Description
Creative SPRING art afterschool in the studio, 2026!
Love Lab Studio art afterschools are so special!
If you’re looking for a super creative, well-tended, curated, engaging, calm, and hopeful art studio with a wide range of art mediums that beautifully balance process and product, this is it.
We can’t wait to create art with your children and watch them grow as artists!
Our studio is total magic – and the amount of beautiful art, process and caring details we integrate is what makes us stand out as an art studio. We layer drawing, painting, collage, craft, textiles, sculpture and more into every month.
This spring, we will focus more on art skill building and really dial in giving children the time they need with our thematic choices as well. We will also continue to have a powerful collaborative project that children can add to and be a part of!
To reflect, honor and celebrate our art, each month, on our last workshop day of the month, we close with a mini exhibition at the final pick-up time! Children will present their work to the grown-ups picking them up, and then you can take all the work home.
options…You sign up for the month, each month is a different theme:)
Monday Afterschool: older kids + drawing/painting focus
(NEW! We designed this to complement our other programs. It’s a focused art time for older kids. We watch them grow in their art so quickly!)
> for older kids, ages 10 – 15
> a focus on drawing mediums, skill building + portfolio development!
Mondays 5:00 – 6:30 pm
Ages 10 – 15
Wednesday Afterschool: mixed media
(a tad longer class, 1.5 hrs, it’s our sweet spot! This is our most beloved option.)
> a mixed age group, ages 6 – 12
> a fun combination of such good mixed media, drawing + sculpture!
Wednesdays 4:00 – 5:30 pm
Ages 6 – 12
(note: focused 5-year-old artists are welcome!)
Thursday Afterschool: mixed media
(a tad shorter class, plus now accepting 5-year olds)
> a mixed age group, ages 5 – 12
> a fun combination of such good mixed media, drawing + sculpture!
Thursdays 4:00 – 5:15 pm
Ages: 5 – 12
(note: focused 5-year-old artists are welcome!)
March, April, May: You sign up for the month!
Each option is priced differently and ends with an art show to share our masterpieces!
months…
Each month will correspond to evolving themes, many of which are connected to nature and the rhythms around us, as well as specific art mediums, artists, and ideas.
March
Mondays: 5:00 – 6:30 $160
meets on the 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
April
Mondays: 5:00 – 6:30 $120
6th, 13th, 27th
Wednesdays: 4:00 – 5:30 $120
8th, 15th, 29th
Thursdays: 4:00 – 5:15 $90
9th, 16th, 30th
May
Mondays: 5:00 – 6:30 $120
4th, 11th, 18th
Wednesdays: 4:00 – 5:30 $160
6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
Thursdays: 4:00 – 5:15 $120
7th, 14th, 21st, 28th
what to expect Each afternoon, children come right into an engaging, meditative art activity with beautiful materials at the big tables! When you arrive – quiet music on, the children take off shoes, put things away in a cubby (we put their name up each time), wash their hands at the art sink – and then are ready and can get right to work at the big long table! After that, some free choice until all are ready and we gather up for a caring welcome on the circle sun rug to welcome the afternoon and sometimes a bit of singing, talking about an artist or method, thematic movement/yoga, go over the projects for the day (usually 3 at different stations) and the children keep at it! It’s a busy and fun time for them, and they seem to really respond to all the individual choices and creative freedom. We set up our projects, and the studio, to empower them to grow in their creative thinking and skill level, all the while also following their lead to shift and add to projects and artists. At the end of each month we set up a little art show and the children show you their work, then take it home after!
teachers Lead teachers include Christina Bechstein with the creative art assistant teaching team and visiting artists. We always have 2 teachers, and sometimes even 3! As teachers, we all work together and are trained to create a respectful, fun environment. As artists, art teachers, creatives, and art therapists, we are invested in creating safe nurturing, whole-heart, joyful spaces for children. We are skilled in many pedagogies and have years of teaching experience in private and public schools and college-level. We work to set up a caring and super creative environment, and see it as a complete honor to support the individual voice and creativity of your children!
*extra info
before afterschool starts!
> We will send you a welcome email before your art afterschool, reminding you of anything you need to remember or bring.
> Each parent/guardian must sign our online forms (including media form, release form, and other important info).
> Come ready to have fun and become a part of the studio! It’s always good to wear clothes it’s OK to get dirty too. We will detail all of this in our welcome email.
> A reminder of a few things: please no nuts in the studio, no devices for children in the studio (or if you need to keep in backpack), and if you don’t feel good that day healthy wise or there is bad weather don’t worry we will have make-up classes. If we will cancel due to weather, you will receive an email and also a text and have make-up options.
waiting list
Please make sure to view our waiting list inquiry form on our contact page and submit your afterschool choices if you would like to be on our waiting list! We also will continue to add in 1-time workshops, so get on that list!
healthy community
For the safety and health of all, we have a robust Covid process, which we will need everyone to adhere to in order to have a safe community. Currently, we are not wearing masks in the studio, but we encourage our community to test frequently and wear them if any sickness. We ask that everyone work with us to make sure your children come healthy to the studio. We will revisit our Covid and healthy community policy as we go. We do run an air filter and are super into hand washing. We also have children’s masks – if you ever need one, don’t hesitate to ask.
our space
Our space, Love Lab Studio, is fun and joyful, bright and renovated. The design is thoughtfully curated for the needs of children. We are located at 26 Brackett Street, a mixed residential and retail neighborhood in the West End of Portland, next to the cute cafe Smalls. Street parking is free, and we are here to make your drop-off and pick-up as easy as possible.
some of our values
With backgrounds as studio/craft/public artists and designers, certified art teachers, Reggio Emilia and Waldorf inspired/trained, advanced degrees, service learning, college teaching experience, contemporary art education pedagogy of all kinds, and more. Some of our values include:
* The whole child: social and emotional development and inclusion within a deeply caring and welcoming community. We integrate trauma-informed and expressive arts practices into the studio and reflect and refine this as we go to do our very best for your children.
* Child as a communicator + poet: language development through participation, listening, art
* Child as co-creator: project-based, hands-on, individual learning and collaboration
* Child as informed citizen: community member, global + ecological participant. We care for each other and work to develop our ability to do that better all the time.
* Child as artist: centering arts, creativity, imagination, joy + healing in all we do!
We look forward to seeing you at the studio! – Christina