The Palette & Chisel Academy of Fine Arts — Attraction in Chicago

This is basically run like a private club with classes. There isn't really a receptionist during weekend hours. Not always easy to know who to talk to or where to go to get to your first class. It's a huge space with tons of smaller rooms and a few floors.

This was my second time in the building for my first class.

I like the garden. It was slightly awkward for me because I don't know anyone there.

It's right off the Red Line at Clark and Division. Walk maybe 3 or 4 blocks. Ignore Maps if it says North and Clyburn. That's wrong.

The cost was pretty reasonable. I wasn't told to bring 50 for the model for the first of five or six classes. They weren't quite on the same page as to materials to buy. They said drawing board, but they didn't say the thin kind with the clips on it, for example. Similar confusion about paper. They said newsprint paper, but then some reason to go with the heavy creme colored kind..? I fogot what...

Minus the minor communication issues, so far it's ok. I could probably personally use a whole private class to myself because i have no clue what I'm doing, having never drawn before.

I don't have a whole lot of info yet, but I am pleased with the...

This is a hidden gem. The art studio is housed in a late 17th century mansion on Dearborn. The 1st & second floors are in their original state & the architecture alone is worth viewing. There are artists’ exhibits on the first floor and working studios and classrooms on the 2nd floor. The 3rd floor, which was originally the ballroom was changed after the Academy purchased the mansion around 1920. They put in a skylight and the entire floor is now a studio. In addition to the main house there is also a lovely courtyard and a carriage house with a sculpture studio on the ground level and 2 more floors of artist’s...

This academy, housed in a charming and well-maintained former residence, nearly always has an exhibition running. It also offers art classes and has a few artist studios in the back building. There's an artfully unkempt small back yard. If you're in the area, it's definitely worth a...