Need more ideas to get the kids out of the house this summer? Take a look at our Ultimate Atlanta Summer Guide for major fun!

Never forget to wear your poncho during an art session at The Splatter Studio. Photo courtesy of The Splatter Studio

Guide to Making Messy Art in Atlanta

1. Splatter Studio - Virginia-Highland and Sandy Springs

With "splatter" in the name, you know this family-friendly art studio is going to get messy (they do provide ponchos). With two Atlanta locations, Splatter Studio offers Atlanta kids the opportunity to create unique painted creations (with canvas, drip bears, and acrylic pours). Whether you choose to throw it, squirt it, or spray it, the paint keeps flying during your booked session. Want to get really crazy? Splatter Studio offers a special Glow Experience, where kids ages 5-17 can arrive before 8pm and step into a neon wonderland, with black lights, music, and glowing paint splatter sticks and paint guns.

Create masterpieces with slime at Sloomoo Institute Atlanta! Photo by author

2. Sloomoo Institute - Buckhead

The only thing better than playing with slime is making your own custom slimy creation! Parents, we know slime can be a hassle, but isn't the sticky stuff worth it when it comes to seeing those bright smiles on your children's faces?! At the end of your trip through this slime museum, visitors get to create their own slime -- selecting the texture (my girls love "cloud"), color, smell, and even three charms.

3. Beat the Bomb - West Midtown

Beat the Bomb is less about artistic creation and more about creative problem solving...with the addition of getting blasted with paint, foam, or slime. Each team takes on a mission and works together by cracking codes and dodging lasers to disarm a giant "bomb." Run out of time or can't solve the clues? You're getting blasted with messy fun in the form of colorful paint, frothy foam, or sticky slime.

4. Spin Art Nation - Downtown and Sugar Hill

As a child of a certain generation, I used to be OBSESSED with spin art -- I created spin art on paper, shirts, and even my sneakers. Now, kids today can experience the hypnotic beauty of this art form by visiting Spin Art Nation. Families can even participate with the bicycle spin art! And the downtown location offers a Rage Room for adults (18+) to release stress by breaking lots of stuff.

5. Neon Brush Kids - Westside

This unique paint workshop in the dark combines what kids love: getting messy and glow-in-the-dark fun! This family-friendly experience occurs sporadically so add your email to get notifications of upcoming Atlanta workshops. 

(Less Messy) Art in Atlanta

6. Spruill Center for the Arts - Dunwoody

Spruill provides lots of amazing art classes for young kids, teens, and even adults. In addition to courses and summer camp, Spruill Center for the Arts hosts fun events, including dance lessons, yoga sessions, and the always popular monthly Crafternoon.

7. All Fired Up - Marietta, Alpharetta, and Atlanta

Every age loves coming to All Fired Up to paint pottery and unlock their creative sides. Choose from a variety of pottery pieces and get to work decorating your pieces to take home (usually about one week later).

8. Arts Beacon - Atlanta

Located near Grant Park, Arts Beacon is a great place to develop creative talents in their wonderful art classes. Offerings include mixed media, clay, watercolor, sketching, and much more.

9. High Museum - Midtown

Not only will you see beautiful works of art at the High Museum, but you can create some as well by attending weekly and monthly hands-on events. The first Saturday of each month is welcomes families to play and make art in the studio workshops. There's also toddler programming, teen art afternoons, studio sessions, and the always colorful Greene Family Learning Center for young visitors. 

10. Vinings School of Art - Smyrna

My daughter attended summer camp at Vinings School of Art and had an amazing experience creating her own masterpieces every day. What's even better is that beyond summer hours, this Atlanta art spot hosts year-round classes, birthday parties, and more for artsy kids.

11. Eye Candy Art Studio - Duluth

Get your hands messy by painting pottery and canvases at Eye Candy Art Studio in Duluth. No need to make a reservation; just drop in to feed your artistic appetite.

12. Art & Soul Studio - Sandy Springs

Enjoy canvas painting, pottery, clay hand-building, and wheel workshops in this fun, laid-back studio in Sandy Springs. Birthday party packages also available!

13. Red Seal Craft Studio - Roswell

My kids have been invited to multiple birthday parties at Red Seal and this studio never fails to deliver on creative, cool art projects. In addition to parties, the craft studio hosts awesome workshops (for kids and adults) with themes like Morse Code Bracelets, Pearl Shell Notebooks, Fluid Art Lanterns with Fairy Lights, and much more.

14. Brush and Needle - Atlanta

Brush and Needle focuses on kids, developing their creativity and growing self-confidence. Young artists work in mixed techniques, in many materials, to create masterpieces they can be proud to display.

15. La Dee Da Studio - Sandy Springs

This kids' art studio believes in hands-on exploration in cool mediums like 3D sculpture, sewing, painting, pottery, collage, and much more. Fun birthday parties and summer camps are available.