This place is going to be a problem for me...
A few of my girlfriends and I decided to go to Mad Potter on a Saturday afternoon, and I can easily see this becoming an addictive little hobby! Most of us aren't all that artistically-inclined, so the staff were really helpful and encouraging in how to start up the process of painting our pottery and selecting pieces that would be easy to do. The shop has long tables that can be used by groups or shared with multiple individuals. My favorite part??? You can bring in alcohol. Because what's a better idea than painting with a glass of wine, right? There is a room available for party reservations, but we didn't get our plans coordinated in time to reserve it.
The selection of paintable ceramics is almost overwhelming, but everyone will find something for either their skill level of the specific item they're wanting to create. I picked a small owl plate, another friend picked a large platter, and several others designed coffee mugs. There are trendy things (like whimsical owls, compost containers, and Disney characters) to very classic pieces (garden gnomes and animal figurines) to gorgeous decor pieces (tall pitchers and wreaths). Prices range from around $7.00 to over $35, depending on the size and detail of the item you want to paint.
Studio fees are $8.00 (some Saturdays are half-price), which covers the cost of paints, supplies, and the firing of your item when it's completed. Because the glaze has to dry and then be fired, you can't pick your items up for 7 days after your painting session. And if they happen to break in the kiln, which happens occasionally, they will reimburse you for your original purchase (sadly, this happened to one of our mugs).
We spent a few hours at the studio, snacking and drinking while we worked on our pieces. I was really impressed with the variety of paints and glazes that were available, especially for as cheap as the studio fees are. This is such a great activity for anyone, regardless of your skill set. When we were there, there were grandmas with elementary-aged grand kids there, parents with high school aged kids, a few couples on dates, and our rather boisterous group of 30-something wine drinkers. Our pottery came out better than we hoped, and we had a fabulous, inexpensive activity for a girls' afternoon out of the house. I'm already planning my Christmas gifts, so I have an excuse to go back to paint more! read more