Don’t Take My Word for It: What Students Are Saying About My Paint Your Pet Classes
If you’ve been curious about taking a Paint Your Pet class, you don’t have to take Lovejoy’s word for it.
One of the clearest ways to understand what the experience is actually like is to hear from the students who have already taken class. On Yelp, Lovejoy Creations currently has a 5.0 rating from 154 reviews, and the themes in those reviews are strikingly consistent: beginners feel comfortable, the class feels relaxed, the instruction feels personal, and students often leave surprised by what they created. Yelp’s own business description also describes Paint Your Pet as a longtime offering for first-time and beginner painters, and notes that Lovejoy has been teaching it for over 15 years.
After teaching beginner-friendly painting workshops for more than 15 years, Lovejoy has built a class experience that is meant to feel supportive without feeling controlling. That balance comes through clearly in the reviews. Again and again, students describe feeling guided, but still proud that the final painting is truly their own.
Sarah M.: A Great Example of What First-Timers Often Experience
Sarah M.’s review is a perfect example of why this class appeals to people who may feel hesitant at first. In her November 2025 Yelp review, she explained that she came on her own and did not even paint a pet. Instead, she chose to paint favorite stuffed animals. What stands out in her review is not just that she had fun, but that Lovejoy’s instruction helped her create something she felt proud of displaying at home. Sarah described the class as a “wonderful no fuss evening,” which captures something important about the atmosphere Lovejoy creates. It feels welcoming, approachable, and low-pressure.
Sarah’s review also highlights another practical detail that helps beginners feel more at ease: the canvas was prepared ahead of time from the submitted image. One of her attached photo captions explains that Lovejoy transferred a line drawing of the digital image onto the canvas first, which made the process feel much more manageable. For someone trying a class alone, or someone unsure of their artistic skill, that kind of preparation can make a huge difference.
What makes Sarah’s feedback especially useful is that it shows the class is not only for confident artists or even only for traditional pet portraits. It shows that the real value is the experience itself: thoughtful instruction, a relaxed environment, and the satisfaction of walking away with something unexpectedly good.
Denisse M.: The Experience Is Good Enough to Come Back For
Denisse M.’s May 2025 review is short, but it says a lot. She called the class “Relaxing and creative,” said she “can’t recommend it enough,” and noted that it was her second Paint Your Pet class and that she would definitely attend a third. That review matters because repeat attendance is one of the strongest forms of social proof. It tells a potential student that this is not just a one-time novelty people try and forget. It is something people genuinely enjoy enough to do again.
Denisse’s review also points to something that comes up repeatedly in public feedback: the class is not just about learning a skill. It is about having a creative experience that feels good while you are doing it. “Relaxing and creative” is such a concise description, but it reflects exactly the kind of environment many beginners are looking for. They do not want a stressful art lesson. They want a guided experience where they can slow down, focus, and enjoy painting something meaningful.
For people visiting Sedona, or even for returning local students, that matters. A class that feels calm, personal, and worth repeating is very different from a one-off tourist activity.
Leslie B.: Why Lovejoy’s Teaching Style Stands Out
If one review captures what makes Lovejoy’s instruction different, it may be Leslie B.’s December 2023 Yelp review.
Leslie came in with some experience taking paint-and-sip classes, including other Paint Your Pet events, so her review is especially valuable because she is making comparisons. She wrote that the instruction in Lovejoy’s class was “top notch,” and explained why: it was a small class, she received lots of personalized attention, and the setup helped her feel less intimidated as someone who did not consider herself naturally artistic. Leslie also shared that Lovejoy described the class as “adult kindergarten,” which helped reframe the experience as something approachable rather than intimidating.
But the most important part of Leslie’s review is her description of how Lovejoy teaches. She wrote that Lovejoy was able to offer critiques and suggestions “without ever touching my canvas,” and then added, “My work was my work.” That is a powerful statement, because it addresses a very real concern many people have about guided art classes. They do not want a teacher to quietly fix the painting for them. They want to leave feeling that they made it themselves.
Leslie’s review gets right to the heart of that. Lovejoy helps students see what to change, what to try, and where to go next, but the painting remains their own. That teaching style builds confidence rather than dependency, and it helps explain why so many beginners leave class feeling genuinely proud of the final result. Leslie ended her review by saying she was able to commemorate the dog she had adopted that year through the painting, which adds another layer of meaning to the experience. This is not just craft time. For many students, it becomes a way to honor a beloved animal in a personal and lasting way.
What These Reviews Have in Common
Even though Sarah, Denisse, and Leslie each came in with different expectations, their reviews point to the same core strengths.
The first is that the class feels genuinely beginner-friendly. Yelp’s review highlights also reinforce this, including one snippet saying Lovejoy made the class “totally doable” even for someone who felt unskilled. That same section also highlights how students send pet photos ahead of time so Lovejoy can prepare the canvas in advance.
The second is that students feel guided without feeling taken over. That is a subtle but important distinction, and Leslie’s review expresses it especially well. The support is real, but the final painting still belongs to the student.
The third is that the experience itself feels good. Students use words like relaxing, creative, easy to enjoy, and worth coming back for. For many people, that matters just as much as the finished painting. They are not just looking for an art product. They are looking for a class that feels warm, encouraging, and memorable.
Why This Feedback Matters
The best reviews do more than praise a business. They answer the exact questions future students are quietly asking.
Will I feel out of place if I’m a beginner?
Will I actually get enough help?
Will the teacher take over my painting?
Will I enjoy this if I come alone, or if I’m nervous?
Will I leave with something I’m proud of?
These Yelp reviews answer all of that in a much more credible way than marketing copy ever could. Sarah’s review speaks to approachability and surprise. Denisse’s speaks to enjoyment and repeat value. Leslie’s speaks to the quality of instruction and to Lovejoy’s ability to teach without taking away ownership of the work. Together, they paint a very clear picture of what students can expect.
Lovejoy’s Goal Has Always Been the Same
After more than 15 years of teaching Paint Your Pet, Lovejoy’s goal has remained simple: help people feel comfortable enough to create something personal and meaningful, even if they do not think of themselves as artists. Yelp’s business description emphasizes that the class is designed to help first-time and beginner painters build confidence while painting something they love, and the public reviews strongly support that promise.
That is what comes through most clearly in the student feedback.
Not perfection.
Not pressure.
Not a class where someone else fixes everything for you.
What comes through is confidence, support, and pride.
Join a Paint Your Pet Class in Sedona
If you’ve been thinking about taking a class, Lovejoy would love to paint with you.
Lovejoy’s Sedona Paint Your Pet workshops are designed to be welcoming, beginner-friendly, and personal for first-time painters and returning students alike.
See upcoming Sedona workshop dates and reserve your spot here.
🎨🐾SAT & SUN morning workshops @Lovejoy’s Studio in West Sedona
🎨😎Lovejoy teaches 4 times a year in SAN DIEGO, CA
🎨💻Can’t make one of the in-person workshops - Check out the self-paced ONLINE COURSE for Paint Your Pet