“Rainbow Art is the best. I joined as a freshman, and throughout my time at the studio, everyone was super supportive and friendly. Mrs. Ahn is really encouraging when it comes to trying out new mediums or new concepts, and she’s receptive to any student input, no matter how unconventional. I also loved just talking to Mrs. Ahn during breaks. She was always there to lend an ear or shoot the breeze. The break snacks, and especially the tteokbokki, were also great. Even though I’m not pursuing an art related major in college, Rainbow Art has played a huge role in my artistic growth and in my personal development, and I will always treasure my time at the studio.”

“I’ve been to many different art studios since I first started getting into art, but I’ve never had an experience like Rainbow Art Studio. I joined the Rainbow community in 7th grade and I immediately felt a connection to the studio’s style and philosophy surrounding art. Rainbow Art Studio allowed my creativity to flourish by empowering me to explore whatever medium, subject, and style I wanted, while also pushing me to challenge myself and take on more difficult projects. The amazing staff at Rainbow has not only helped me grow as an artist with our constructive critiques, but have also been there for me personally. Ms. Ahn especially has made our art classroom feel like a second home. We have snack breaks every class where Ms. Ahn often brings homemade treats for us, she is always there to offer kind and encouraging words when I get overly critical over a piece I’m working on, and she is so attentive and caring to each and every one of her students. And although I am not studying art in college, I am certain that my time at Rainbow and my guidance from Ms. Ahn will help me as I continue to explore my passion for art in the future.”

“I started Rainbow Art as a junior at Monta Vista High School in January 2020. I was starting very late, but I knew I wanted to do graphic design in college so I needed to get a portfolio together. I was able to put together a portfolio that I was satisfied with by the end of 2020. The Rainbow Art teachers both helped me build my foundational skills and helped me edit past works to make them portfolio-ready. I feel like I’ve learned a ton from this class: from color theory to composition to gesture drawings and contours. Just looking back at my work from early 2020 or late 2019 to what I can do now, I can see a huge difference, even outside of their direct guidance. Even with drawings I just do for fun on my own, they’ve helped my foundational skills enough that those casual drawings have become a lot easier. I’ve gotten so much feedback from Rainbow Art because they’re always willing to provide it on any sort of work, whether it was a project we started in class or not. I even brought my works in person a few times so they could see the pieces better and came away with very thorough advice on what to work on. I’ve had a great experience with Rainbow Art and I truly feel like they prepared me for my college portfolio far more than what I could have done on my own, so I’m very grateful for that.”

“Hello! My name is Matthew Yu, and I started taking classes at Rainbow Art in 9th grade. I’ve come to realize that what makes this studio special is that it provides a space for students to discover their own artistic voice. Instead of following a regimented procedure or being told what is right and what is wrong, students are given a lot of freedom to decide what they want to explore. I remember Ms. Ahn plucking a book of architecture off the shelf and telling me to find inspiration in its pages or scanning the walls of the studio, captivated by the sheer diversity and individuality of the student art. The guidance and critique of Ms. Ahn and the incredible instructors were invaluable, yet I simultaneously felt like I had the space to follow my own curiosities. I think this balance of freedom and instruction combined with the warmth and welcome of the Rainbow community makes it an incredible place for any young artist hoping to improve their skills and find their voice. Although I do not plan on pursuing a major in art, the studio helped me assemble an art supplement for college, and I can’t thank Ms. Ahn and the studio enough for supporting me and helping me grow as an artist and an individual. I think that the lessons I’ve learned at Rainbow can be applied to any field, and I can’t wait to take my next steps at Washington University in St. Louis!”

