When was the last time you tried something simply because it sounded fun?
You don’t have to be an artist, chef or lifelong maker to get creative. Across Northern Kentucky, local studios, shops and small businesses are making it easy to learn something new, whether that means sitting down at a pottery wheel, mastering your morning coffee, arranging a bouquet or finally figuring out how to use that sewing machine.
Grab a friend, plan a different kind of date night or go solo and see what you can create. These Northern Kentucky classes and workshops are a good place to start.
Get Creative
Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center | Covington
Creativity has been part of the story at Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center for more than 100 years. Located on a four-building campus in Covington’s historic district, the organization continues its mission of making art and culture accessible through an impressive variety of classes and workshops.
There are plenty of traditional mediums to explore, including painting, ceramics, pottery and stained glass, but part of the fun is discovering something you might not have thought to try. Rotating workshops have explored everything from beaded art to creating with bottle tabs and making magnets.
With so many options, Baker Hunt makes it easy to start with what interests you and see where your creativity takes you.
Try This: Choose a medium you’ve never worked with before. You might leave with more than a finished project.
The Little Art House | Fort Thomas
Creativity is for all ages at The Little Art House, a Fort Thomas studio offering hands-on opportunities for kids and adults alike.
The schedule includes everything from painting and jewelry making to children’s classes, camps and other creative workshops. The studio can also be booked for parties, making it a fun alternative for birthdays, celebrations or simply getting a group together to make something.
It’s an especially approachable option for families looking for a way to spend creative time together.
Try This: Trade your usual get-together for an art night and see what everyone creates.
Creative Expressions Art Studio | Independence
For more than 40 years, Creative Expressions Art Studio has helped Northern Kentucky residents explore their artistic side.
The Independence studio offers painting and drawing classes, creative workshops and fine art instruction, with an emphasis on making art accessible, inspiring and personal. That makes it a great choice if you’re looking for more than a one-time project and want to spend some time developing your skills.
And remember, you don’t need years of experience to start. Sometimes picking up the pencil or paintbrush is the hardest part.
Try This: Take a painting or drawing class and learn a skill you can continue practicing at home.
Learn Something Delicious
Not every creative project belongs on a wall or shelf. Sometimes, you get to eat or drink the finished product.
Kate’s Catering | Dayton
At Kate’s Catering, a night in the kitchen can become the main event.
Private cooking classes offer a hands-on experience for birthdays, holiday gifts, team-building outings or groups of friends ready to expand their culinary skills. Depending on the class, you might take a Tour of Italian Cooking, tackle Risotto 101 or travel Around the World in 80 Minutes right in the Central Business District of Dayton.
Seasonal public classes add even more opportunities to get cooking, with past themes ranging from pizza to citrus-inspired dishes.
Try This: Gather a few friends for a private cooking class and let making dinner become the evening’s entertainment.
Carabello Coffee | Newport
If you’ve ever wondered why the latte you make at home doesn’t quite look like the one from your favorite coffee shop, Carabello Coffee can help.
The Newport coffee company offers small classes designed to give participants plenty of personalized instruction. Depending on the schedule, coffee lovers can explore Latte Art Basics, Coffee Mocktails 101 or learn to Brew Like a Pro at Home.
It’s a chance to go beyond ordering your usual drink and learn a little more about what goes into the cup.
Try This: Give latte art a shot and see if you can turn your morning coffee into something worth photographing before you drink it.
Bring Home What You Make
There’s something especially satisfying about learning a new skill and leaving with something you can actually use or display. These workshops make the finished product part of the fun.
Around the Corner Fabrics | Latonia
Even the setting at Around the Corner Fabrics has a story. Located inside a repurposed historic theater in Latonia, the fabric shop combines plenty of inspiration with hands-on instruction for sewists and quilters looking to build their skills and confidence.
Its changing classroom schedule introduces participants to a variety of techniques and projects. Workshops have included English Paper Piecing, quilting techniques and functional sewing projects like crossbody bags, while occasional Date Night with Your Sewing Machine events offer a reason to dust off your machine and spend an evening creating.
Whether you’re learning a new technique or returning to a hobby you’ve missed, there’s always another project waiting.
Try This: Pick a workshop that introduces a technique you’ve never tried, then use what you learn on your next project at home.
Rutz Flower Field | Walton
For a project inspired by the season, keep an eye on what’s blooming at Rutz Flower Field in Walton.
Seasonal pop-up floral arranging classes give participants the opportunity to work with flowers while learning how individual stems come together to create a finished arrangement. Since offerings change throughout the year, each workshop brings something a little different to the table.
Best of all, the finished project gets to come home with you.
Try This: Sign up for a seasonal floral workshop and create your own fresh arrangement for the table.
Try Something Unexpected
Creative House of Art + Design | Covington
Not every creative experience has to feel like an art class.
At Creative House of Art + Design, a whimsical and inclusive Covington studio pairs art and community with a healthy dose of fun. The colorful shop is filled with grab-and-go art kits, adult coloring books, home goods and locally made finds, including original laser-cut acrylic and wooden jewelry.
Then there’s the secret bar and outdoor patio tucked in the back.
Adult programming gets especially creative, with events like Drink, Draw and Drag, Sip & Sparkle and the Secret Society Book Club offering a different spin on the traditional night out. It’s part art studio, part gathering place and a good reminder that creativity can take plenty of forms.
Try This: Pick the event you normally wouldn’t choose. The whole point is to try something new.
Pick Your Next Creative Adventure
Not sure where to begin? Start with the experience that sounds most like you:
- For lots of ways to create: Baker Hunt Art & Cultural Center
- For the whole family: The Little Art House
- For building your art skills: Creative Expressions Art Studio
- For a group night out: Kate’s Catering
- For coffee lovers: Carabello Coffee
- For learning a new craft: Around the Corner Fabrics
- For a seasonal project: Rutz Flower Field
- For something completely different: Creative House of Art + Design
You Don’t Have to Be Good at It
Trying something new doesn’t have to mean discovering a hidden talent or finding your next lifelong hobby. Sometimes it’s enough to get a little messy, learn from someone who loves what they do and leave with a new skill, a handmade creation or simply a good story.
From paintbrushes and fabric to espresso and fresh flowers, Northern Kentucky has plenty of places to put that idea into practice. Grab a friend, pick a class and give yourself permission to be a beginner.
Looking for more ways to experience Northern Kentucky? Explore more local businesses, hidden gems and things to do on Haus & Home.
