28 Kids Arts & Crafts Spots Around Chicago

For a diverse mix of art-based after school, weekend, and summer programs, few Chicago area studios have as many options as the Evanston Art Center. Kids can choose to explore traditional mediums such as oil painting, print making, woodworking, and ceramics, or dive into something less conventional, like graffiti murals, cartooning or fashion design. Family workshops and parent-child classes are also available.

Kristin S. said:   Little Bits Workshop fuses art with purpose! Kids are empowered to work independently in a group setting. The owner is inspired by the excitement children have when given the opportunity to create something new! Workshops offered include sewing, knitting, crochet, upcycling, paper and fiber arts and art appreciation. Classes are based on age (6+) and ability. Themed summer camps are creative and fun, mixing art and time outdoors. What better way to foster a love for Mother Earth than to use her beauty as an inspiration!

Prairie Art Studio offers a variety of classes that your child can progress through as they age and develop in skill. All supplies and materials are provided with the classes. Starting with a focus on the alphabet, moving in to shapes, and continuing through drawing fundamentals and beyond, your child will gain confidence in their artistic ability as well as the skills to continue to improve.

Enjoy using stencils, idea books, sponges, over 80 options for paint colors, and, of course, paint brushes to create a ceramic masterpiece. When you are finished, they will glaze and fire your piece and it will be ready for pickup in a week.

Color Me Mine is a pottery painting place. Guests pick their pieces to paint and can use everything in the studio - colors, stencils and more. They also offer birthday parties and Kids Night Out events where parents can drop kids off for a fun painting night.

Thrown Elements Pottery is a paint your own pottery and wet clay ceramic studio offering clay classes for all ages, parties and drop ins. They also hold camps for the kids.

Whim is a fun and whimsical place where you can let your creative juices flow as you choose from among their decorative or functional pottery pieces to paint. They offer in-studio pottery painting by appointment and clay classes for all ages. They also have pottery and clay-making kits available to go.

Kids Art & Cafe is an indoor play area with cafe and free WiFi, offering art classes for children on select evenings. The drop-in play space includes a train table, Lego Duplo and Bristle Block tables, playhouse, and indoor playground with ball pit. The cafe serves more than your standard kiddie food. Enjoy a Belgian waffle or grilled panini sandwich while you play, wait or work. Their art classes include a variety of mediums.

At Pottery Bayou, you can select your ceramic piece and your paints, and then either paint freehand or use their stencils, stamps, sponges and idea books to complete your masterpiece. They will glaze and fire your piece and it will be ready for pick up in 7 - 10 days.

Ceramics For You is a paint-your-own pottery and glass-fusing studio for all ages. Interested painters can simply walk-in and paint, come to one of their classes or schedule a party. They have hundreds of ceramic pieces available, a huge selection of paint colors, and tons of glass chips and panels to help you bring your artistic vision to completion.

Experience community and creativity at Art Füzd! This social art studio welcomes walk-ins for pottery painting (age 4+), and reservations for canvas painting (age 10+). The studio is also available for parties, corporate events, and fundraisers. 

Yoli B said:  Owners are so welcoming! Kids loved this place I am even thinking about having a party here!! Definitely worth a visit.

Clay Monet offers over 1000 ceramic pieces to paint, and does not charge a sitting or studio fee. If you do not finish your masterpiece in one sitting, you can return to finish it at any time at no extra charge. They also host after school children's clay and pottery painting classes!

In addition to drop-in canvas painting and board art, Arts on Fire Plano has an extensive selection of bisque pottery pieces for you to choose from to create your own masterpiece during studio walk-in hours. They have hundreds of colors, lots of samples, and stickers, stencils, stamps and sponges to allow you to unleash your inner artist. They also have specialty glazes such as glitter and crystal.

You can also shop online from the fun variety of to-go kits they've created that you can paint at home and return to their studio for firing.