Spotcolor Institute of Art & Design

Awesome place to learn all different aspects of creative art. No matter what level you are at, just bring your passion and dream and Spotcolor will do the rest to get you better than where you start.
I sure experienced this first hand and Im really glad I met Spotcolor when I started going for my dream career in theatre.

Spotcolor is the perfect place to learn and improve art/​design skills while making a presentable portfolio. I started coming here about 7 months before my portfolio was due for college, but with such little time I was able to finish my portfolio that got me into a lot of art colleges, let alone multiple scholarships.
I was recommended this studio from past Spotcolor students and it turns out that they were right about it. Not to mention that I’ve even recommended this studio to one of my friends and they helped her transfer into her dream school!
The art prinicpal, Soo Kim is very experienced in helping you to get where you want with your art education all the while helping you learn the techniques needed to be well prepared for art school. He helped me from the basics down to the details of drawing, painting, sculpting and even design. I learned how to use multiple mediums of art (pencil, charcoal, acrylic, photoshop, illustrator, etc.), and Spotcolor carries a lot of them in the best quality so that I did’nt have to go out and search for them. There are tons of resources at this studio so they were always prepared to teach me anything, from fine arts to digital programs to any type of design. I also received a lot of individual attention not only to learn art but to apply for art schools. They really know everything, trust me.
I was intimidated entering college, thinking I would be behind my peers but it turns out that spot color helped me get ahead in terms of skill and creativity. Coming here was well worth my time and money, and I would’nt redo my art learning experience anywhere else.

I started coming to Spotcolor out of sheer hobby of the fine arts during middle school.
It wasn’t until my sophomore year in high school I switched my dream of becoming an RN into becoming an artist.
Director Soo Kim was one of my mentors all throughout high school who helped me find a path towards my theater career. I had no idea what theatre design was about until I started a close relationship with my director here at Spotcolor.
Coming to Spotcolor was one of the best decisions in my high school career.
The teachers here not only help improve your technique, but they cultivate your creativity and push for your own originality. Spotcolor provides a lot of reliable resources as well as connections from Spotcolor alumni and their respective successes in their design career. I learned some of the most useful life skills such as building your own resume, website, and portfolio. The teachers are more than happy to help you, especially during that rough season where high school seniors are applying to college universities.
I came in here from knowing close to nothing about design, and now I currently go to USC for theatre design with an emphasis in costumes and expect to graduate in 2017. I wouldn’t be where I would be now, at my dream school, without the guidance and counseling from Spotcolor Institute of Art & Design. Thanks Mr. Kim!

This is the place you should start your artist life. Don’t be fooled by all the other fancy, corporate-​like art institutes where they promise you that they will take care of you to get to a good school, and will literally rob your money for admission portfolios to prestigious schools while not getting you nowhere in terms of your basic knowledge and skills in art. Anybody can get you into top design schools (to be honest), but nobody can make your graduation happen besides yourself once you get into an art school. I’ve met so many students who took lessons from expensive places such as Vision 21, but most of them have dropped out of the school in first 2 years because they lacked fundamentals, and non had scholarships like I have had. I am very grateful to the chance to know about this place, and have committed myself through the preparation of my portfolio. Mr. Kim, the owner, has taught me so well that I still remind myself the basics of drawings and designs and keep myself going in school. Now I’m heading towards my senior year.
With the least amount of money invested here, my money came back as huge amounts of grants and scholarships. I currently go to Otis College of Art for fashion design, and I get 85% of my tuition covered, and I’ve seen the cases like mine from everyone who have taken the lessons here. I highly suggest this place and commit to Mr. Kim’s lead. He’s a professional who knows what he’s doing.

best of the best art institutes out there
–reliable resources
–informative mentorship
–instructors who help expand your creativity and skill
the success rate of students from this institute is 100%
you are guaranteed to get from where you are to where you want to be

This institute got me into school in one year. yes… ONE YEAR. (plus summer) i had always enjoyed looking at art. i had never picked up an art brush, dont even know what color would come out if i mix certain colors. i always had the INTEREST, but until i got to talking to Mr. SOO, he showed me how to take the first step. He generally will oversee everyone in there. There are few teachers, all professional artist in their fields.
yes i spent alot of my time there, i was actually one of the oldest ones. i believe i was about 24 25 years old at that time. truth be told i was pretty close to the teachers age. Which helped alot because they understood, i am trying to get somewhere and as fast as i can. so if any1 is looking to get back into school and feeling to old. DONT.
i got into the school i was shooting for OTIS up in LA. LET ME TELL YOU everything i did the first year at otis… ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME STUFF I DID AT THIS INSTITUTE. other than the live nude model, same. I was super nervous thinking… god how did i get into this school, im going to be the odd one. scared that my only one year of art will show. i literally cruised thru the first semester cause i had learned how to do it all at the institute. (also im not 18 anymore so, the whole trying to be cool, and fit in and trying to get invited to parties wasnt important.)
if you need guidance then you should head over to spotcolor.

