Celebrate your budding Kahlo or Kandinsky at these local art studios.
We all love seeing our kids get creative and watching them really dive into an art project. But it’s hard not to cringe when you see the paint splatter and the brushes being ditched for fingers at the kitchen table. So when you’re throwing a birthday party for your little artist (think of all those messy hands), it’s a good time to outsource. Luckily, Chicago art studios offer kids the chance to celebrate, learn new things, and get their hands dirty, all in a laid-back environment that isn’t the house. (That’s great news for babysitters or nannies who are trying to help parents keep the place clean, too!)
Read on for our list of the top five spots around the city to throw a kids’ paint party.
Address: 2646 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60614
Hours: Hours vary based on class schedule
Phone: 773-636-1968
This cheerful kids’ art studio in Lincoln Park caters to even very small kids for parties — you can host a gang of 2-year-olds here without a headache. Choose the kind of party you want to throw — from flexible, open studio time to a simple art-class-and-cupcake affair to a blowout with pizza and a temporary tattoo station. Their most popular art project is a paint splatter activity. Barefoot kids go to town with paint-filled squeeze bottles during this Jackson Pollock-inspired project, covering canvases that they are able to take home at the end of the party.
No matter the project, the Paintbrush makes its parties easy for you. The teachers set up, clean up, serve food, and run the activities. The studio can also take care of ordering pizza or packing goodie bags for you at an extra cost. Parties are priced per child, ranging from about $23 to $35 per guest depending on your numbers and activities.
Easel Art Studio
Address: 1911 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Saturday & Sunday, reserved for birthday parties
Phone: 773-360-1720
During the week, Bucktown’s Easel Art Studio teaches kids’ classes on painting, sewing, mixed media, and more. Birthday parties take over the studio on weekends. The experienced teachers lead your little guests through whichever art project you choose, while you get to relax and snap pictures. When they’re done, kids can have their faces painted and dig into pizza. (You get a discount from nearby thin-crust pizza joint, Piece.)
And if you do want to host at your place, Easel Art Studio’s teachers make house calls! They’ll bring the materials, run the activity, set up, and clean up. Prices for Easel Art Studio’s parties start at $350, plus a $14 per-child fee for art projects. Home parties start at $275.
The Wishcraft Workshop
Address: 3907 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, IL 60618
Hours: Monday – Thursday, noon – 6 p.m. | Friday, noon – 9 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Phone: 773-348-9474
This North Center kids’ art studio is all about building children’s curiosity and confidence through art, and they bring the same spirit to birthday celebrations. They’ll work with you to design a project based on your child’s interests — Sharks? Monet? — and put together the supplies using eco-friendly materials. They make sure the birthday kid feels special, too, by making a handmade party hat for them and having them blow out a giant stuffed candle. Prices depend on the number of guests and range from $435 to $655 for a 90-minute party.
Can’t get your group to the studio? The Wishcraft Workshop can cut down on your planning and make you a to-go party kit with materials, instructions, and an example, so you can lead guests through a painting project at home.
Unicoi Art Studio
Address: 2059 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL 60618
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. | Saturday, 10 a.m. – noon | Saturday afternoons & all day Sunday available for parties
Phone: 773-975-6515
This Roscoe Village studio offers festive parties and art classes for kids from 20 months to 12 years. Unicoi Studio will work with you to custom design a project perfect for your partiers so that you can choose something based on your child’s latest interest. They’ve done everything from paint parties based on Vincent Van Gogh and Henri Rousseau to ninja sculptures and outer space collages. Kids under the age of 4 are entertained with art stations made for experimenting instead of a structured project.
They even add in extras like decorations and free class coupons for every guest. Keep it simple or choose one of Unicoi Studio’s party packages for add-ons, like face-painting, a photo booth, professional photography, goodie bags, and activities to do when the masterpieces are complete. Unicoi’s party packages start at $290 and run up to $985.
Aartwerk Studio
Address: 1141 W. Granville Ave., Chicago, IL 60660
Hours: Open daily, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone: 773-217-6604
Aartwerk Studio in Edgewater teaches serious drawing and painting classes for adults and kids, but when it’s time to party, they let loose. Your birthday child and their friends will be led through a painting project of your choice, and when they’re done creating, they are free to play and dance, since the studio sets up an area for play separate from the work space. Aartwerk provides all the paper goods you would need, making it easy to finish the party with cake for your little Picassos. If you find yourself wanting to get in on the fun, check out the studio’s wine and art nights. They ask that you check the schedule before dropping in. Parties at Aartwerk Studio vary depending on the project, time and number of guests, but they range from about $350 to $600.
Did we list all your favorite paint party places around town? Let us know in the comments below!
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