Find art classes in Chicago, IL

Q: How much do art classes cost near me?

Art classes cost $20 to $50 for a one-time session or $100 to $500 for a class including 6 to 10 weekly sessions. Prices for art classes depend on your location, the type of art, the school or museum offering the class, and whether the fee includes materials and art supplies. Most art instructors provide a list of the required supplies which you must purchase separately.

Share a few details and we'll show you the best art classes in your area.

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Find art classes in Chicago, IL

Share a few details and we'll show you the best art classes in your area.

Zip code

Top 10 art classes in Chicago, IL

Students agree: these Chicago art classes are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.

Your Art Classes questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Lessons.

How much do art classes cost near me?

Art classes cost $20 to $50 for a one-time session or $100 to $500 for a class including 6 to 10 weekly sessions. Prices for art classes depend on your location, the type of art, the school or museum offering the class, and whether the fee includes materials and art supplies. Most art instructors provide a list of the required supplies which you must purchase separately.

Can you take art classes online?

You can take art classes online through CreativeLive, Udemy, ed2go, and art specialty websites like New Masters Academy (NMA) or The Art Studio NY. Many museums, universities, studios, and individual artists also offer online art classes.

Prices for online art classes are similar to in-studio classes and primarily depend on the instructor's artistic reputation and whether the course features prerecorded videos or is held live.

What types of art classes are available?

Popular art classes offered in most locations include:

Drawing and sketching
Painting with watercolor, oil, acrylics, or pastels
Printmaking
Fabric painting
Ceramics
Sculpture
Jewelry making
Glasswork
Fiber arts

How do I find the best art classes near me?

Before you take the next step in your creative journey, follow these tips to ensure you find an art class that's a good fit for you:

First, determine what type of art you'd like to learn.
Decide if you want to take a one-time workshop or a multi-week course.
Read instructor reviews on Lessons and Google.
Browse their portfolio of artwork created by their past students.
Ask about fees, class sizes, and supplies needed.
Visit the studio or classroom in person to check it out before signing up for a class.
Wear clothes that can get dirty. Some classes have aprons, but you may still get paint or other art products on your clothes.

What questions should I ask before signing up for art classes?

Before you sign up for an art class, be sure to ask the instructor these questions:

Which class should I take as a first-time art student?
Does the fee include materials and supplies? If not, do you provide a supply list?
What subjects do the art lessons cover?
Where will the class meet?
Are the classes restricted to certain age groups?
How many students will be in the class?
Do you offer online art classes? Are the online classes taught live or prerecorded?
Can I buy a class as a gift for someone?

Reviews for Chicago art classes

Recent success stories from people in the Chicago area.

Geoff S.

As a complete beginner to the process, I was pleased by how approachable Sam was with his lessons. He truly loves the art of acting and brought that to the class. He made me realize how many different aspects can be tapped into for voice over work that I didn’t even consider. I actually feel very secure moving forward. Thanks Sam.

Sam Kyker acting instructor

Carol B.

After working with Janet for over 6 months, I feel she is the perfect combination of artist and educator. Her understanding of technical skills, and the application of paint, brushes and canvas is obvious. Her knowledge of the history of art and her weekly discussions about individual master artists adds a richness to the material and exercises she suggests. But what I value most is her ability to understand that each student is a unique individual with their own directions, talents and potentials. She keeps an openess that brings out the best in us all.

Janet Trierweiler Visual Artist/Art Educator

BO H.

Steve is so deeply passionate about his craft, which in and of itself is invigorating and motivational. I've know him for more than fifteen years and learned much from him about a broad range of topics in that time. But I've been blessed with the opportunity to sit with brush in hand for formal lessons on several occasions in the past couple years. I'm a career-long digital creative and comfortable with hand illustration and other analog media, but paint was something I'd not done in decades before joining Steve for a class at the Palette & Chisel – Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago. Perhaps most importantly, Steve made me feel completely at ease and genuinely helped me find a passion for painting I didn't realize I had. In all sincerity, this would have remained dormant for another several decades if not for that first lesson (i.e., tipping point) with Steve. I highly recommend his lessons for my fellow beginners and Steve's fellow masters alike.

Steve Puttrich, Artist and Instructor

Colleen A.

Renee really pushed me as an artist to explore myself, and different mediums I would have never experienced without her guidance. Not only does she provides the conversation and knowledge to expand your skills but the freedom to explore different mediums, and to make the crucial mistakes to discover what you really want to express. Without Renee I would have never discovered my passion for performance work without providing a context of the contemporary performance world, or my love for large oil paintings if she hadn’t bought a large canvas and invited me to just try. And it’s this broad range that makes her so valuable as a mentor. Renee helps her students transform just visual work into real art, which has meaning and emotion.