Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art - Van Nuys, California

Discovering the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art

Nestled in the heart of Van Nuys, California, at the address 16926 Saticoy St, Van Nuys, CA 91406, United States, the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art (LAFTA) stands out as a beacon for aspiring artists. With an array of programs and a commitment to fostering creativity, LAFTA is a must-visit for anyone passionate about art. The academy, identified as a women-owned institution, prides itself on its inclusive environment, offering online classes, wheelchair-accessible facilities, and a LGBTQ+ friendly atmosphere.

When considering an art education, it's crucial to know that LAFTA specializes in Art school, Art Centre, and Arts Organisation. Their services extend beyond traditional classroom settings, embracing a modern approach with online classes available, ensuring that art education is accessible to everyone, regardless of their location.

For those with physical accessibility in mind, LAFTA ensures comfort and ease with wheelchair-accessible car parks and entrances. This attention to detail reflects their commitment to inclusivity, making the learning experience enjoyable and stress-free for all students.

One of the key points of interest is the academy's emphasis on being appointment required, indicating a structured approach to learning that values the students' time and educational goals. With 12 reviews on Google My Business, the academy has gathered a solid reputation, achieving an impressive average opinion rating of 4.7/5. This high rating is a testament to the quality of education and the supportive community that LAFTA fosters.

For potential students and art enthusiasts, visiting the LAFTA website is highly recommended to delve deeper into their programs, tuition fees, and application processes. The website, laafa.edu, provides a comprehensive overview of what makes LAFTA unique, from their specialized courses to their commitment to supporting diverse talents.

👍 Reviews of Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art

Cheryl G.

5/5

LAAFA is an amazing art school. The classes are very high-quality and certainly worth the tuition. The instructors are extremely good, some of the best in Southern California. They really who know their stuff and teach at an exceptional level. I most recently took classes with Leon Okun - he’s brilliant, talented and has an amazing way of teaching. The LAAFA learning environment is intense, yet tremendously fun. The students come from a wide variety of backgrounds, talent levels and age groups. Whether you are a professional artist looking to expand and sharpen your talents or a beginning novice - you will fit in here. Everyone is so welcoming. Parking is easy, the facilities are clean and inspiring. During Covid shutdown, the Zoom classes have been professional and staff has been helpful & organized. It seems that when I meet other professional artists in the LA area, they all know of this school and it’s great reputation. The lineage of students (both part-time & full-time) who have attended LAAFA over the years is very impressive.

Jana H.

5/5

I have cherished all of my art classes that I have been able to take online with LAAFA. It's been my one highlight during this time of isolation during the pandemic. I had wanted to take some of the workshops before 2020, but couldn't make it work with my work schedule and living in SF. So I was excited when the online option came up. I especially love my art classes with Leon Okun. He is an exquisite artist and a generous teacher. He has taught me what it means to paint versus drawing and the visual language of art. The classes have been perfect combination of lecture, demo, and critiques. And everything with LAAFA has been professionally organized with a zoom link sent out prior to the class and even text reminders. I'm so grateful to be able to take classes from the best of the best, that I otherwise wouldn't have been able to participate in.

Megan M. M.

5/5

LAAFA's online courses have been a fantastic opportunity to learn from and be critiqued by working artists who are masterful. Leon Okun, especially, has been an incredible teacher, sharing wisdom and perspective on art history and the present practice of it, along with kind but unvarnished critiques that have helped me get better. I have tools for understanding color and composition I never had before. Thank you, Leon, Holly, and everyone else at LAAFA!

Kathryn H. S.

5/5

We are so thankful that we found the gem of an art school. I went to a large art school myself many years ago and what draws me to LAAFA is the incredible talent of the instructors such as Rey Bustos , Andrea Mosly, Amanda Mears, Daniel Bilmes, Vanessa Lemen, Ron Lemen , and Marty Kline (to only name a few as the list goes on) as well and the Atelier style intensive training in a small environment. Our daughter's artistic path started early and so as a 9th grader in a small east coast town, we sought out additional training online. She signed up for an online Anatomy class with instructor Ron Lemen and her experience was so positive with the perfect amount of push,honest critique, and intense practice. So we then decided to search out and visit the school where he taught . This led us to LAAFA and when we visited, we were greeted by an amazing and informative tour with Art Director, Marty Kline. We were so impressed.It isn't about the bells and whistles like many schools, it's about truly talented working artist's sharing their craft. We ultimately sent her back for the summer youth program where she learned so much from each instructor she encountered and set her sights on the BFA program. I have since taken online classes myself in Portait drawing with Daniel Bilmes, Painting with Ron Lemen ( I was fascinated with his approach to paint mixing and I learned so much!) , and Vanessa Lemen's Imaginative Realism class which kept me coming back multiple times. It honestly was such a gift during this difficult pandemic year to have the chance to work with such great artists online . Whether in person or online I HIGHLY recommend LAAFA if you are looking to pursue an artistic path.

sharon N.

5/5

I have taken a number of oil painting classes at LAAFA over the years. I have found the instructors to be very talented, knowledgeable, and interested in helping to students to grow as artists. I highly recommend this school.

Sarah P.

5/5

I took an online anatomy course from Mr. Rey and it is the best art course I have ever taken. I absolutely love his teaching style and love that LAAFA has this amazing online feature so that I can take classes as well even though I'm not located in Cali!

Sassy ?. F.

1/5

Ron Lemen, a teacher at LAAFA, told my sister who was struggling with shading and color value, to “quit your job and get a job in retail, cuz that’s all you’re good for.” She told the higher ups what happened, even provided proof, but they did nothing about it. She ended up quitting. Don’t go there unless you’re already good at art. It’s not a place to learn and improve. It’s a place to show off. A big waste of money .

Maritza L.

5/5

Already took 2 classes and learned a lot. The instructors are very friendly and very helpful. The online approach is very well done. And for people like me who are not able to attend in-person classes, the online one is super convenient! When I can, I don’t mind in taking more classes to further hone my art skills.