Both Sides Art, Chicago

An elegantly stenciled gray, metal door heralds Frazier Studios’ studio space, an attention-focusing haven of clean lines, white walls, and ample natural light. It’s planted in Pilsen’s main arts corridor, meaning that students need only wander down the block to soak up inspiration from other galleries.

Within this space each day, the instructors at Frazier Studios aim to stimulate the left and right sides of their students' brains with art classes that encourage wild flights of creativity grounded in a solid grasp of technique and history. Adult courses take place weekday evenings and cover topics such as drawing for beginners and abstract painting. While enjoying a BYOB glass of wine or sippy cup of champagne, students learn essential skills such as drawing 3-D images, handling oil paints, and poetically telling off their inner critics.