TESTIMONIALS

“Rebecca at Pikes Peak Artist Collective provided an outlet for creativity for my daughters, age 5 and 8.  I loved that they could attend the same art class while working at their individual pace and skill level.  Rebecca is child friendly and easily built a rapport with my girls.  Rebecca’s studio is inviting, providing an environment that encourages exploration and artistic growth.  My daughters loved being able to explore various media and techniques with the perfect balance of instruction and freedom.  The art show at the end of the year was amazing and the positive impact on our children’s confidence was priceless.  My daughters are looking forward to their next art class!  I recommend Pikes Peak Artist Collective for children and adults looking for a creative experience.”

– Eva

“My daughter’s weekly art lessons are the best part of her week. She has learned a wide variety of art techniques, her favorite being pottery. A few months into her lessons, I began to see the skills she was learning in class make their way into her art and drawings at home. PPAC provides a warm, creative and friendly environment to allow kids time to develop artistic skill!”

– Elizabeth

“My 7 year old took two separate workshops with Rebecca over the summer. Of all the summer camps we did, this one was above and beyond. Rebecca has such a special talent in working with young kids. She kept them organized on task, having so much fun, and sparked such a love for different mediums of art in my daughter Emma. Rebecca is intentional about her art and community in artistic collaboration and it shows. The classes Emma did allowed her to truly grow and try new things out to express herself artistically. The patience and warmth that was provided fostered so much more than just artistic abilities. Highly recommend her as a teacher for adults and kids alike. We will continue to be back for camps and workshops in the future.”

– Valerie

“Erin is an amazing painting instructor! She is cheerful and inspires me to want to explore new styles. I took her Georgia O’Keefe workshop as well as the Van Gogh workshop at Pikes Peak Artist collective….what a treat! The space is well lit and conducive to workshops. I look forward to taking Erin’s classes in the future and maturing as an artist.”

– MK

“Erin’s classes always have lots of talented artists in them who are also willing to share their tips and tricks. Erin brings a good foundation about the artist to the class and is always willing to help you when you are stuck.”

– Lisa

“I’ve been taking weekly adult clay classes at Pikes Peak Artist Collective with Rebecca for about 3 months and I couldn’t ask for a better experience. I took a few art classes in high school but otherwise didn’t have much experience with clay and I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I’ve learned so much about wheel throwing, hand building, carving and glazing and my skills have improved immensely since my first class. I like the free form of the class because I can experiment with different shapes and techniques and Rebecca is always there to provide constructive feedback and guidance. I love having time set aside each week to be creative in a cozy, relaxing environment with someone so invested in helping each student discover and develop their own point of view as an artist.”

– Becca

“I have taken several classes with Erin, at Bemis and one class at PPAC. Her strength as a teacher shows through in her commitment to her students to expand and stretch their skills at all levels of painting. Her style of teaching helps her students push past their individual obstacles which instills confidence in what ever medium they are working in. From the novice painter in her classes, which she provides additional individual instruction, to the more advanced students which she closely watches to help them advance their individual skills, she is a positive force in the development of her students. ”

-Lynn

“I have taken several classes from Erin.  She is very knowledgable, passionate about painting and encouraging to students. She is a gem in the world of art education!”

-Carol

“Erin is a fun, creative teacher who encourages you to step out of your comfort zone with new painting styles and techniques. Her exuberance for art is catching!”

-JoAnn

“Erin Gillespie is the finest arts instructor I know. She is incredibly creative, effective, and generous, freely sharing her talents and expertise. She makes learning new approaches and methods both challenging and FUN. So long as Erin Gillespie teaches, I will be one of her many dedicated students.”

-Karon

“Erin is an awesome teacher. Wherever you are in the development of your artistic talents, Erin will meet you there. Then, with each class she will help you to improve your skills and expand your vision of yourself as an artist. I have loved every class I have taken with her.”

-Judy

“Erin is a terrific instructor! She has a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm for sharing and can bring your painting up to new levels. I’ve been taking her painting classes for years and will continue to do so!”
-Bill

“I keep signing up for Erin’s classes because I respect her as an artist, value her opinion, and appreciate her ability to create a space in which all are celebrated and inspired to grow.”
-Becky

I started taking classes with Erin Gillespie at Bemis School of Art in January of 2019. She taught me the fundamentals of how to paint with oils, how to draw, how to paint landscapes, and how to draw the human figure. In 2020, I took Paint like Van Gogh from Erin at Pikes Peak Artist Collective.
Wherever she teaches, Erin creates a collaborative and warm environment where adult painters often leave a class with new friends. She begins classes with a bit of history on an artist and some reference photos, and circulates making students feel welcome and supported while they work. Erin is especially adept at constructive criticism. She has a huge following in Colorado Springs, and her classes fill quickly, so if you are thinking about signing up for a class with Erin, don’t hesitate. I look forward to Erin’s classes, and I love taking classes with her at PPAC!

-Elizabeth