Local mom Kristina Hernandez recently visited the art studio Yellowbobbypins and just had to tell everyone about it! For even more ideas of classes in Greenville see our giant class & activity guide!
You know when you’ve heard of a restaurant and then you go to try it and wonder what took you so long to finally go because it was that good? That’s what it was like going to this art class with my seven-year-old at Yellowbobbypins. I had heard of them before but just had not gone yet.
Editor’s note: This is an old review. As of 2023, Lauren now hosts classes both in-person in Greenville and online.
Our first visit to Yellowbobbypins
Lauren Runion’s door was literally wide open when we got there for a drop-in art class I had decided to try just a few hours before earlier the same day. We walked into a gorgeous kitchen with a handmade dining table made in Travelers Rest and the white cabinets of my dreams. Lauren greeted my kids and I with a big smile and was so welcoming – we felt right at home.
Maybe it was because Lauren’s studio is in her home, well, part of it at least.
The kitchen opens into the studio with beautiful exposed brick walls and two long tables set with markers and paper and plastic animals. Her paintings are around the room with eye-catching colors of giraffes and owls. There is an entire area for sewing (turns out Lauren used to make organic baby clothing, which, judging by her art, was probably amazing) with bright colors of yarn and string and thread.
Above the fireplace is a giant painting of an ocean scene, held up by big chains on either end of the mantle. There were easels and a train table and paint brushes. This room was made to explore the arts and let creativity thrive.
Drop-In Classes
Parents and their kids have lots of commitments between school and sports and other activities. Lauren totally gets that, which is why almost all of her classes super easy to register for – tickets are generally available up to 30 minutes before class starts. Some people come every week, some every month. Some parents stay and hang out and others drop their kids off and come back when it’s time to pick them up.
Lauren is a fantastic teacher. She taught kids K5 through 12th grade in the public school system as an art instructor for 20 years. She’s patient, energetic, encouraging, and totally hands-on.
The evening classes at Yellowbobbypins are broken up by age: K5-2nd grade at 5:45 pm and 3rd- 5th grade at 7 pm. Classes are about an hour and students learn about an artist and try out a new technique. My first grader had a blast learning to draw without the marker leaving the page and then filling it in with tissue paper that bled colors. So neat!
The class schedule is online and on the Yellowbobbypins Facebook page. These art classes are usually on Thursdays. Each child is $10.
If you have a younger child, there is a play kitchen and a train table and little building block toys to keep them entertained if you need to stay during the class. My toddler kept busy the entire time with the play kitchen.
For seasonal and adult classes, stay tuned to the Yellowbobbypins website. Lauren also hosts homeschool classes on a regular basis and private lessons are available for any student.
Mommy & Me Classes
Parents are able to enjoy art alongside their child at Yellowbobbypins classes for children ages 2-5. Most of the classes consist of various stations with all kinds of different art mediums to test out like paints, or shaving cream, or clay.
From a class the day before, Lauren had a couple pieces of contact paper on her windows, sticky side out, where kids could stick small sparkly things. Genius idea.
These classes are mostly on Wednesday mornings from 10-11: 30 am. They cost $12/child. There are also some Mommy & Me classes on Saturday mornings. Schedule is here.
Camps
Lauren hosts awesome summer camps – like a Dollhouse Camp and Unicorn Camp last summer – for kids of all ages. She also helps out parents on school breaks and teacher workdays by scheduling all-day camps for school-age kids. Stay tuned to her website and Facebook page for the most updated information.
Birthday Parties
Yellowbobbypins also hosts birthday parties starting at age two. The space is perfect for an intimate birthday party centered around art and learning new things. Parties start at $150 and include all art materials and the artist in residence.
Give Yellowbobbypins a shot and you’ll be sorry you waited so long to go!
Yellowbobbypins
10 Spring Valley Rd, Greenville
864.238.0599
Would your child love a visit to Yellowbobbypins?
We love Lauren and yellow bobby-pins art camps! Both for kids and adults!