Bay Area Classical Artist Atelier LLC - San Carlos, California

Greg Meissner

BACAA is a rare find. If you are considering a workshop or class there, and are on the fence, my most heartfelt advice is "do it!" There I have experienced my most significant growth as an artist. I have learned from some of the highest echelon of professional painters and celebrated authors. I have been taught a unique and effective way to see visual space and to depict it. There I continue to study with visiting masters and directly with BACAA's founder Linda Dulaney. Both BACAA and Linda have been mentioned very favorably on several contemporary artist podcasts. I have never left a workshop or class there the same artist that I was when I went in. I cannot overemphasize just how much I have grown as a result of my time there. When I recently relocated back from New York, rejoining BACAA was one of my top priorities. It is one of the few places where I know that I will grow in a significant and lasting way. Art materials and workshops can be expensive for most of us, but BACAA is a solidly reliable source of professional development that pays off in myriad ways. I would add that I have always been treated very fairly kindly there. The entire operation is nothing if not professional and prestigious.

BACAA is a place where serious artists truly grow.

Elizabeth Wilson

I should have known I was in for a trip when the program organizer referenced “per the terms and conditions” in every email. The overly litigious communications from the get go, coupled with disorganized response that didn’t fully address my questions should have been a good indication, but I remained hopeful. I signed up for an international workshop that was partnered with an artist I admire from Instagram. I was very excited about this, but the program was cancelled one month before the start date. No transparency was given for the cancellation, nor was there notification that our refunds were in process, which would have been the correct response. Additionally, I was chastised for *gasp* making firm hotel and flight plans. Understand things happen, but you can’t leave flights to the last minute and truly refundable flights are very rare. Instead the terms and conditions were referenced again, and while the terms did specify “If BACAA cancels any class, workshop or program, whether fully or partially, full tuition or a portion thereof, will be refunded to the registrant for any and all remaining cancelled days or portion of days. Refunds will be provided in 30 days.” my email to find out more information was not responded to. I waited a week for a more concrete response on when I would get my refund before submitting a dispute to my bank, and the status is still pending vendor response. We are now 3 weeks past the refund date “per the terms and conditions” and I have not gotten my money back. While I understand things happen, this was an expensive course and BACAA should not get an interest free loan from customers. I am sure they have great programs, the ones that actually happen, but buyer beware especially for international programs.
I see other reviews on yelp pointing to the non-customer positive behavior by this company and their Terms an conditions.

Qing Miao

I do not need to travel to east coast now to find better instructors. BACAA provides world class workshops 😀