van Gogh, Bonnard and Matisse etc to explain certain concept, and she really sets the bar as to what fine art should look like. I highly recommend Losina Art Center

this is really as good as it gets for an art experience. it’s more than just an amazing art teacher who is gifted, it’s the energy that everyone in that room brings. it’s uplifting, supportive, sharing, and inspiring. it’s an experience; not just an art class

The Losina Art Center is exceptional. I am painting and drawing works far beyond what I ever thought possible. Olya is able to bring me along at my own pace, notice when I’m deeply frustrated and help move me forward. She can point out just the thing that will improve, and get me to the next level. She is able to push me to achieve more each week. I highly recommend Losina.
She is also working with my son, a high school senior, to build a portfolio for college. His progress is astounding. He has done more in 4 weeks than he did in an entire year long art class in high school.

I acquired a groupon and used it for two days painting instruction and had a ball. Very relaxing and fun. The instructor was very encouraging and had a lot of good advice. Occasionally painting is called to a halt and the instructor gives a short lecture on an aspect of painting. There were all types of people who came to paint of every age group and background. Very enjoyable experience and very helpful in motivating you to paint. Be sure to follow her instructions on what to bring before you come. It isn’t an art supply store. I have never «done» a storefront art school before but was pleasantly surprised.

My daughter was taking art in high school but wasn’t learning as much as she needed for a good college portfolio. She went to classes at Losina Art School for only 2 months and completed a wonderful portfolio that got her into the Roski School of Art at USC! She continued taking some more classes after her acceptance because she love it there. Olya is very good and kind. My niece and a friends son followed suit and got into good colleges with their art portfolios as well. Someday I would love to learn how to paint and would definitely take lessons here.

I think this place didn’t teach me anything. It was horrible actually! Isn’t art lessons suppose to teach you techniques of art? Well apparently this place didn’t.

When I came to Losina Art Center I was a complete newbie. No experience in real painting. I thought it would take at least several months to learn to paint but Olya is such a wonderful teacher. The first class was all about color mixing and I learned so much! The students surrounding me were all doing AMAZING work and it was wonder to here the way Olya would stop by each student and offer tips and advice or comments and encouragement.
The second class I took was so wonderful! I actually left with the beginning of a portrait of my son and more importantly the knowledge that with Olya’s expertise, I could develop skills to become a good painter! I recommend Losina Art Center to anyone at any level!