Art classes for children in Almaty: how lessons work at the studio
Parents in Almaty choose art classes for their children for different reasons: some want an activity away from screens, some notice the child draws on their own and want to support it, some are simply looking for an art studio near home or school. Here is how classes work at the ArtMix art studio at 69A Satpaev Street: what happens in a lesson, the minimum age, the price, and how to pick a time.
Ages and groups
There are three children's groups, split by age rather than by level — because a five-year-old and an eleven-year-old hold attention differently, not because they draw differently.
- Little ones, 5+ — the youngest group. Shorter lessons, simpler materials; the aim is not technique but the habit of finishing what you started.
- Main group, 7–12 — the core of the studio. Composition, colour, work from life and from photographs.
- Sculpting and modelling, 7+ — a separate strand, covered in its own article.
Teenagers from 12 have their own group with a different programme, including preparation for entrance exams. That is covered separately.
How a lesson runs
The order is the same in every class; only the material and the difficulty of the subject change:
- We look at what we are drawing. Not "draw whatever you like" — the lesson has a task, and the child knows what it is.
- We lay out the composition. What fits on the sheet, what is the subject, what is background.
- We work in colour. Gouache, watercolour, and in the older groups oils.
- We finish and look at the result. The child takes the work home.
A lesson runs from an hour. Beyond that it depends on the group and on how the child holds attention — at five an hour is already a lot, at eleven it can be too little.
What we do not promise: that a child will draw "like a real artist" after the first lesson. Drawing is a skill, and skills are built by repetition. What does happen from the first lesson is that the child takes home a finished piece rather than half an idea.
What to bring
Nothing. Paints, brushes, paper and palettes belong to the studio and are included in the price of the lesson.
The one thing worth thinking about in advance is clothing. We work with gouache and oils; the studio does not hand out aprons, so dress your child so that a mark on a sleeve is not an event. Oil paint, contrary to common belief, does wash out of ordinary clothes — but it is better not to test that on something special.
The timetable and how it fits around school
The studio is open six days a week; Monday is the day off.
- Tuesday and Thursday — main group 7–12, from 10:00 to 16:00;
- Wednesday and Friday — little ones, main group, teenagers and sculpting, from 10:00 to 18:00;
- Saturday — little ones from 11:00, main group from 11:00;
- Sunday — main group from 11:00, plus the adult group.
Lessons start every hour, and that is deliberate: it fits around school shifts. The studio is close to School-Gymnasium No. 22, and times are chosen so that a lesson fits either before the first shift or right after it — no crossing the city and coming back.
It is worth checking free places in advance: group sizes are limited and the popular hours fill up.
What it costs
The children's group is from 5,000 ₸ per lesson. Payment is by package: the larger the package, the cheaper each lesson.
- 1 lesson — from 5,000 ₸;
- 4 lessons — from 20,000 ₸ (5,000 ₸ each);
- 8 lessons — from 26,000 ₸ (3,250 ₸ each);
- 12 lessons — from 30,000 ₸ (2,500 ₸ each).
A package is tied to the child, not to the calendar: illness or a trip does not burn the lessons.
The first lesson in the children's group is free. That is not a marketing device but a way to check the thing that matters: whether the format and the teacher suit the child. Sometimes it becomes clear that they do not — better to find that out before paying for a package.
About parents — honestly
We do not allow parents into the lesson, and it is not about mistrust. With a parent present a child works for the adult's reaction rather than for the task: glancing over, asking "like this?", and no longer experimenting. There is no separate waiting room at the studio — you can take a walk nearby or come back towards the end.
Looking round the studio before signing up is possible and sensible. Come while a lesson is running: you see both how the children work and how the space is arranged.
Frequently asked questions
From what age do you take children into the art studio? From five. The younger group follows its own programme: shorter lessons, simpler materials, more attention to concentration.
Does a child need to be able to draw beforehand? No. Children join the group from scratch and that is the norm. Being able to hold a pencil is enough.
What should we bring to the first lesson? Nothing but clothes you do not mind marking. All materials belong to the studio.
How long is a lesson? From an hour. Exactly how long depends on the group and the age.
Can we come to a single lesson first? Yes — the first lesson in the children's group is free, precisely for that.
We attend School-Gymnasium No. 22, will we make it after lessons? Yes: the studio is nearby and classes start every hour, so the time is chosen around the shift. Tell us which shift the child attends and we will suggest options.
How to sign up
Write on WhatsApp with the child's age and the days that suit you. We will tell you where there are places and book the free first lesson. Contacts and the address are on the Contacts page; the full timetable and prices are in the Courses section.