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.

Too many students for one teacher Also teacher was new to…read moreteaching Had to pay more money for private lessons Private instructor was amazing

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.

My daughter has been taking classes here for a few weeks and is really loving it! She's learning…read morethe basics of form drawing while also getting to experiment with different materials in a supportive environment. I highly recommend StudioUs!

Studio us is an amazing art studio located south of Andersonville. Rachel is the owner and…read moreinstructor and has an absolute magical way with children. She employs technology to help kids learn to draw one line at a time. She also holds amazing workshops for $10 an hour where kids can do special art projects. Classes are maxed at 6 kids, most have around 4 so your kiddos get lots of attention. Best art studio in the city.

Ingrid is an amazing artist and very insightful teacher. She has helped me grow in my technique…read moreand find my own artistic vision with my work. I particularly love her Monotype class, which I have taken twice! Ingrid really understands the principle of creativity and passion being at the root of art with technique serving that creativity. I highly reccommend her classes to anyone!

From the owner: Ingrid's Originals Inc. is a gallery, classroom and studio where continuing adult art classes are…read moreheld in watercolor painting. They are scheduled quarterly and run for 8 weeks, with a two week break between sessions for Open Studio Wednesdays. The weekends will have occasional workshops in Collage, Creating ON Water, Suminagashi, or Monotype, given either by Ingrid or visiting artists from across the country. The gallery is available for rental exhibitions or other events.

I wanted to try something different so I purchased two "mini-sessions" which are private lessons as…read morea claydate. This was such a cool experience and Meg (the owner) was such a fantastic instructor! She made the process really easy and gave us a bunch of insider tips and tricks on how to handle the clay. Process: -I ordered two certificates and dropped by to pick them up! Meg created them on super cute stationary! -She requests a week notice for the private sessions. -When we arrived we put our stuff down and sat down in front of the wheel! -Meg is down-to-earth, funny, and a superb teacher! -We did the "wheelthrowing" and handmade our own pots! -Meg gives you a choice of glazes as well! -You pick up your artwork in two weeks! All in all it was such a simple, yet different activity! Lincoln Square Pottery Studio also has a host of other pottery activities and you can even use the equipment (based on a fee!) They sell actual pottery and the place itself is non-profit and supports local artists which is another reason to check it out! Tips: -Plenty of parking on Lincoln! -Wear something you don't really care about. They have towels (to prevent clay from getting on your clothes) but when you are working with this type of medium, it's best not to be overly dressed.

DO patronize this place. I've been coming here for a bit over a year and have had a wonderful time…read moredoing so. I've learned how to make figures, mugs, bowls, vases, and how to glaze them in so many different ways. The owner Meg will be sure to show you physical examples and lend you books if you have an idea of a piece you want to do or a color you want to try, and she'll talk you through the steps but still say it's your piece to do what you want with! They also have a wonderful scholarship program that I've been able to utilize from time to time and if you buy a mug from their wall it goes towards that fund. I am so grateful to have found this community and to be able to learn in this kind and open space.

I have been going to the Mosaic School since January 2025 and have taken 3 classes. The teachers…read moreare great, the atmosphere is welcoming, and I tell all of my friends and family about this place! Nowhere else in the U.S. is there an art school that has such a focus on mosaics. I've learned so much -- they provide the materials and the expertise. I've met some really wonderful people and friends and am already signed up for their stained glass class in September!

Just spent the most amazing weekend at the Chicago Mosaic School. I traveled over 500 miles to get…read morethere and it was well worth my time and effort. I felt the atmosphere to be warm and accepting, accommodating those with little experience and those who spend their lives being creative. It was a perfect balance of informational, historical and hands on Glass work. All my questions were thoroughly answered and I left feeling inspired and eager to utilize what I learned. I would recommend this school to any and all. An added bonus is the eclectic neighborhood, warm and charming teacher, Lydia, inclusive atmosphere and creative vibe that persisted throughout the class.