“Joining Rainbow Art Studio in seventh grade has been pivotal in my journey of creating art. From the rainbow staff to the students in the classroom, everyone has been a great source of inspiration and support. The insights of all instructors have proved helpful, and have been significant in the creative process. Ms. Ahn, along with other instructors have encouraged me to create meaningful art by moderating and prompting insightful discussions that are thought provoking and compelling. During my time at Rainbow, I have also been given the opportunity to venture outside of my comfort zone, and explore mediums or techniques I was never aware of—a freedom that many curriculums lack. I really appreciate my time at Rainbow and highly recommend joining for those who want to grow in a positive environment. You aren’t just joining a studio, you are joining a family. I graduated Cupertino High School class of 2020, and will be entering Parsons School of Design class of 2024 with a major in Communication Design.”

“Starting classes at Rainbow Art Studio in January of my sophomore year was one of the best and most influential decisions I made in high school. I had very limited art experience before coming to Rainbow, but over the course of two years, I was able to experiment with a variety of mediums while completing a large body of work. I worked with everything from acrylics to clay, and I was even able to draw live models. At Rainbow, high school students are given the freedom to choose their own projects, and Ms. Ahn, Meiru, and the other instructors are phenomenal at guiding students through these projects. The instructors all gave me invaluable suggestions and feedback that left me feeling excited to try new techniques and styles.

The portfolio I developed at Rainbow gained me admission into the Brown-RISD Dual Degree Program, from which I will be receiving a BA (from Brown University) and a BFA (from Rhode Island School of Design) in five years. My portfolio also helped me gain admission to the art schools at UCLA, USC, and Washington University in St. Louis, as well as to the general schools at Princeton, Yale, and Columbia. I’m certain I would not have been able to develop such a diverse and expansive portfolio had it not been for the instruction and guidance I received at Rainbow, and I am incredibly grateful that I was able to learn and practice art in such a friendly and open environment.”

“I joined Rainbow Art Studio as a freshman, and while school gave me my graduation requirements, I solely and fully thank Mrs. Ahn for providing me with everything I needed to get into Pratt. Not only did she improve my technical and creative art skills, but she also spent individual time working with me on my portfolio, taking us on fieldtrips to art museums and providing us with all the resources and information for applying to colleges by hosting many workshops and writing our letters of recommendation. Along with all the other teachers at Rainbow, Ms. Ahn pushed me to expand my art into new mediums, techniques, scales and ideas even if it came with frustration and a learning curve. I spent many Life Drawing sessions with Meiru who expanded my portfolio into live figure drawing, something no high school will ever be able to provide and something that is a dividing factor between high school level drawing and college level art. Thanks to Rainbow Art Studio, I made it into every art school I applied to and am able to start my Communications Design Major at Pratt Institute after graduating Homestead High School’s Middle College Program in June 2018.”

“I am so glad that I joined Rainbow Art Studio my freshman year in high school, as the studio provides a truly great environment to learn and grow as an artist. Everyone at the studio is very friendly and supportive, and Ms. Ahn is an excellent teacher. She is very knowledgeable and always encouraging her students to challenge themselves to think deeper and try new medium. I found the studio to be very helpful when I was searching for summer programs and putting together my portfolio for college. I have learned so much during my time at Rainbow Art. My experiences at the studio have both inspired and prepared me to continue to pursue art and design in college and beyond. I graduated Cupertino High School, class of 2014 and entering into Rhode Island School of Design, class of 2018”

“Through four years at Rainbow, I’ve laid the foundation for all art I will pursue in the future years and I’ve laid the foundation for my insatiable hunger for the snack foods Mrs. Ahn supplied us. I know I will appreciate the valuable figure drawing classes I took when I enter college, and the input of Mrs. Ahn and all the teaching assistants over the years had truly pushed me to think deeper into the art and design that I create. I’ve been able to have stimulating conversations about art that I would never have been able to have elsewhere. Needles to say, Rainbow has been a full chapter in my late childhood, and my only regret is not connecting more closely with my studio-mates and teachers. Also, not eating enough of the pita chips.”

