Art Academia

I go to Art Academia to learn watercolor painting with Inna every Thursday night 7pm-​9pm for the adult session. The time slot fits in my work schedule perfectly. It’s really a relieving and inspiring experience and make Thursday my favorite day. I can see my skills are improving as time goes by. In addition, the location is very convenient. All the best restaurants in san mateo are around.

I was delighted to join Inna Polnar’s painting class for adults at the Art Academia. Classes are small and tailored to the experience of the students. The instructor, Inna Polnar, is a gifted teacher and a fine artist. Inna teaches her students to «see» clearly. She provides the class with instruction in the principles and technique of painting. and the students learn by doing. Inna is concerned about the progress her students and she provides individual guidance to each person in the class. The Art Academia is a wonderful environment for learning, .I highly recommend Inna Polnar’s painting classes for adults,

I took a 4 day workshop with Colley Whissom through Art Academia in San Mateo. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire 4 days…2 out on location, and 2 inside Inna Polnar’s Art Academia studio. Each day we were given entirely different subject matter using Colley’s technique. Hope Colley will be back at Art Academia next year.

My son, 6 years old attended a summer camp at Art Academia and he just couldn’t wait for the next day. Whether it was painting, ceramics, or puppet making, Inna made it a fun and engaging learning experience.

I decided to take some time off from work and really wanted to do something fun and creative. Looked into watercolor painting classes as I used to enjoy it a long time ago. I am so glad I found Art Academia. Inna is a great teacher and so patient. She has me looking at how light hits objects in a whole new way! Even if you are an adult, you can learn to paint!

My daughter has attended summer camp here for the past two weeks. She loves it! Inna is so kind and patient as well as talented. Even though my eleven year old has taken art classes elsewhere before, I think she’s learned more and improved immensely in these past two weeks. We will definitely be signing up for classes during the regular school year. Art Academia is a true gem.

I love this art school! Specially Inna is such a good human & a teacher as well ! My daughter love to go there. She don’t like to miss her class. She is learning new things about painting from Inna.

This is a school, but so much more. Inna spends time with each and every person or project and works from the heart. She is a gifted teacher and friend.
Inna painted a a lovely portrait of my dog from a photo and it brought me to tears.

My daughter really looks forward to her art class every week. I love the calm and quiet environment it provides. She also learns pottery in addition to painting and sketching.

I started Inna’s class at Art Academia only a few months ago and realized right away that her school was exactly what I was looking for. Inna is a traditional, «old school» artist, a rare find, and she takes her art, as well as her teaching, very seriously, whether her students are children or adults (my case). Inna is a very honest and constructively critical coach and, at the same time, her mentoring is very respectful and gentle. Inna’s eye for colors, light and shades is amazing and she teaches her students to see tiniest gradations of color and reflect them in their artwork. Inna’s art and teaching talent, as well as her warm, friendly personality make my painting class with her a highlight of my week. I am very happy there.

i am 22 years old and recently began my art lessons with Inna in late july. In the course of a month, i have seen myself improve under Inna’s teaching methods. I find her to be very refreshing. Her knowledge in fine arts is quite incredible. She is honest with constructive criticism and it is exactly what every aspiring artist needs. She has helped me perceive still life in a more coherent and structural way. I highly recommend her, even for teenagers and people in their 20s!

My 13-​year-​old daughter was enrolled at another art class for 5 years. After expressing boredom and not learning much from her art instructor, I transferred her to Art Academia beginning of this year. She was reluctant at first, as all teenagers are to anything unfamiliar. Three months in, and my daughter told me she how loves this place and she’s been learning so much from Inna (the art lesson instructor and owner) on the fundamentals of painting. Although she was intimidated at first, she now truly enjoys the experience of presenting their art work in class, so not only does she learn from her instructors but also from her peers.
I’m so glad we found Art Academia! Thank you, Inna!

My daughter started only a few months ago but she absolutely loves the class and I’m amazed by the progress she’s made — I’m recommending Art Academia to all my friends now!

My daughter has been going to Art Academia for years. She absolutely loves going there, and loves Inna. I think the best testament of any school is the childs desire to go, specially when it concerns after school activities. My daughter looks forward to going to Art Academia and her time there and she is so proud of what she accomplishes.

My son started at Art Academia at the age of 7, and has been taking classes there for the past six years. We tried other schools before, and I think this one is the best on the Peninsula.
The owner, Inna Polnar is not just a regular art teacher; she is a real artist who is genuinely interested and actively engaged in the subject. Her studio looks unmistakably like an artist’s workshop: spacious and full of light, with pictures covering the walls, and fruits or flowers carefully arranged for a perfect still life. Inna is involved in the art life; her students participate in competitions and exhibit their works at different venues.
The lesson is two hours long. Inna teachers different media, such as water color, pastel and most importantly oil painting. Special attention is given to different techniques of drawing, and one class of the month is usually devoted to draftsmanship. Children always have freedom to express themselves, and yet they are well instructed. Sometimes Inna gives students a theme, like «rain», and they have to come up with their own composition and choose the medium. Sometimes they copy old masters, from Renaissance to impressionists to Picasso, thus learning about great art and what makes it beautiful and expressive from the inside.
At the end of the class students are taught to analyze each others works, discuss their strengths and potential for improvement. It is fascinating to see how children talk about balancing forms and colors, about finding perfect harmony, about making picture look «just right».
The other thing worth mentioning is that children are placed in classes not just based on their age, but their ability. If Inna thinks that a child has outgrown his group level she will move him to another, older one; this way students are always sufficiently challenged.
If you are looking for place to learn art or about art, go and check it out. You will not find a better school.

I randomely stumbled upon this lovely studio and got a chance to chat with the owner. She is very sweet and pleasant. I am definitely coming back to take some art lessons from her. :)