I have had the pleasure of studying a variety of on-camera, voice over and theater courses at…read moreVagabond School of the Arts. Among their talented roster of instructors, Robyn Coffin & Cheryl Graeff stand out as particularly talented instructors. Both really helped me fine tune my tool box of on-camera skills and improved my prep for auditions. In addition, Anne Sonneville was an enthusiastic Voice Over instructor, giving me a really solid base to go explore VO work! Since COVID, I've completed two Digital Theater Rep Workshops, giving me valuable face time with and direction from a variety of directors at some of Chicago's top theaters including the Goodman, Steppenwolf and Remy Bumppo to name a few! Having participated in Vagabond courses in person and on-line, I can assure you the experience is every bit as valuable via zoom...in some ways, even better! Finally, when I was searching for an agent, I worked with Michael McCracken on an Agent Prep Package. I walked away with a professional, streamlined set of materials, a much better understanding of the process and not long after...an agent! Emily in the office is a delight to deal with, always quick to respond. I have nothing but good things to say about my experiences at Vagabond, highly recommend to other performers!

I've been taking Vagabond's on-camera classes and am learning so much. I didn't realize how…read moreon-camera acting is a different skillset from live performance, and Vagabond has really helped me reconceive how I approach acting. Their classes are also built around giving you insight into the industry, with mock auditions, self-tapes, and "on set experience" where they film you doing scenes you "auditioned" for. Vagabond's instructors are pros and have long careers to draw from with advice, anecdotes, and perspectives. We get to learn from their wins and their misses, which helps us work toward getting more wins. I've gotten to work with Ed Kross most, and recommend him highly (as well as the other faculty members). If you want to be a professional working actor, take on-camera classes. You won't be sorry.

I met the owner/teacher Diane last week when she hosted a Holiday Artisian Sale. It was cold but…read moremany people stop by to buy holiday gifts from local artists. I would definately try to take an oil painting class with Diane one day. She is very nice and warm. The place is clean and cozy! See the link to see class schedule. http://www.gogetyoursmock.org/seminars_and_special_events/artisansale.html

After 5:00 summer series Wednesday wine down:I recently visited this Little Black Pearl, and I have…read moreto say the energy when I walked in was great. I was surrounded by such positive, welcoming people of all ages. Throughout the night, we sang karaoke, played cards, shot pool and listened to good music. What really stood out to me was how safe, inclusive, and comfortable the environment felt. Everyone was so kind and genuine. But what truly touched my heart was how the community embraced my brother, who is special needs. There was no judgment only acceptance, laughter, and open arms. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I had to be on guard, watching to make sure he was being treated with respect because everyone just welcomed. It was a relaxing night filled with connection and joy. I would absolutely come back and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, warm, and safe space. Thank you for such an unforgettable expeience.

The organization for which I work recently held an event at Little Black Pearl (LBP). The support…read moreand service we received was beyond stellar! LBP provided the space, catered the food (via their onsite cafe, Carver 47), connected us to amazing balloon and floral vendors, and provided other accoutrements (e.g., tables and chairs, table coverings, a stage, sound and tech support, package management). LBP's one-stop shop especially helpful given that our planning team resided outside of Chicago. There is so much to applaud from the experience: the warm and inviting space exuded elegance; the feast was as beautiful as it was delicious; and the LBP team's interactions with us (from planning to completion) was the epitome of grace and hospitality. They accommodated every request and did so with an exceptional level of excellence. When we asked that the menu include a vegetarian and Halal dish, they ensured guests had multiple options. When we requested assistance erecting our banner, they took on the task of assembling the entire structure, even machine washing and drying it when they noticed a stain. Compared to other spaces we considered (and have used in the past) across the city, LBP's offerings and support stood head and shoulders above and their love was palpable in their attention to details.That they have a heart-centered mission and work in support of youth and community was tasty icing on an already amazing cake. Thank you, Little Black Pearl team, for making our event a world-class experience!

Lovely venue with so much history. I had the pleasure of attending a show here and it was an…read moreabsolute delight!

We've been to the Old Town School many times, but not for several years now. A close cousin was…read moreplaying, who teaches at the school. We had tickets to see him play. Not reviewing his music (which was fantastic), but the venue. The room we were in was like a black box theater. The room was fairly small and intimate. It was open seating and when we arrived it was pretty full. We were very fortunate that there were two seats open in the third row. The room is acoustically sound (pun intended)... Seriously, being small, they really don't need to amplify the sound, even though they did have a microphone set up. As we were leaving, we got to roam the halls around the school. There were a lot of fun, vintage posters that were a lot of fun to look at. We met quite a few people who either had been students there, or were current students who had nothing but good things to say about the caliber of the educators and the Old Town School. Based on the performances we've seen there of students and faculty, I'd say we agree.