Fun for all ages Owners are so helpful and friendly. We will be back with more friends read more

Went here with my husband and parents and we had so much fun. There were good options for multiple price ranges. They have other options besides the fused glass as well. The experience took us about 3 hours but could have been faster if needed or taken more time. We worked with Carol and she was very knowledgeable and a good instructor. Would definitely recommend to a friend! read more

See all

We have been to the art barn a few times . I love the variety of materials available.

The owners are helpful and attentive. So many projects to choose from. The business is very clean and the environment is so full of ideas!! Projects are easy or very detailed. Price range is great! Spend an hour or if you're detailed like me the whole day. So much fun when you pick your finished project up! Highly recommend. read more

Very friendly and helpful owners. We are visiting out of town and this was the perfect thing for my 3.5 year old daughter. She loved choosing her pottery and painting it. I painted a plate and she painted a dog- Start to finish it took us about an hour and was $63. Very fair price for my large dinner plate and her special rainbow dog. read more

Express Yourself Art Barn - Painting our crafts - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Fennville, Michigan

Leaving this review is very dialectic for me as I LOVE the art barn. We have been visiting for years. On our most recent visit I chose mosaic for the first time. The piece I made ultimately cost me just under a hundred dollars. I ran in to pick it up a couple of days later on our way to an event. When we returned to our hotel later that day and I had an opportunity to look at my piece I was really disappointed. The grout was very uneven and slopped up one interior side of the tray. But the real heartbreaker is that one corner of the tray split completely. One of the sides was joined with tiny Brad nails. The other three were not. To the best of my knowledge grout does not expand so this must've happened during the behind the scenes grouting process. I'm very disappointed. read more

See all

LOOOOOVE the Art Barn SO SO SO much! Have come many a time when I'm in the Saugatuck area to paint some pottery (my apartment is filled with gnomes, cupcake statues, and little plates that I've painted here) and every time has been awesome. The basic gist is this: You come into the Art Barn and choose what craft you want to do. There's pottery painting as I mentioned, as well as jewelry making, glass fusion, mosaics, wood painting etc. I've only done the pottery painting so I'll speak to that but I've been with folks who have done other things and found them equally as enjoyable. With the pottery you pay a flat $8 fee for using the paint, brushes, space, and for the firing of your finished piece. Then you pay for the piece you actually want to paint. They range in small pieces around $4 all the way up to large sculptures for around $30. The awesome lady running the place (I'm sorry I've never caught her name) will set you up with the appropriate paints and explain the process to you and then you let your creativity run wild! My favorite piece that I've ever painted has been a garden gnome which ran me around $25 dollars for the piece itself but he is fairly large. When you have finished painting you pay and leave your piece and it is collected by the aforementioned awesome lady who will then fire the pieces that night. You then come back the next day after 2pm to pick up your glazed and beautiful finished pieces. The stuff I've made here has been really really lovely. I'm a bit of a perfectionist so I spend A LOT of time doing multiple coats on my pieces so the colors are saturated and non streaky. I also like to spend some time doing some shading and detail work but if you're not as hardcore as I your work will still come out looking lovely. The space is large with big wooden tables with about 5 or 6 seats per so you can come with a larger group. There's a jukebox and it plays a wide variety of tunes from oldies to new jack swing (a block of which I caught this past weekend and it was AWESOME. It's always great to paint a unicorn while listening to Bobby Brown). The space is actually a barn so the doors are open wide allowing for plenty of sunshine and fresh air to come in. This also means that if it's chilly outside bring a sweater because it's going to be chilly inside too. The land outside the barn is on is adorable. Beautiful flowers everywhere and cute pieces made at the barn decorate the garden. There's also a small water tower with petticoats hanging out from it which always brings me memories of being a kid watching "Petticoat Junction" on Nick at Night. We took my 2.5 year old cousin this past weekend to the barn she LOVED it. I don't think she's ever produced anything that she's been prouder of (a small ceramic kitty that she painted orange, teal and white). After picking up the finished piece she carried it around the rest of the day and talked at length about how pretty her kitty was (Sadly kitty had a fall and the bottom got chipped but that's what happens when little ones with sweaty palms carry around ceramic statues. Luckily kitty will be easily glued back together). A trip to the Art Barn is a great rainy day activity for families in town with kids or for couples or groups of friends in town and want to do something other than walk around town or go to the beach. The perfect afternoon activity that let's your creative juices run free. read more