I would definitely recommend spotcolor to anyone who is passionate about art and who wants to develop their portfolio for art school.
This institute definitely know how to prepare you in skills and creativity as well as find what your strengths are to pursue in the future.
I came here in my 2^nd semester junior year of high school and they helped me create my portfolio for all the schools (Soo gives you a list of good art schools for you to research and find the 10 best schools that you think will suit you). And helps you with home tests, along with different techniques as well.
I was able to get into all the schools (RISD, PRATT, SAIC, CCA etc.) I have applied to, and 90% of schools offered me scholarships.
It’s a good environment with good support, and a place where they really want you to grow.
I didn’t know much about art careers, I just loved painting and drawing but Soo later suggested that he can see me doing more spacial things like interior design/​architecture.
When I went off to college and took 2Ds and 3D classes, I realized he was right.
I graduated RISD in 2012, and I am working at a top 100 interior architecture firm in NYC. I am thankful and grateful that I went to Spotcolor.
It was like my escape from school, from stress. It was more than an after school for me. They really care. They will really push you, and make you a strong artist/​designer.
(we still keep in contact here and there, the teachers there are great mentors!)

I had no idea what costume design sketch or scenic rendering was, but within six months (short period but I almost lived in this institution 9am-​8pm everyday), I was able to create the entire portfolio for my transfer application and got accepted to multiple schools (including my dream school!) and able to get much scholarship as well (It’s nearly impossible for an international students to get any scholarships for undergraduate program, so it’s was like miracle!)! Highly recommend! Mr. Soo is hands-​on education is highly effective. He’s also very friendly and amazingly caring. Great mentor figure and educator. I highly recommend Spotcolor.

Spotcolor institute is by far the best institute of Art and Design I’ve had so far. All instructor’s critiques are so detailed that it helps you improve your portfolio. They will help you and support you as long as you roll up your sleeves and create the ART! Soo Kim is very kind, professional, and knowledgeable instructor for sure. He will share his exper with you, which are very helpful. He is funny and very awesome teacher to have. He really cares about your work and wants us to succeed.

Spotcolor is a great place that has helped me create the strongest portfolio for my college applications! Not only are all the teachers extremely kind, knowledgeable, and passionate, they are so comfortable to approach and I honestly made the greatest memories here. Everyone works hard together and the atmosphere right before applications can be stressful, but it really felt like a family – the support and encouragement you get is amazing. Thank you Spotcolor! :)

To be honest, before I went to Spotcolor I was at other art programs throughout OC/​LA and the attention, dedication, and passion is what convinced me to quickly switch. I always felt the other art programs were too «business minded». They weren’t interested in my success, rather the businesses’. The program at Spotcolor is genuine and constructed in a way to help you grow as an artist. I wouldn’t be where I am today without Spotcolor. Thank you Won Jang Neem & Team!

I have been to another art institution in Irvine, but that one did not compare to Spotcolor…
I came to Spotcolor to prepare my portfolio for college and I left very satisfied; I was able to get into all the colleges I applied to. The staff here are very helpful, super kind, and you really learn A LOT. They really care and want you to succeed. It was all in all a fun environment to be in while building my portfolio!

I would not be where I am if it weren’t for Spotcolor. This place didn’t only help me get on my feet, but rather broadened my perspective for continual growth.
I cannot thank Mr Soo Kim enough. With his mentorship, I got into ranking architecture school, finished it, and I now work in corp firm. I did not picture that before Spotcolor…

When I first attended Spotcolor I had no idea what to expect, or what I could get out of it. All I knew was that I needed help putting together a portfolio for college. This place has changed my life. They not only hone in on your skills and challenge you, but they also guide you to look outside the fine art realm and understand what youre potential truly is. Without their help, I wouldn’t have made it to where I am today. I encourage anyone who wants a future in the arts to go to Spotcolor. Thank you Soo Kim for guiding me and encouraging me in your own way :)

I don’t have enough words to say about this place. I came here knowing nothing about art, and left with a passion and understanding that’s grown into the pursuit of my life. When I first came here, I was just a student trying to learn about basic fashion design. The principal at the institute spent a lot of personal time with me and helped me see that what I enjoyed most was drawing and painting. Over a couple years, this man became my mentor in my pursuit of the arts. I cannot remove any bias or personal attachment from this review, because to be frank, this place changed my life. I’m not saying that you will have the same experience that I did, but you will be in the hands of someone who really cares.
If your goal is to just learn some drawing and painting, you will learn it, and if your goal is to go to art school, it will happen. If you have other plans, just talk to Soo Kim about it. He is understanding, and has a wealth of experience, from being a theatre set, fashion, and graphic designer. To be honest, he has a really dry sense of humor, but you can get passed that and move on. lol. This guy really enjoys what he does, and I hope more people will take the opportunity to learn from him. Spot Color and Soo Kim are truly a diamond in the rough.