Places for Creative Kids

by Aja Martin

Lincoln has a glut of art studios to keep kids occupied during long summers and holiday breaks and as a special destination when winter cabin fever sets in. The city offers day camps, week-long camps and party packages all across town.  

Paint Yourself Silly, 4101 Pioneer Woods Drive; 1501 Pine Lake Road 

Paint Yourself Silly is a paint-your-own-pottery studio that also does clay and glass firing. The hourly fee, in addition to the price of your project, generally ranges from $5 to $50. All posted hours are open studio and do not require a reservation. Paint Yourself Silly opened in 2000 in the Haymarket before expanding to three shops. The Haymarket location has closed, but the business will celebrate its 20th anniversary at the other two locations.

The paint is nontoxic, suitable for ages 1 to 100. Glass projects are for those 10 and older and available only at the Pioneer Woods location. Clay is available every Tuesday at the Pine Lake shop for $30 a pound and includes a return visit to paint fired pieces. 

Paint Yourself Silly offers an After School Art Club Thursdays, 4-5:30 p.m., at the Pine Lake store. Each class explores different mediums and techniques, and the cost ranges from $20 to $35 depending on size and supplies. The class is designed for artists in grades 1-8 and requires a reservation in advance.

Paint Yourself Silly also does birthday parties for six or more children and offers special rates for daycare groups and Girl Scout troops; reservation required  Check out paintyourselfsilly.net or call Pioneer Woods store at 402-486-1010, Pine Lake at 402-423-1030.

Mäkit Täkit, 4720 Prescott Ave. 

Mäkit Täkit is a fully stocked craft studio that offers art supplies, specialty tools and space to make whatever you’re dreaming of. All posted hours are open studio. The studio offers monthly subscription boxes for adults and kids that you can tackle in the store or have shipped to your home. Projects are best for ages 10 and older. 

The newly renovated Splatter Room is wheelchair-accessible. See makittakeit.com or call
402-483-4232.

LUX Center for the Arts, 2601 N. 48th St. 

The LUX Center has been a Lincoln staple for 42 years. It offers one-session classes, featuring small class sizes to give one-on-one attention to kids. 

Projects range from making ceramics to painting on multiple mediums to winter holiday gift making. Classes are taught by artists in the center’s residency program, which brings four emerging but professional artists to Lincoln each year. Children might already be familiar with the LUX Center from one of its outreach programs. Art Van deLUX provides classes to several Lincoln elementary schools. 

The center’s years of experience in teaching art to youth add up to a slightly higher price tag than some of the other art studios in Lincoln. Classes are $75 child; scholarships are available. Registration is required at least 24 hours in advance. Call 402-466-8692 or see luxcenter.org.

Urban Legends Art & Up-cycled Boutique,
2632 N. 48th St. 

Urban Legends is in its eighth year as a relaxed place to create art and have fun. It offers open studio hours Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon, or call ahead to ask about days with extended hours.

Urban Legends offers birthday parties for five to 20 guests at $15 a child for two hours of step-by-step paint instruction along with song and dance. And you can bring your own cake. Check it out on Facebook or call 402-470-0331.

Corky Canvas, 3700 S. Ninth St.

Now in its eighth year, the Corky Canvas is best known in the context of classes for adults who want to have a mixed drink while they paint. But it also offers kid-friendly project days and birthday parties. Look for “Kids Welcome” on the event description to plan ahead for family fun. 

Corky Canvas’ birthday parties are for kids 6 and older and last for two hours; you can take in food, cake and balloons (but not confetti, it doesn’t mix well with paint). There is a fixed fee for the first 12 painters and you can add up to as many as 40 guests. One adult must be present at the event. Call 402-421-6731 to reserve; corkycanvas.com.

Nebraska Innovation Studio, 2021 Transformation Drive, No. 1500 

Nebraska Innovation Studio on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Innovation Campus allows artists 12 and older to use its expansive list of tools and equipment (most equipment requires a safety and training course). The studio offers wood-working tools, electronics, textile arts, ceramics and printmaking, including a 3D printer.

Artists must be studio members; monthly, six-month and yearly memberships are available, with fees that scale up by family size.

Call 402-472-5510 or check it out at innovationstudio.unl.edu.