The Art Bar

I love this art studio! I’m a newbie to art and I have taken numerous classes here as well as having also attended the Open Studio time where you can create, create, create! Nicole, the owner, is terrific! She teaches a variety of classes, is very helpful and makes the classes so enjoyable! I began going to the studio for Zentangle classes and now I go to most other classes that are offered too. I highly recommend the ARTbar!

Sadly, this place isn’t what it used to be. Many years ago my art friends and I used to love coming here to spend the afternoon working in our journals and altered books. It was such a fun atmosphere. You could play with all sorts of products. Step up to the «bar» and create a quick project. Do some shopping (they had a great selection of unique art supplies). They also always had a great class schedule taught by very well known and established artists. The glory days are gone… Now it’s open by appointment only. When they do open they charge $ 25 for 3 hours of studio time (which is 2 hours when you deduct their 30 min intro and 30 min clean-​up). Any paint or medium is not included in that fee. There’s no shopping to be had. Their class schedule is very sad. Once in a while Kelly Kilmer will teach a class, but that’s not very often. No other artists teach here. The only classes they offer are zentangles or spiritual motivation classes that aren’t really art related and way overpriced. I honestly do not know how they are still in business with their lack of offerrings. I want to support them and keep them around but it is very hard when it’s not even worth the effort to drive there. I really do hope they re-​vamp this place and bring it back to life.

My cousin decided to get her girlfriends together for a birthday art class. It’s located in a basement so if you don’t know how to get there the first time, it may be a bit confusing. Luckily, the area is never crowded so you can take your time looking for the place. You can also park in the structure across the street. Can’t remember for how much. The great thing about a private session is that you can bring all the drinks and food you want. So you can munch and paint at the same time. We painted on small canvases and everyone had a great time. The time just flew by.
The only weird thing about the place is, the hours don’t seem very set. Since you have to leave the art work there for them to heat glaze, my cousin had to pick them up to pass it out to everyone. She had to call them to figure out when she can come by because the hours were so wonky. Just keep that in mind.

Great staff, lots of eclectic things, I loved the book cutouts especially the butterfly. It appeared you can belly up to the bar for a number of art projects, with an on going project you can join in. Looks like fun, and we’ll be back very soon.

This is a great place for all those who have an artist inside them wanting to break free or never thought they could be an artist. This place really encourages you to bring out your inner artist and is not intimidating at all.
A friend invited me to a Saturday night class. It was a small group. There was a small talk on using paint crayons and then we were set free to write and talk as wel pleased. It was a really calming experience and fun! I was surprised at how my page turned out. it was $ 15 for the class. Bring a notebook if you want, its helpful.
Also Saturday mornings you can use the supplies at the bar for $ 5 an hour. A really great value and a fun morning with friends. There are also other specials and deals
They have this deal where you can RENT rubber stamps and then exchange them.
Really friendly staff too! Great date place and I think they would let you bring snacks or wine, call to confirm that.

Cute little store hidden away below ground level. From an initial glance, the store looks like a hodge podge of random art supplies, including buttons, puff paint, and sparkly pens. Like most other patrons, we wondered around checking out every nook and cranny.
They had some beautiful, sparkly hand-​decorated ornaments which were marked down to $ 2.99. That was an amazing deal and we snagged a bunch for our tree and stock stuffers. The staff carefully packed them into pretty brown boxes and bubble wrap.
Apparently, they do art classes here for a variety of ages. My friend asked about what they have for kids and the latest class is a pen-​decorating class.

My girlfriends and I wandered into this store and couldn’t get out. There is so much stuff to look at and they sure pack it into the small space they’ve got. If you’re an arts and crafts freak, you’ll go berserka in this store. I’m not into crafting and I even enjoyed browsing the myriad of cool stuff they have in there.
If you’re into beading they have a great selection of stuff in there. If you are a painter or sketcher, there’s stuff for you. Even if you don’t do any of those artsy things, there’s stuff for you! You can buy a pretty card and send it to your friend right? Doesn’t take any artistic talent to do that!
It made me wish I was artsy and had a hankering for producing something really artistic. Unfortunately, I’m the least artistic person alive! My 8 yr old can draw and paint better than I can :-/

While I’ll have to keep heading back to JoAnn and Michael’s, The Art Bar has definitely made it on my craft shopping circuit now. Sure, the space is tiny, and they have limited hours, but it’s top notch craft shopping.
They’ve got paper and beads up the wazoo, but what really makes this place is the staff and their workshops. There’s always something going on when you go in here. The other night there was a beading workshop going on, and giant paper mache giraffe that was being decoupaged by every customer that came in.
You won’t find any Elmo scrapbook paper here, no lavender fuzzy things, and very few sequins. But you will find rad indie crafter girls and lots of awesome classes.

Another favorite art haunt in So CA!
Yes, it’s moved back downstairs to it’s original location *but* that’s a good thing as the store may be adding another location (in addition to this one) soon.
It’s another store that «has it all» and it doesn’t dabble in just one «art» but many…
Two thumbs up on the classes, as well!

Oh dear, came here a few days ago and discovered the store has relocated to a much smaller, darker spot in the basement, where it’s surrounded by many empty storefronts. Hang in there, Art Bar!
I went there to get blotting paper for a craft project, and even though they didn’t have it, I was so enticed by their other products I ended up buying tags and glue and ribbons, and will probably return to get more crafty things. Much more fulfilling to shop here than at a mega-​chain like Michael’s.

I have to say this is my most favorite of all craft stores. This is one unique setup.
You walk up to the store and they have local artist’s work in the windows. I actually saw a friend of mines work being shown there, fell in love with a piece and bought it. I think this is wonderful. You then walk into the store on the main level and it is a cornucopia of delightful finds. Every possible technique seems to be available for you. You walk upstairs into the studio.
Here’s the really neat thing about this place:
1. You can use the studio and everything in it (Stamps, tools, scraps, etc) for a fee. $ 5.00 an hour or $ 15.00 for the entire day. The people who work there are knowledgeable and are more than happy to help you out.
2. The workshops are so much fun. You go in, grab a bit of food (organic and healthy stuff) and go to town creating. The last workshop I was at we decorated our jeans and everything was supplied. I don’t remember how much it was but I think around $ 30.00 (bring your own jeans). They also give you a free gift or two. Talk about fun.
3. Technique-​of-​the-​Month Club. I have been a member for several months and am never disappointed in the treasures I receive. It’s only $ 15.99 a month and if you pick it up at the shop you get some free studio time to boot! (They will also ship it to you).
4. Rubber Rental Membership. For $ 15.99 a month you can check out up to 3 stamps at a time (They have to have thousands of stamps there and it is well organized). You return the stamps at your convenience and take three more. How easy is that? Also, some of the stamps I like I would have to pay a small fortune to buy and I may only need it for one project. This way I don’t have to worry about that.
This store is in the heart of Santa Ana’s Artists Village. Come down on the first Saturday of each month for the open house. You can walk through the galleries and studios, see a live performance or just hang out and enjoy the music. Many of the galleries are giving away munchies and wine. It is so much fun. This is how I discovered The Art Bar! (
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The address is actually 209 N. Broadway, in the Santora building.
I love this open, airy space full of intriguing embellishments and cool stuff for the altered artist.
This is definitely a great place and I would love to come back to browse more in-​depth since the day I stopped by, I was on my way downstairs of the building to enter some art in a contest. By the time I was done and had dinner next door, the store was closed. Ah well.