Sometimes you just need to get crafty! Below you’ll find a list of some of our very favorite venues to make art with your little one (or even by yourself).   We’ve collected paint-your-own pottery places, recycled craft classes, messy art, and lots more.

Now go get messy!

100th Monkey Studio
A socially conscious, small business owned by two women, it will provide anyone with a safe and affordable place to use art materials.  Has weekly youth art programs: Messy Monkeys for ages 1-5; and Tuesday Art Club for kids ages 6-14.  Read our Messy Monkey review here.
Where: 1600 SE Ankeny
Cost: Varies

Art a la Carte
Salad bars turned art bars for an “all you can make” art experience. One low price with no supply limits, time limits, necessary reservations or parent clean up! Art freedom at its finest.
Where: 319 NE Wygant St
Cost: $9.00 per child/ $4.00 for families on public assistance.

Blue Plume Studio
Tailor-made art lessons and classes for kids and adults, with the goal of offering every student a customized curriculum so students learn the fundmaneals of art through projects and lessons they want to learn.
Where: Sherwood, OR
Cost: Varies.

Ceramicafe
A paint-your-own pottery studio with locations in Clackamas and Beaverton.
Where: 12056 SE Sunnyside, Clackamas; and 14600 SW Murray Scholls Dr., Beaverton
Cost: $6 and up depending on what you paint

Chocolate Crafts
Offering workshops for kids to decorate delicious foods with natural colors and flavorings.
Where: 3936 N Williams
Cost: Varies by workshop

Children’s Museum
You can always check out the clay room at the Portland Children’s Museum if you’re feeling crafty!
Where: 4015 SW Canyon Rd
Cost: Free with admission ($9 for ages 1 and up)

Collage
A dangerously beautiful place to buy arts & crafts supplies.  There are also classes at their NE location.
Where: 1639 NE Alberta and 7907 SE 13th
Cost: Varies

Community Centers
Many of PP&R’s community centers offer a weekly messy art.  Check our calendar or theirs for details.
Where: Various locations
Cost: Varies, but usually under $5.

Creative Recycling Workshops and Green Crafts
Arts & crafts made of recycled and repurposed materials, taught by Heather Stellpflug.
Where: Heather usually teaches at 3 locations: Queens Mab, Nurture, and Warehouse Café
Cost: $0-10.

Green Bean Books
This enchanting bookstore offers book-related arts & crafts activities several times throughout the month, and in connection with most author signings.
Where: 1600 NE Alberta
Cost: Varies

Mimosa Studios
A paint-your-own pottery studio welcoming kids of all ages.
Where: 1718 NE Alberta
Cost:  Varies based on what your paint

Multnomah Arts Center
Classes for kiddos to adults in many mediums- drawing, painting, ceramics, etc.
Where: 7688 SW Capitol Hwy
Cost: Varies based on class

My Masterpiece Art Studio
The open studio is an enriching and entertaining environment, artfully designed for creative fun: painting, drawing, printing and sculpting.
Where: 7905 SW Cirrus Dr., 27G, Parkside Business Center, Beaverton
Cost: $6-42

Portland Child Art Studio
Its mission: to support the perceptual development of children through artistic learning, in a studio space integral to the learning process.
Where: 1819 NW Everett St, Ste 204
Cost: Varies

Pottery Fun
Create a hand-painted pottery masterpiece at this paint-your-own pottery studio located near Mt. Tabor
Where: 7821 SE Stark
Cost: Varies based on piece selected.

SCRAP
Specializing in recycled crafts, a great place to pick up supplies or to stop in for one of their kid-friendly workshops.
Where: 2915 NE MLK
Cost: Varies

Sparks Art Center
Drop in messy art for preschoolers, plus after school classes for older kids.
Where:1805 NE 39th Ave
Cost: Varies

Spielwerk Toys
Lots of special arts & crafts workshops and make-your-own playdough fun at this beautiful toy store in North Portland.
Where: 3808 N Williams
Cost: Varies

The Treehouse
Offers weekly toddler Tuesday art classes at this fun and quirky North Portland toy stores.
Where: 3954 N. Williams
Cost: Varies

The Warehouse
Plays host to various messy arts and green craft projects.  Check their calendar or ours for details.
Where: 3434 SE Milwaukie
Cost: Varies

Your local library
There’s usually an arts & crafts project going on at one of the libraries on any given day.  Check the website to see what’s on today.
Where: Varies
Cost: Free!

And if you just can’t make it outside, here are some ideas for home:

Create Plenty.  Recipes for locally-produced, waste-free toothpaste and deodorant, with more to come.

Made by Joel.   Local artist Joel Henriquez provides free coloring sheets for you and your kids to enjoy.

Make your own play-dough.   Here’s an eco-friendly recipe courtesy of a local Portland mama.  Courtesy of Portland Green Mama.

compiled by Ali Wilkinson

Updated 1/21/13