No strings attached, no questions asked. Come in, pay 15 bucks and you get 3 hours with a…read moreprofessional model, good light and very nice atmosphere. You can bring any type of tools you want, have any skill level and do whatever you want; as far as unstructured figure drawing sessions it doesn't get better than this. The place provides benches but no tools so make sure you bring your own. Also be ready to be impressed by the very good artists that practice here. If you want you can also take a lesson but those cost more and are on tuesday and thursday I believe.

This is the best drawing class I've ever attended. The instructor is extremely thorough and…read morehelpful. If you want to improve your artistic abilities you need to take classes here.

Lillstreet Art Center is a magical place, it has a little bit of everything!…read more I've taken everything from pottery classes to jewelry workshops to textile classes here. They really have a wide selection and great time options in the evenings for those who work 9-5. 12 years later I still use the garlic grater I made in a sculpting class. Prices are expected, but reasonable for what you get. Teachers are awesome and work with you to help you learn, even if working with clay isn't your thing (I learned quickly it wasn't my thing). But it's still fun to try something new! In the heart of Ravenswood easily accessible by the el, and they do have parking if you drive. Definitely check out this gem if you haven't yet.

As described in the Lillstreet Art Center website, it was "founded in 1975, Lillstreet is a…read morecreative workspace for artists of all levels, from first-timers, to professionals. No matter how you define yourself, you belong here!" When Daughter told me that she had just registered for a "Beginning Wheelthrowing" class at Lillstreet, I did not know the art center. However, I had always been curious about wheelthrowing and wanted to finally learn about it, so I registered too! We both registered for a 10-week class that met once a week in the weekend. It had been a fun 10 weeks! Well, we had missed 2 classes for our unexpected trip to Europe, but we were fortunate that we could make up work by going to "open studios" that are available only to current students. Our teacher Jen FitzGerald has 25 years of experience in ceramics. Both Jen and the class assistant, Kim, are very kind, welcoming, and encouraging. Jen always has solutions to whatever problems that we might have. After she made a demonstration throwing on the wheel, she would go around the classroom to see how everybody was doing with her own work. It was especially helpful during the first couple of classes that Jen came by me and helped me one-on-one to overcome the hurdles that I had. After I "mastered" the techniques, wheelthrowing is relaxing and fun. Glazing pottery has been a lot of fun too! Looking for our fired glazed work on the common shelves is like Christmas! There have been nice surprises of how the glazed work turned out! Now both Daughter and I have made a bunch of cups, mugs, and bowls that we are proud of. Like a lot of the students at Lillstreet, our passion for ceramics have been ignited, this class won't be the last! Lillstreet Art Center not only offers a lot of different art classes for all levels, it also hosts private events like birthday parties, and one-time workshops that you can test the water and have some fun. There is a gallery/gift shop that features a lot of one-of-a-kind creations from teachers and students, most are really sophisticated and professional, and inspirational too! There is a small café that you can enjoy local baked goods. We had tried the almond croissants which were very good. Our teacher Jen is having a Lounge Show "Mudweaver Ceramics" in the cafe, from November 1 to 30, 2024. The show showcases some very amazing ceramic art that looks like woven baskets! Come see the show if you can! Closing reception is on Friday, November 29 at 6:00 PM.

Had a birthday party here with a group of girlfriends and did the Friday night class led by James…read more It was so fun and learned so much! Would highly recommend!

We had a great time! Value - good…read moreExperience- great- friendly staff Cute decor I did a girlfriend excursion but I saw mother/daughter duo having fun and a few first time daters. Street parking was available. Restaurants close by to grab a bite before or after. Yolk's test kitchen down a couple blocks and the blueberry hibiscus drink smashed!!

It's actually way too far away from where I reside . I've been there before!! I love the atmosphere…read moreand how helpful the staff has been- A alas, it's too far away from me KNITTING RULES

Tried rug tufting for the first time and honestly... best date I've been on in a minute. I was so…read morenervous at first (curvy lines had me fighting for my life), but HUGE shoutout to Emily for being the sweetest, most patient guide ever. By the end I was locked in fr. The studio had everything - tons of colors, multiple craft options, and it's BYOB.

Go! Visit this place as soon as you can and take a class if you've been curious about stained glass…read moreor fused glass. You might look at the price and turn the other way but the knowledge and care during classes is worth every penny. I took a private class today with Mika and had the best time. Mika was a great instructor and super knowledgeable. I'm excited to take a class again at some point soon.

