Perhaps you never progressed beyond stick-figure drawings, and a glue gun in your hands might be a more deadly weapon than crafting essentials. Not to worry. You can fan that creative spark in your kids through a variety of visual art classes around the Puget Sound region. Here are nearly two dozen spots to begin your arts education exploration, and paint, sculpt, and create art.
Remember that many local city and county-run community centers also offer affordable instruction. Costs vary widely and may change seasonally from as low as $6 per project to upwards of $300 for a 10-week course. Confirm exact class costs and dates online prior to enrolling.
SEATTLE
Arts Aloft | 3302 E Spring St, Seattle, WA 98122 | Kids from ages 4 to 12 can learn to express themselves through engaging, creative art projects using mediums including acrylics, charcoals, clay, and watercolors. Workshops, parties, and camps are also available.
Coyote Central | 2300 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122 | Since 1986, Coyote Central has provided middle schoolers with the opportunity to take classes with professional artists. Youths can find and cultivate their creative outlets from fashion design to photography to painting. Nearly 40 percent of Coyote Central’s students receive tuition assistance, and no child is turned away.
Curious Kids Stuff | 4740 California Ave SW, Seattle WA 98116 | Art Classes are held at this fun show in West Seattle each Monday and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Classes are open to children 18 months or older and focus on a specific craft each day. Arrive early as classes fill quickly. $12 per child.
Early Masters | 7557 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115 | Shelley Thomas, the founder and instructor at Early Masters, blends art history lessons with hands-on painting instruction. Students learn about art icons, including Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, and Leonardo da Vinci, and they leave each workshop with their work of art to hang up at home.
Emerald City Fired Arts | 3333 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144 | With walk-ins always welcome, Emerald City Fired Arts offers the perfect rainy-day activity. Kids can paint a piece of pottery or create a glass fusion piece. Professionals will help them get started, and then they’ll have unlimited time to complete their work of art.
FayezArt Pottery | 1806 NW 70th St, Seattle, WA 98117 | Faye’s studio is cozy and funky in a house near Salmon Bay School in Ballard. You’ll know you’re there when you see the fence decorated with whimsical masks. Afterschool classes provide instruction in creating bowls, cups, vases, games, fairy houses, using a pottery wheel, and more. All ages are welcome, and you can email [email protected] for availability.
Gage Academy of Art| 1501 10th Ave E #101, Seattle, WA 98102 | Gage’s youth program offers courses in drawing, painting, sculpture, and alternative mediums. Students are encouraged to experiment with various artistic techniques and express themselves through art.
NeoArt School | 4649 Sunnyside Ave N #121, Seattle, WA 98103 | Established in 1982, NeoArt School promotes itself as Seattle’s “oldest locally-owned art school for children.” Afterschool, school-break, summer camps and homeschool classes are available, primarily for ages 6 to 12. Held in the Good Shepherd Center at Meridian Park, there are drawing, clay and “sampler” classes that include different painting and drawing materials, wood sculpture, papier mâché, batik, bookbinding and more.
Pratt Fine Arts Center| 1902 South Main St, Seattle, WA 98144 | Regardless of your child’s favorite art form, they’re sure to find it at Pratt. This nonprofit arts education center offers courses in every medium, from jewelry-making to blacksmithing to painting. Pratt also offers free art classes for children ages 5-13 on weekends during the school year.
Roaring Mouse | 7526 20th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98115 | The combination of art and play is key to Roaring Mouse’s mission. In addition to classes, there are set open-studio hours and a playroom well-stocked with toys and art supplies.
West Seattle Art Nest | 2903 SW Cambridge St, Seattle, WA 98126 | The Art Nest focuses on process-based art and welcomes all ages to thrive as artists here. They have a unique outdoor art environment with a heated and lit wedding-style tent called the “magic art tent”. There is toddler time, school-aged art classes, birthday parties, and more. Here is all the school-aged programming.
Westerly Studio | 3315 W McGraw St, Seattle, WA 98199 | Julie and Greta are big believers that art and creative expression are more important than ever. This is part studio, and part gallery with art classes. Whether you’re looking for a class for your kids, art parties, or birthday parties, this is the perfect place. Kids classes range from kindergarten age to 4th graders, while tween/teen classes are for 5th grade and older.
NORTH
Arts Umbrella| 7330 NE Bothell Way, Kenmore, WA 98028 | Multiple accomplished artists offer weekly afterschool classes at this art studio in the Bothell Country Village. Sign-up is through the individual instructors for classes in oil painting and multimedia for students ages 5 to 19 years.
Schack Art Center | 2921 Hoyt Ave, Everett, WA 98201 | Whether your child wants to build a clay castle, decorate a stuffed monster, or take their first drawing or painting class, Schack Art Center has you covered. The teen classes offer even more diverse options, such as jewelry-making, glassblowing, basket-weaving, and picture-book art. Get your kids involved in their summer workshops, and you can email [email protected] to get info on classes and pricing.
SOUTH
Open Arts Studio | 109 N Tacoma Ave, Tacoma, WA 98403 | Whatever your kids’ artistic passions might be — charcoal drawing, pastels, fashion illustration, anime and manga, pottery, sewing — chances are good that this Tacoma studio has an offering for them. After-school and weekend classes for kids age 4 and older; a homeschool program also is available.
EAST
AL Studio | 1425 Market St., Kirkland, WA 98033 | Children ages 4 to 16 receive classical art training from local and international artists. AL Studio offers weekly classes, art camps, and birthday parties. Classes include special outings that allow students to paint outdoors and in Seattle art museums. Many of AL Studio’s students have won state and national awards and can compete in talent shows and contests. They have multiple locations including Kirkland, Bellevue and Renton.
Kirkland Arts Center | 620 Market St, Kirkland, WA 98033 | Housed in the historic Peter Kirk Building, this nonprofit group has been promoting the arts since 1962, including offering a range of art classes for all ages. Parents can bring toddlers age 2 to 4 for 1-hour drop-in classes for which they should “dress to mess.” Kids to teens can take classes in drawing, painting, sketching, sculpting, and other clay work.
Northwest Arts Center | 9825 NE 24th St, Bellevue, WA 98004 | This center provides year-round recreation and art-focused programming for all ages. The art center provides opportunities for kids to explore painting, pottery, dance, martial arts, and a wide variety of art programs. Here is a list of their classes for your kids.
The Bellevue Studio | 1075 Bellevue Way NE #B-3, Bellevue, WA 98004 | Preschoolers through teens/adults receive classical fine arts training at the Bellevue Studio, which has locations in downtown Bellevue and the Crossroads Mall. Kids can take classes in groups or one-on-one with instructors. “Parent N’ Me Classes” are available for families who love to create art together. Birthday parties and art camps are also offered.
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