See all

I recently visited the Art Barn with my husband -- this is my 5th visit over the past 10 years. Every time has been a super fun experience. The couple that runs this place is fun and helpful -- they've done a great job creating a place where people can relax and be creative. I can't wait to go back next year and make more mosaics! read more

My girlfriend and I wanted something fun and stimulating to do for a date, so she presented me with the idea for art barn. I looked them up online and it looked very cool so we went. It was a far drive for us but it was SO worth it. The couple that I presume own the place are so nice and make sure you're well taken care of. Such a cool place for an artist to work on a project or for non-artists to try something new! We've been twice and have loved it more each time! read more

Kids a little cooped up? Seeking an artistic outlet? Head out to the art barn! This creative sanctuary of sorts is a literal barn filled with a cornucopia of artistic opportunities for kids and adults of all ages. My little ones selected clay figure painting but I saw everything from painting to jewelry. There are plenty of tables, a myriad of paint colors and SO many things to let your imagination run wild. Do be aware that if you paint a clay piece it takes at least a day for the staff to fire and glaze it, so you'll have to pick up the next day or have it (expensively) shipped to you. It's not a cheap endeavor, but that's the nature of the materials. From the sitting fee to the pricey beads for jewelry, costs can add up super quickly. Nonetheless, I definitely want to come back when my girls are a bit older and they can indulge in more complex projects. read more

Express Yourself Art Barn - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Fennville, Michigan

What a cute place tucked away in the middle of nowhere! It is an actual barn, imagine that! Lots of crafty options to choose from: Painting, mosaics, jewelry making, to name a few. Cute decor and plenty of examples of the various types of art throughout the barn. I can't speak for the prices: I had met some family members here but I didn't do any art for myself this time. And since this is a rainy day activity for those on vacation in Saugatuck, your ceramic painted items are fired quickly and ready for next day pickup, whereas other places like this may take a week or longer. read more

Express Yourself Art Barn - In a real barn - Arts & Crafts Near Me - Fennville, Michigan

What else can you do in an art colony (Saugatuck/Douglas) than take a second to drink some wine with friends and do something else than just follow along with some wine and canvas hack? The crafts here welcome creativity and individuality, unlike the storefronts in greater Chicago. Truly differentiated experience! Bravo Art Barn! We'll be back. read more

My son and I had a wonderful time here! I wish there was something like this near us. Perfect place to visit during COVID; there were a ton of outdoor tables well-spaced out (also indoor options to work at while masked). This was the perfect place for a mother-son vacation date. The staff was very helpful but not obtrusive. Only tip I have is to visit early in your vacation so that you can pick up your product the next day - totally our fault but we came the day before leaving so we had to ship our creations. Still worth it for the great memories and fun time together. read more

My mom and I were on vacation in Holland to check out the nearby beach towns and I was looking forward to come here as soon as I read about it on a travel site. This was SO much fun. There were more adults without kids there than with kids the day we were there, so I didn't feel out of place at all. Everyone else seemed to be painting pottery by my mom and I decided to make mosaics of our dogs. We took a lot of time to get them just the way we wanted, and it ended up costing us about $30 each, but we also spent 3+ hours there so that's not a bad price tag for as much fun as we had. I can't wait to go back tomorrow and see our projects with the grout filled in. If you are going to visit, be sure to plan so you can pick up your project the next day (in the afternoon or just before they close). read more

See all

Stumbled upon this place while searching for things to do around Saugatuck & Holland area. So glad we decided to stop by and create something! The owners were super friendly and the atmosphere was so neat! The hardest part was trying to decide what to make- so many options! read more

See all

We absolutely love coming to this unique gem! Our kids beg to go back, and mom loves it too. Sitting on the shaded patio and enjoying the day while being creative-- it doesn't get much better than that! We have been coming here for years and will continue to give this small business our patronage. read more

Love this place! We came as an activity during a bachelorette party! They easily accommodated all of us (15 people) working on different projects. I made a mosaic tray which took about 1.5-2 hours (great place for kids on a rainy day). It was a bit pricey...Approximately $50 but I love the result!!! And to have it made from scratch means so much! Keep in mind that it can get quiet busy during the summer months especially on rainy days. Plan ahead and go early before the crowds! read more

This may be the happiest place on earth. There are endless projects to do and so much beautiful and colorful inspiration. The projects come in all prices but be aware that there is an $8 fee per painter/crafter per day and that adds up fast! read more