“Absolutely loved my experience at Rainbow Art. Now only are the people amazingly nice, but incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I learned so many new mediums that I had never, ever considered during my time at the studio. Rainbow Art helped me exponentially when putting together my portfolio. I am graduating from Harker School, class of 2012 and will be entering into Washington University in St. Louis, class of 2016.”

“I attended Rainbow Art Studio for my junior year of high school, which was a short yet critical period of time for me and my preparations for art college. The benefits I received just from going that one year were completely worth it. Mrs. Ahn really supported me in pursuing art as a career by persistently (that’s the way it must be done. :) suggesting contests, classes and projects for me to do as I pieced together my final portfolio. What was perhaps even more valuable was all of the one on one time that she spent with me, discussing my future as an artist and offering advice from her own seasoned perspective. All around Rainbow Art Studio has a really positive energy, the TA’s are very helpful and friendly and Mrs. Ahn herself is a wonderful and generous person. Even after I left the studio during my senior year, she took a genuine interest in my progress and even wrote one of my college recommendation letters, for which I am very grateful to her. I was accepted to Maryland Institute College of Art, OTIS College of Art, California College of the Arts, and UC Davis, and eventually went with Maryland Institute College of Art.”

“Hello! My name is Jenny Michelfelder, and I started at Mrs. Ahn’s studio when I was a 7th grader at Kennedy Middle School. Over the past five years, Mrs. Ahn has been an instrumental part of who I am today- not only as an artist, but as a young woman as well. Her guidance and wisdom has led to me to pursue a career in the visual arts, and I plan on attending Cal Poly San Luis Obispo this fall. Although I ultimately chose a liberal arts university, I was also accepted to the two art schools I applied to, Pratt Institute (in New York City) and the California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts in Valencia, Established by Walt Disney). I have made amazing progress as an artist at Rainbow, with the help of the staff and of the other students who grew along with me. Mrs. Ahn is one of my great mentors, and I recommend her studio full heartedly to all who have a passion for art and want to realize their potential to the fullest.”

“I have attended Rainbow Art Studio since I was in second grade, and now I am currently a sophomore in Rhode Island School of Design. Throughout the years, Mrs. Ahn has not only been a teacher and a mentor to me, but she has also become my friend. Her passion for the arts really encouraged me to pursue my dreams as an artist, and gave me guidance. With her many years of teaching experience, I really felt like I have learned a lot from going to her studio. She encourages exploration of different aspects of art and design and taught me what is current in the art field today. Looking back, I feel that I was very well prepared from the many years of going to Rainbow Art Studio and even understand more than some of my classmates in college.”

“I started going to the Rainbow Art Studio in the beginning of October. I took the portfolio class and everything in my portfolio was done at the art studio, so I really owe Mrs. Ahn a lot, because otherwise I never would have had enough pieces to apply for Pratt University.
I went to class probably five days a week and sometimes be there for 6 hours at a time. After finishing my portfolio in February I applied to SVA and Pratt University and the latter is now the one I am attending. Thank you Mrs. Ahn, I miss going to the studio a lot.”

“For as long as I can remember, Rainbow Art Studio has been a huge part of my life and continues to be today. I began private lessons from Ms. Ahn when I was in 2nd grade. In 1993 when the studio opened, I remained her student up through high school. During this time, the guidance and support from Ms. Ahn and my fellow peers, helped me to get through a difficult period in my life. After graduation, I attended a Liberal Arts College— Calpoly State University, SLO to major in Art & Design with a concentration in Graphic Design. Even while away at school, Ms. Ahn gave me opportunities to get involved with the studio. I always found myself wanting to come back every summer to teach and help out at the studio where I grew up. When I graduated from college, the important lessons learned during my years at Rainbow were helpful as I went out into the real world to find myself and fulfill my career goals.

Not only has my time at Rainbow taught me countless art lessons, but it has also shaped me as a person— teaching me the core values and giving me the tools to succeed not only in my career, but more importantly as a person. Rainbow Art Studio will always be my second home, and I’m happy to be a part of a place that helped make me who I am today.”