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I've taken three separate classes here, all of which I enjoyed. I think the instructors are great, and it's wonderful that this place exists for the greater community. I do feel as though the course offerings are getting more limited now, or maybe that's just in the areas in which I'm interested, but it could very well be cyclical based on what instructors the school is able to hire.

I took Beginner Drawing for a 5-week course in early winter. As nice as the facilities and the teachers were I was disappointed with the lack of actual instruction in this class. It felt more like an open workshop where you received about 5-10 minutes of lessons and then were told to sketch for the remaining 3 hours. At times you'd receive feedback but overall it was mostly just drawing on your own

For a $200+ class I think I would have learned more watching a free tutorial online than I did in this course.

Been taking classes for 20 years. Very expensive for what you get and they don’t seem to care that you are a customer. They do not run it like a business but rather as a ‘club’. They have cliques and play favorites and pick on people they don’t like. They have rules, rules and more rules. It is very constrictive and if you complain you are harassed. There is an owner who ignores everything.

I had a disappointing experience with Lillstreet regarding their Date Night workshop on 10/18/2024. I had to cancel last minute due to an emergency. Our dog was admitted to the ER, and I reached out to see if we could receive a credit to reschedule the class. Their response was a flat refusal, citing their policy, even though I was not requesting a refund but a simple credit to sign up for the same workshop at a later date.

I pointed out that we were willing to pay the $15 cancellation fee and that their policy seemed to allow for rescheduling in similar cases. Despite this, they insisted that cancellations on the day of the workshop were ineligible for a credit, even though their own policy outlines options for rescheduling. This inconsistency in their policy enforcement and the lack of compassion for our situation was disappointing. I've attached the point in their policy where I was hoping they would work with us on.

Ultimately, I had to disputing the charge with my credit card company as they failed to adhere to their own guidelines. It’s unfortunate that what could have been a simple resolution turned into a frustrating experience. I hope they take this feedback to improve their customer service and policy clarity for future patrons.

Super disappointing 5 week intro to frame loom weaving class with the most passive instructor I’ve ever had. We also had a TA working who couldn’t answer a basic question I had and then said this is her first hand weaving project too, she was really just paid to chat with the instructor the entire time throughout all of the sessions. The instructor would have us come up to the front with any questions and barely circles around. They knew I am missing the last week but at the end of my last class focused on cleaning up the studio before time was up versus checking in to see how they could help me get out the door with my project today. I will not be coming back.

I love Lillstreet Art Center! I am currently taking a five week First Time Potter class there where I work on the wheel, trim, fire, and glaze pieces. The staff is incredible, their materials and facilities are impressive, they are the best in the buisness across Chicago! Could not reccomend enough.

There is no other place like Lillstreet if you're a Chicago Northside artist. Connect, relationships and a spirit of unity. I drive from Elmhurst to stay connected to the Lillstreet vibe! The Ravenswood community in general is quite special.

The first class I signed up for was First-Time Frame Loom Weaving with Meredith Donnelly for five weeks for $220. Meredith emailed us with links to their favorite local locations to purchase supplies and videos they created to use as tutorials if we needed help outside of class. Meredith was perfect for my learning style by having the class watch a demo of her doing new techniques and then we would practice them on our own. She also started the course with information about the history of weaving and provided you with a packet they curated containing all the techniques we were to learn! Jake Wobig was training as an instructor at the time and they brought their own unique insights to the class as well.

The second class I took was Beginning Watercolors with Jen Adams-Wells for 10 weeks for $440. I suggest taking an introduction to drawing class before taking Beginning Watercolors with Jen as there is little demo on drawing techniques unless you ask for assistance. Jen is always happy to help if you ask and walks around the class checking in on each student to see if they have any questions. A typical class setup with Jen is being introduced to a still life at the beginning of class and you using the rest of the time exploring the medium on your own and Jen there if you have questions.