We’re a mother-daughter owned art gallery located in Traverse City, Michigan. All of the artwork and Art Café projects are created by hand by us! Stop in, browse our cheerful collection, and if you feel inspired, grab a table and paint your own wooden Art Café project.
Our paint-your-own Art Café cut-outs are fun for all ages (recommended for ages 5+), and they’re perfect activity for a girls’ (or guys!) day out, birthday celebrations, friend hangouts, or simply enjoying some peaceful creative time all on your own. We provide everything you need; paints, brushes and hair dryers to speed up the drying process. Projects are priced individually and start at $15.
Shelly Drews has been carving her signature laughing fish since 2014 and has worked with a bandsaw for many years prior. In 2019, Shelly and her daughter Kirstie opened Laughing Fish Gallery in Suttons Bay, Michigan, with the goal of sharing their joyful, handcrafted art with a wider community. Shelly carves all of the wooden artwork featured in the gallery, from her beloved fish to bears, foxes, and other playful woodland characters. She also hand-carves every Art Café project, creating the pieces that invite visitors of all ages to slow down, get creative, and experience the joy of making art themselves. The best place to shop Shelly’s artwork is at our Gallery now located in Traverse City, Michigan. We’re located upstairs in building 50 at the Grand Traverse Commons.
Kirstie Drews is the artist behind all pieces signed Echo Foxx. The name Echo Foxx was developed while Kirstie was traveling through Nepal and working as a freelance graphic designer. She creates all of the watercolor prints and greeting cards, along with acrylic paintings inspired by her love of color and nature. Her signature style often features galaxy night skies and silhouetted pine trees, with much of her artistic inspiration drawn from her travels abroad, especially time spent out West. Kirstie’s work reflects her deep appreciation for the desert and the mountains, wide open spaces, and the sense of wonder that comes from standing beneath a vast, star-filled sky.
Visit us in our new location at the Grand Traverse Commons! We are located on the 2nd floor, take the stairs by Cuppa Joe and follow our signs. Or, take the elevator by Pepe Nero to Kirkbride Hall and we’re right next door.
1200 W. Eleventh St. | Suite 207 | More parking behind Building 50
DECEMBER HOURS
SUN 11-4 | MON 11-4 | WED 11-4 | FRI 11-6 | SAT 11-6
Closed Tuesdays & Thursdays
What is Art Cafe?
Art Café is a relaxed, drop-in painting space where you can pick a hand-cut wooden project, grab some paints, and create your own happy art. Each project is carved and designed by artist Shelly Drews, and you can even book a table ahead to save your spot. We currently have over 30 unique projects for you to chose from and we’re happy to provide you with some painting tips and tricks to get you started.
We provide everything you need to complete your Art Café project, including paints, brushes, and even hair dryers - all included in the cost of your project.
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The short answer: everyone! Our Art Café projects are perfect for ages 5 to 105. Come paint solo, bring friends, or plan a creative outing, whether it’s a book club get-together, girls’ night out, bachelorette party, birthday celebration, or any reason at all to make something fun! This is a perfect creative activity if you live (or are visiting!) in Traverse City, Michigan.
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$10-$50+
Our Art Café projects are available at a range of price points, beginning at just $10. When you choose to paint your project in person, all paints and brushes are provided at no additional cost. For your convenience, we also offer a hair dryer station to help speed up the drying process, allowing you to complete and take home your artwork the same day.
If you take your Art Cafe project home to paint you will need to also purchase your own paint and brushes ( don’t worry, we sell these in-shop! )
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Drop in
Stop by during open hours and say hello. No reservation needed.Choose a project
Pick out an Art Cafe project from Shelly’s hand-cut designs.Check out and set up
Pay for your project, find a table, and get your supplies. Paints, brushes, water cups, and paper towels are complimentary.Paint at your own pace
Relax and create. Ask for color or technique tips anytime.Dry and detail
Use our hair-dryer station to speed up drying so you can add final touches.Take it home
Once it is dry, you are all set to bring your artwork home the same day.
You can also book a table in advance if you already know your schedule! Check out our Booking page and choose a time that’s most convenient for you.
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You can paint in-person at our Art Gallery located in The Grand Traverse Commons. We are located on the 2nd floor in Suite 207. Take the stairs by Cuppa Joe and follow the signs to us, or take the elevator to Kirkbride Hall and we’re next door.
1200 W. Eleventh Street, Traverse City MI 49684
Park in the lot across from Pleasanton Brick Oven Bakery and you’ll be just steps away from us!
You can drop-in or book a table in advance if you already know your schedule!
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Any type of acrylic paint will work on our wooded Art Cafe projects. We recommend, Folk Art Multi Surface Paints - They’re what we use!
We’re Shelly and Kirstie Drews, the mother-daughter team behind Laughing Fish Gallery. We first opened our cheerful little gallery in Suttons Bay in 2019, where we carved, painted, and built a community around our happy whimsical art. In 2023 Kirstie welcomed her son (Henry), and as our family grew, we realized we needed a gallery closer to home in Traverse City. That shift led us to our new space at the Grand Traverse Commons, a place that allows us to keep creating while staying close to family. Our second-floor gallery gives us the perfect space to offer tables for our Art Café projects, and it also doubles as a cozy studio where Kirstie does all of her painting, weaving, and creating.
Today we continue to carve and paint side by side, sharing joyful art and hands-on creativity with our visitors. We also have a sister store, Pier Joy in Ludington, where our work is proudly featured alongside other Michigan makers.
We also happily take orders for custom artwork, focusing mainly on our carved wooden pieces like fish, bears, dogs, cats and other woodland creatures. Each design is carved and painted in our signature whimsical style, making every custom piece a one-of-a-kind addition to your home.
If you would like to order a custom piece, please send us an email here.
Creating art takes time and each piece is a labor of love, from the first sketch to the final wire eye on each fish. Whether it’s Shelly carving and painting her whimsical fish or Kirstie weaving a sunset inspired tapestry, every creation is made with care and creativity. We believe that art isn’t something to rush; it’s a process of inspiration, craftsmanship, and joy. While we may not always have a huge inventory, every piece we offer is made with heart, and we’re so grateful for the patience and support of those who appreciate the time it takes to create something truly special.
If you’d like to be the first to know when new creations are available in our online store, be sure to sign up for our newsletter (fill out the form below)! We love sharing our latest work with you.