I was attracted to this place by the gorgeous glass art in the window, and came in to find…read morebeautiful jewelry, suncatchers and other art. I came back with my adult daughter for a fused art class, and Evelina welcomed everyone with wine and appetizers and an explanation of how to make art. There were bins of colored glass in many shapes and sizes to play with. She spent extra time with my daughter who was having trouble letting her creative side out. They made a glass dish together that everyone compliments. Then Jessie began to play with shapes and colors to make a few other pieces. Her confidence came out! I get compliments on the art pendants I created, too. I'll be bringing more friends with me next time!

Super cute little gift shop. I bought some little wooden cars for 2 year old's birthday AND was…read moreable to visit a mini art vending machine (my goal for going). Glad the mini art drew me in because the store is so fun and the staff was lovely.

HEADS UP, LOCALS: If you're shopping here to support independent artists and local businesses, take…read morea closer look at what you're buying--you might be buying TEMU. Living in Wicker Park, I intentionally spend more money at neighborhood businesses because I want to support the community behind them. That's why I purchased a ring here for $34. Later, I found what appears to be the identical ring on Temu for $3.20. The price difference isn't what bothered me. Local businesses need to make money. What bothered me was believing I was supporting a unique local boutique, only to discover what appears to be a mass-produced item readily available online. Maybe some items here are made by local artists. I hope they are. Too bad the owner wasn't there when I stopped in, because this is feedback I would have preferred to give directly. Whether the response to this review is that the ring isn't from Temu, that retail markups are normal, or that other products in the store are locally made, the underlying concern remains the same: customers who choose to shop local deserve transparency about what they're actually supporting. That's what makes this so disappointing.

The Flying Dolphin Studio and John- Michael were amazing. I was able to learn new techniques in…read morecalligraphy while enjoying the ambiance. The hospitality once there is also top notch. I would definitely recommend this class and location to my friends.

Initially, I was a little apprehensive to approach the studio as it seemed to be in an apartment…read morecomplex on the third floor. But John-Michael warmly welcomed all ~12 students with hot tea and coffee, quickly making my apprehensions go away. We were provided a pen and folder with information and practice sheets on the Chancery Style of writing we would learn. John-Michael was an excellent teacher who studied Calligraphy for years. He helped us understand that we should think of the Chancery Typeface in shapes, rather than single strokes (like normal hand writing). He was open to questions and showed students step-by-step how to make each letter and number. At the conclusion, we were given practice sheets to strengthen our newly found skill. I would absolutely recommend the introductory course to anyone who is seriously interested in studying Calligraphy and to those who want to enjoy a new experience! I personally had taught myself various hand-lettering scripts, so I appreciated the more formal training.

Hubby & I had such a great experience in the Pottery Studio 1 class in Chicago! Our instructor,…read moreMar, was a wonderful host -- patient, creative, and really easy to work with. We made "couples" mugs, and Mar gave us tons of ideas and helpful tips along the way so our pieces felt personal and unique. The class was relaxed, with welcoming vibe, and the perfect playlist! We enjoyed chatting with Mar about our favorite shows and movies while we worked -- it made the experience even more fun and comfortable. This was a perfect mix of learning something new and just enjoying the process. Highly recommend this class (and Mar especially!) for anyone looking for a positive, hands-on creative experience.

My friend and I were really excited to attend our first ever pottery class. Upon entering we were…read moregreeted by the teachers and they explained the whole process to us. The studio is a bit small but and enough space for you to roam about and do your thing. The first step was to handle the clay then they thought us how to handle the wheel and then we got to choose if we wanted a vase, a cup or a bowl. We were in a small group of 6 due to which the teachers could explain and help us well. We ended up upgrading our class to include paint as well as we got to know that without the paint we won't be able to use the things we made of it involves water. My friend made a cute cup and I made a not so cute vase. I would definitely say that but the end of the class, we were rushing a bit and would have appreciated some help and tips from the teachers but we didn't get any. We had to constantly ask about things and where the brushes were and where the paints were. Since it was our first ever class, we would have appreciated a bit more help from the teachers in managing our time and helpful tips on how to glaze correctly instead of having to ask everything ourselves when we are already rushing. Regardless, we had a lot of fun and can't wait to pick up our pieces soon!