by CCSA Admin | Oct 19, 2022 | Blog
Are you as excited about the holidays as we are? It’s never too early to start creating hand-made gifts for your loved ones, and paint-your-own pottery is the perfect way to do just that.
Pre-made pottery can be painted in a paint-your-own-pottery studio, classes are offered (perhaps on wheel throwing, canvas painting, glass fusing, wood sign making, special techniques, and more), and there is always ample opportunity for memories to be made! Purchasing a gift card from a studio to be used towards any creation or event is a great way to gift someone in your life a wonderful day
and a special present to hold on to.
If giving physical gifts is more your thing, don’t worry! Hand-painted or handmade pieces can touch the hearts of your loved ones. Children’s handprints, romantic designs, annual traditions, reindeer on an ornament, whatever your goal is, can be achieved on various pieces, all designed by you.
Pottery has a longer turn-around time than many traditional gifts because it has to dry, receive a glaze top coat, and be fired, so it’s always beneficial to start thinking ahead about when you may want to start creating your gifts.
Your studio will have a large selection of inventory to choose from, as well as samples and displays to keep you inspired. If you’re stuck, ask a studio associate for advice! Many holiday designs have passed through their kilns, so they are sure to have some tricks up their sleeves.
One incredible aspect of this gift idea is how it supports a local business, allowing it to do well during a season when many people flock to massive corporations and online sellers. So this holiday season, give a little thought to where your presents come from and consider giving the gift of an
experience.
by CCSA Admin | Sep 21, 2022 | Blog
Halloween is on its way, one of the best holidays for the paint-your-own pottery industry. If you haven’t been into a PYOP studio around Halloween time before, you’ll definitely have to go check it out this year: with ghoulish figurines and lanterns, pumpkins and gourds of all sizes, and monstrous pieces all
around, there are spooky pieces for everyone!
Your local studio will have spooky samples on display to draw inspiration from or copy, and likely stencils or silk screens for very detailed designs. Spiders’ webs, ghosts, and other scary details can be added to regular inventory, like dishes, cooking ware, picture frames, etc. There are many glaze
colors to choose from, so you’re sure to find the perfect goblin green and bloody red. You can also create small ceramic add-ons, like miniature pumpkins, which can be fused onto any flat pieces – so if you find a dish you like and want to make it more on-theme, no worries at all!
Custom jack-o-lanterns are always a huge hit. Your studio can order varying sizes of jack-o-lanterns, comparable to the size of actual pumpkins, which you can paint however you like. Studios can order them to be custom engraved with names on the top; many families get a large one with
their last name or multiple with the kids’ names. Pop in an electric candle once it comes out of the kiln, and you’ve got the most special pumpkin on the block! And, it will last year after year after year.
So bring your little monsters into your local studio between now and Halloween for loads of themed fun! Try our studio locator to find your new favorite spot.
by CCSA Admin | Aug 24, 2022 | Blog
Pets Deserve Pottery Too!
While they may not be able to pick out and design their pieces, our four-legged friends do so much for us and our households – why not treat them to a new dish, or honor them with a customized piece of decor for your home?
There are many ways to get your furry (or not furry!) friends involved in your pyop adventures. Bisque pottery lines from nearly all suppliers include items like water and food bowls, designed in various shapes and sizes to fit every pet’s needs. Some even have details like collars to add initials or ceramic paws for the dish to stand on, which you could color to match your pet’s likeness.
You may have heard of the concept of hand printing onto pottery, which many people do to keep a snapshot of a particular moment in their children’s lives. The same can apply to pets! Puppy paws can be printed onto picture frames, dishes, treat jars, and anything they fit on! You could even do a print at puppy age and then return for more in monthly increments or after a year to see how much they have grown. Underglazes used in studios are nontoxic and washable, so there is no risk of harm to your animal friend.
Another route to take is painting a pottery animal to have the likeness of your pet. Bring a photo of your pet to your local studio, and the studio associates can help you pick out glazes that best match the colors of your pet. There are many animal options to choose from when picking pyop pieces, so more realistic or cartoony is up to you! Or, painting a pet portrait on a platter or plaque would honor them, too.
