The Messy Artist is a special place for children to create art while at play.  We offer year-round art classes for children from toddlers to 12 years old.  In addition to kids’ art classes from September through June, we offer summer art camp and Drop In and Play art activities for kids.  Our bright, colorful studio is also the perfect place for a kid’s birthday party!

The Messy Artist children’s art center was created and designed by Owner/Director Donna Bernstein, a professional educator and artist.  The curriculum is inspired and guided by Donna’s teaching experience and research in child development, as well as her passion for art.  At The Messy Artist, art lessons for kids entertain and enrich their brains, bodies, and hearts.

Art Projects: Learning Through Play

Like Maria Montessori and Jean Piaget, we believe that young children learn best when they are having fun through open-ended play.  Exploration of a variety of materials is not merely entertaining, but gives children opportunities to acquire knowledge of the world around them.  For example, kids art projects for toddlers at The Messy Artist can include playing with shaving cream, experimenting with finger paint, having fun with play-dough, and climbing into a box full of dried beans or shredded paper.  The children learn about texture, form, volume, and size while developing their fine motor skills  – all while having a great time!

I Can Do It!

All Messy Artist activities and kids art lessons are developed to be age appropriate, and therefore encourage independence. As your children progress through the class and realize their successes, they become more willing to try out new ideas and become more self-assured. We teach a variety of kids art classes, including sculpture, clay, and drawing and painting for children.
The process of expressing their own artistic vision builds children’s self-esteem.

Hands off my Art!

We follow the “hands off” rule for our children’s art projects.  Even at the age of two, children take great pride in their work, and may become annoyed when we “help” them by painting or gluing on their picture.  Young children may need some basic instruction on how to use materials. However, we can instruct and provide gentle guidance without doing the project for them.

At the Messy Artist, there is no wrong way to do art. The “right way” is the way the artist (in this case your child) thinks the materials should be used.  We love to see them experiment and come up with new and wonderful ways of using art materials!

It’s All About the Process

At our studio, art is about the “process” rather than the end result.  Adults tend to think of art as artifacts to hang on the wall or display on a shelf.  If children are primarily concerned with what the completed object will look like, making art can become a chore, a task to be accomplished in a specific way.  It can also be frustrating when the final product does not match what the young artists picture in their heads.

The Messy Artist’s focus is on the act of creating art – the thinking, planning, and doing. We view art for children as a creative journey, rather than as a product.  Through the “process” children grow and flex their creative muscles.  They experiment with new materials and techniques, develop new skills, and feel the rush of creative joy!  Come discover the joy of art with your child.

A Great Place to Party!

The Messy Artist studio is one of the most unique event venues and birthday party places in NJ. Kids and families can explore, create, and celebrate!

We have a list of activities and art party games for kids, tried-&-true party favorites that your child and friends will enjoy.  Our art teachers will help you select from age-appropriate art activities for preschoolers (age 2-4) or for children ages 5-8. We have lots of cool birthday ideas for girls and boys.

After having a ball in our festive art studio, everyone moves into the birthday party room for refreshments (provided by you).

Messy Artist birthday parties include:

• All art supplies, including smocks!
• Party invitations
• 2 Teachers
• Art project the children will take home as part of the party favor
• The birthday child is free!

See options and pricing for party for 2 to 5 years old and party for 6 to 8 years old.

Need to host a creative group event?
The Messy Artist studio is perfect for a fun, engaging event for up to 25 people.

• Playgroups
• Newcomers group events
• Jack & Jill events
• Family gatherings
• Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts & Boy Scouts

Bo G., 3 years

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