I'm pretty torn about my review for this place. On one hand, the concept and facilities are AMAZING. Total 5-star. The prices are very reasonable, the site is gorgeous and there is such a variety of things you can work on. It's a crafters dream. It's really beyond any paint your own pottery place. You can do a multitude of things that have already been outlined in other reviews. The supplies are plentiful. There is no way you can't come up with something to make. So, why only three stars? Well, the woman that runs it is less than hospitable. Word from friends that had been here prior talked about an amazing woman that would come around and encourage everyone and loved talking with the customers and seeing what they were making, helping give ideas to those stalled by the sheer vastness of all that is available. This is not the woman we have seen in our last few visits. She seems almost annoyed if you ask her a question. She certainly does not come around to talk to you or encourage you in any way. I don't know if she's burned out or what the deal is, but it really starts to take away from the experience and makes you wonder if it's worth the trip or if you want to continue to give her your money. Coming from out of state is really an endless cycle. The pieces aren't ready right away (totally understandable) but in order to make the trip worth while, you end up creating a new thing that will cost just as much to ship (if not more) than what you made. Sure, you can spend the night and make a weekend of it, but if you have to get back home the next day, good luck asking if she can somehow push your stuff to the front of the line so you don't have to wait until 4pm to pick up your things. She simply repeats her policies with not even an "I'm sorry I can't help you." or a "I really appreciate you coming all this way (multiple times), why don't you do x, y and z and I can work with you." Nope, just a cold, less-than-helpful email. I suspect my next trip to pick up my things will involve just picking it up and making jewelry or something I can take immediately. And I likely won't make the trip back again. My time and money would be better served trying to find some place more local. read more

This is a truly magical place -- absolutely enchanting and inspiring. But there is a price to pay for this. I have been to many art and pottery studios, but this is by far the most expensive. It is a seasonal business -- open only during the warmer months (May to October) -- so quite obvious the strategy is to gorge as much as possible from tourists. We were there for one hour and painted two tiny and three small ceramic pieces, and made a picture frame. This totaled $170. (Rural highway robbery.) It was also freezing inside the barn. They need some kind of temperature control -- space heaters and/or coolers. They advertise the barn as a place where anyone can create -- and this is true, if you're well to do. read more

Walked in and asked about what there was to do and were told to just wander around and figure out what we wanted to do. Then when we figured we wanted to make jewelry we were told it was too difficult and that they didn't want it to fall apart. Overall we felt that they were dismissive and didn't care if we were there or not. No customer service whatsoever. The highlight were their two dogs, Lassie and Athena. read more

Our favorite place for rainy days. Unlimited options to choose from and fun for all ages. It's a great place to try glass fusing or another art form. We look forward to visiting here every summer. read more

Great place to take the kids, especially on a rainy day. So much to choose from to paint. Prices are pretty reasonable to other paint barns.

We had a really great time at the Art Barn. For my young daughter, this was the highlight of a recent vacation. The barn itself is a spacious, cool, eclectic setting. There are lots of different types of art projects available. The owner was very friendly and great with my daughter--she gave us great advice about choosing a project (e.g. not to make a birdhouse with a child since acrylic paint is really hard to get off skin/clothes). We painted a variety of ceramics and, because they wouldn't be available until after we were home the next day, we had them shipped. Everything was very carefully packed and my daughter was thrilled to use her hand painted bowl and adorn her room with her painted unicorn. This is a great place to stop for both adults and children. We will definitely be back. read more

A friend recommended this venue for my daughter's 7th birthday. I took my daughter as suggested. Let's start with the positive. Very clean, fun atmosphere, with a large selection of crafts to choose from (many kid friendly). The biggest negative: the staff was less than welcoming, friendly, or accommodating. At first we had a hard time even finding staff to help us learn the ropes. Finally I found a female staff member who I told was our first visit. She did not greet us with a warm welcome, a tour of the place, or even a smile. She simply said "look around, find a project, and find a table to sit at...". Okay, then. It was clear we were on our own. We found some ceramics to paint that seemed doable. During our project, staff did not periodically swing by to check in or ask if we had questions, as I'd kind of expect like a "wait staff" at a restaurant. We made it work, but we would not return. Our experience at "Make Studio Kalamazoo" was far better! read more

This place is so much fun! A definite must-see if you're in Saugatuck. From the tea-pot chandelier, to the petticoats hanging from the water-tower, to the classic jukebox playing tune, this place is magic! It inspires creativity! I ended up making a dog bowl, some tea-light holders and a decorative bowl. Everything turned out beautifully! read more

Great place to take the family..perfect charming experience. We went on a day that was a bit rainy. Only beef is that you would need to come back in late afternoon next day to pick up any ceramic/mosaic work (though shipping is an option). We went with woodwork (birdhouse), and had a great time with it. Beautiful location. read more

