Little Tree Studio: An Artist’s Retreat in the Heart of the City

We’ll admit it: we’ve collectively consumed enough paste to paper an entire dining room, and we won’t deny our tongues were once or twice the distinct yellow of egg tempera. Ah, the hallmarks of our earliest art classes. Relive those glory days of kinder-year with your little ones at Little Tree Studio where creativity rules and your kids are immersed in a world of glitter, construction paper, paints, and awesome activities — but paste eating is gently discouraged.

The Artist Within
Owner Nichole Farnum relocated last year from Brooklyn and brought her own brand of artistic passion with her: to create a safe, creative place for kids to express their inner mini-Matisse. Her background in early childhood education and her own artistic tendencies inspired this one-of-a-kind artist’s retreat for your little sweets.

Located just off of Valencia in the heart of the Mission District, Little Tree offers a bevy of classes six days a week for kids ages two and up. With quirky-cool courses like Rubberband Art Splatter, Paper Plate Kandinsky, and Underwater Portraits, and new ones debuting all of the time, your kids can enjoy week after week of creativity inspired by famous artists, common objects, and kid’s lit.

The Under Five Crowd
Check out the list of Little Seedlings pre-K classes for kids age 2-4 that include stories and “free” time where kids can explore the studio and play before class begins. One parent or guardian must attend with this group.

Date Night
For parents yearning for a night of dining out minus the whine, sign up early for Little Tree’s once a month Date Night. For $50 kids ages 5-10 can be dropped off for a three-hour movie/art experience (think The Lorax and D.I.Y. Truffala trees) while Mom and Dad get some grown-up time at a nearby Valencia Street restaurant. Wildly popular, Date Nights fill up fast so if you want to try it out, Little Tree recommends booking in advance.

Good to Know
During the summer Little Tree offers art camps during the week, so the regular class schedules changes. There are always classes offered on both Saturdays and Sundays throughout the summer-camp season, but they tend to fill up quickly. All classes can be signed up and paid for in advance online.

Bonus Material
Every student receives a punch card, and after five classes the next one is free! Little Tree also offers private parties, art lessons, art therapy, and studio rental time. They even feature occasional adult classes for you to get your creativity on.

Smocks Provided
The studio provides smocks and aprons so your kids can get as messy as they’d like with minimal stains to their clothing. But given how messy our kids get on a daily basis, we suggest dressing your blossoming Botticelli’s in totally-washable duds.

Van Gogh Now
Located at 3316 22^nd Street, just off Valencia, in the heart of SF’s Mission District, you’ll find the Little Tree Store where you can stock up on all the finest craft supplies, pens, stickers, and other creative goodies. The studio is located behind the storefront (enter through the store).

Canvas the Area
Street parking during the week is usually available. On weekends, try the Mission and Bartlett parking garage on 21^st at Bartlett. Nearby bus lines include the 33 Stanyan and 14 Mission. BART stops at 24^th and Mission, a short walk to the studio.

Little Tree Studios
3316 22nd Street
San Francisco, Ca
415-834-5567
Online: littletreestudios.net

“Like” this story if you plan on visiting Little Tree. If you’ve already been, tell us about your experience in the comment section below.

— Amber Guetebier

All photo credit to Amber Guetebier except photo of Nichole Farnum, courtsey Alex Farnum.