In whatever way you choose to get your pet involved, there is plenty of room for them in the sphere of paint-your-own-pottery! Getting creative is not just for humans. Try our studio locator to find a shop near you, and ask for their policy on pets in the studio for paw printing.
by CCSA Admin | Aug 9, 2022 | Blog
Fall is just around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited. What’s better than pumpkins galore, leaves changing color, and the smell of all the seasonal goods?
Bring all that autumnal spirit into your home this Fall by creating a paint-you-own pottery centerpiece or display for your home! With all sizes of pumpkins and gourds, acorn boxes, leafy pottery, and a variety of color palettes to create, your display can be perfectly within theme and entirely unique to your home. Your studio is likely to have their own Fall display, so feel free to draw inspiration from any samples they may have out or color schemes they may have used.
Specialty paints are a great way to achieve the colors of the season; often earthier in tone and having more organic movement within the kiln, specialty glazes can make a gourd look truly natural, or give the perfect warm tone to a vase. These glazes show how they flow across a piece in the kiln, so
anything with fun curves and grooves will create a very interesting finish. While all studios may carry a variation of the specialty glazes that exist, your local studio is sure to have many options to elevate your piece.
Combining elements of pottery with other materials makes a very sophisticated display. Try putting dried flowers into a ceramic vase, real pumpkins next to the fake ones, a candle within a painted holder; all are sure to create an extra special touch!
by CCSA Admin | Jul 25, 2022 | Blog
For your next anniversary, date night, or any other excuse to be with your loved one, consider paint-your-own pottery as a form of connecting and creating together. There is no better gift than one you have created by hand, either together or for each other, and PYOP is the perfect way to achieve that.
One way to design a gift that the other will love is to each pick out what piece you would want, either something like a kitchen item you’ve been needing or a piece of decor you love and have each other paint it. You could choose what color palette you prefer or let them completely use your artistic
liberties! It’s a great way to see what patterns and designs make your partner think of you. And, top it off with a secret love note on the bottom!
For anniversaries, consider creating a piece to commemorate the date. Create a platter with the colors from your wedding invite, cover a mug in doodles representing different memories you share, or paint a frame to put your favorite picture in! For finishing touches, many studios offer custom art in the
form of writing or detailed work – consider adding your names with your anniversary date or something along those lines to commemorate your time together.
If you’re feeling especially frisky, many studios also offer naughty pottery during certain hours or at 18+ events. Create something NSFW to spice things up, or try surprising each other with a piece the other wouldn’t pick out for themself.
While more risque events are fun, there is plenty of room for quality time in other classes as well! Creating, sometimes even failing, can be a great way to bond, learn, and share a laugh. Check out your local studio for upcoming class options and schedules, and don’t forget to try our studio
locator to find your new favorite date spot!
by CCSA Admin | Jun 27, 2022 | Blog
Have you explored the custom art options at your local studio? Many offer a standard set of fonts to add to any pieces you may create, to add details such as names, dates, and sayings. Beyond the standard, studios often accept commissions for larger pieces and grander designs.
Wedding platters are always a big hit. Custom artists can copy the color scheme, design, font and image of an invitation onto a large platter, a very personal and unique gift for the newlyweds or to commemorate a special anniversary. Elements of the invitation can also be applied to other pieces, like canisters, coasters, small dish sets, matching mugs, anything you like! The possibilities are truly endless, and the artist will work with you to ensure satisfaction in the remaking of the original design.
Another popular form of custom art is house platters. When people move, they can commemorate their past home or their new home with a painted replica of it on a platter or dish. This can also be great for vacation homes, temporary residences, college buildings, churches, etc. This gift is the perfect balance of intimate and practical.
Studios have seasonal designs to offer as custom pieces, like a handprint to turn into popsicle for Summer or a turkey for
Thanksgiving or even an ornament for Christmas. Handprint pieces, which are great for any occasion can really freeze a moment in time. They can also become a tradition; if the whole family gets handprints each year, you can keep a record of how much everyone has grown and display it
within your home.
Check with our local studio what their custom art options are, and try our studio locator to find your new favorite spot!