We had some time and I had looked this place up online, so we were going to do a fun art project as a memento of our Saugatuck trip. The owner couldn't have been more rudely disinterested and unfriendly to us. I felt like an unwanted intrusion. All that's there are beads and pottery (which of course you don't have time to do.) I was expecting a big smile and lots of art supplies. She might have even gotten out of her chair, but no. No music playing, nothing. Plus it's so absurdly expensive. I was not only disappointed but upset that I had brought my friend here as it was a downer on our vacation. Unfortunately, they keep their dog pent away, as he would have been the highlight of the Express Yourself Art Barn. read more

Really great place and fun concept. The assistant was super sweet and provided all of the assistance I needed. Lots of different projects you can do. The mosaic seemed the most expensive option because you have to pay for each tile you use....and the cool ones are pretty pricy. Because I did not want to pay $50 for a project I chose to do silk painting which was fun (and not as much $$). So I would say just be careful about what your charges will be and you will enjoy the experience. . read more

I planned a "Birthday" sister trip to Fennville, MI on the weekend of August 14-16 2015. We stayed at a great Bed and Breakfast Inn in Fennville. We decided to go the "Express Yourself Art Barn" on Saturday. The barn was amazing; however, the experience was the total opposite. We traveled quite a distance for this sister weekend and thought it would be a blast to create some pieces for Christmas gifts at the Express Yourself Art Barn. We arrived at the Art Barn at 11 am and walked in, we approached a woman behind the counter. and explained to her that this is our first time to a business like this and we want to create some memories for our family (we didn't finish until 6 pm as we have a large family and wanted to make several gifts). She was very rude, abrupt and made us feel like we were bothering her (by the way, she was the OWNER). She said "look around and pick something out, then come find me and we will get paint". She did not explain anything to us (the different projects we could do etc...) nor did she offer us aprons or mention they even had them for us to use. We later saw other people put them on and grabbed one for ourselves. Remember, we have never done this before! When we ran out of the paint we were given for our projects and needed more, we got up repeatedly and asked, one time, she rolled her eyes and asked me what color I wanted now and said the limit was 3 colors. Other times, when my sisters needed more paint, the gentleman (other owner we believe) made us feel like we were a nuisance, very unfriendly and when asked for advice, we would get very vague, short answers or "whatever you want". We tried to engage in conversation with them as well as complimented them on the Art Barn and expressed how excited we were to be there and be able to create such gifts. As the day progressed, we felt more and more uncomfortable with the cold shoulder attitude and poor customer service we were getting but continued to thank them every time we requested more paint etc.... During the entire day, not one person came by the table and asked if we needed any assistance or if we had any questions. When we completed the painting of our projects, we proceeded to check out and our bill came to over $250.00 for our items. Again, we tried to strike up a conversation by letting them know the items were for Christmas gifts for our families and still no excitement, conversation or interest from the owners as we checked out. We asked when these will be ready to pick up the next day and she said to call to check around 1:00 the next day (Sun). When we called on Sunday at 1 pm as instructed, she told us all projects are ready for pickup. When we arrived, she said your "STUFF" is on the table. The plates my sister made were already in boxes for pickup, while all the other items were displayed on the table. While my sister was pulling her plates out of the box to view her masterpieces, the owner came over to the table and said that one of the plates in the set my sister made broke, no apology was offered. She proceeded to say, that she can give my sister a credit for future use. We asked if we made the fourth plate again, could she ship it to us as we live over 5 1/2 hours away. The answer we got was.... NO! I explained to her that we are 5 1/2 hours away and that solution would not work and asked for a refund instead. Her response to this was..... "I usually don't give refunds". She gave my sister a refund for the one plate but we explained to her that the plate that broke was part of a set and that the other three plates could not be given without the fourth one. We again, asked for a refund for the set and the response we got was "What am I suppose to do with the rest of these pieces?" I'm not giving a refund and turned and walked away. Again, no apologies were given nor did she offer boxes, bubble wrap, newspaper or any other packing items we could use to keep our gifts from breaking while traveling home. Since my sister's plates were the only items in a box when we arrive, I wonder if the owners would have even mentioned the broken plate if my sister didn't start to unpack them to view them before we loaded them in the car. The concept for the Express Yourself Art Barn business is such a great idea but the owners are not friendly, lack any customer service skills and ruin the experience. I would NOT recommend using this business. They do not appreciate the customers they get but make you feel like your a bother. Please look somewhere else as you will be highly disappointed with the service they offer. read more