NYC Kids Crafts: 5 Paint Your Own Pottery Studios

Mar 14 2010 By Marcy
Things to do with kids: NYC Kids Crafts: 5 Paint Your Own Pottery Studios

Last week we wrote about some great places to do kids crafts for free in New York City as the first in a series of posts about NYC kids crafts. This week we've got another great crafting option for you to try: painting your own pottery. It's fun, anyone can do it and you get to take home something special at the end.

At these studios the clay or plaster is already pre-formed into shapes (or plates, mugs, etc) and kids come in to creatively decorate their chosen object with non-toxic ceramic glaze or paint. If you choose a ceramic that needs to fired in a kiln you'll have to wait a few days to pick it up, but some painted projects can be taken home as soon as they dry. Some of these pottery studios also offer beading, mosaics and more so we’ve indicated that as well.

All of these studios offer birthday parties and a paint your own pottery party can be lots of fun, so check their websites for prices and more information.

 
92 Reade Street, Manhattan
Helpful staff here will offer your kids stamps (yep, you can stamp with ceramic glaze!) and tips as they enjoy painting their chosen ceramic piece ($15 and up). They have over 400 pieces to choose from including specialty items just for holidays (yes, Virginia, you can paint your own Passover plate!). They also offer a unique set-up-your-own “Paint Me A Story” pottery-painting workshop for tots.
Hours: Open Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Saturdays 11-9pm and Sundays 11am-8pm. All ages.
Cost: Flat rate studio fee (stay all day) for children under 12 is $8, adults are $12. Pottery is priced per-item. “Paint Me A Story” workshops are $35/participant. Birthday parties start at $400 plus cost of pieces made.
 
63 New Dorp Plaza, Staten Island
Their specialty is ceramic pottery you select and paint (and they fire—so it’s food-safe). They have all the cool bells and whistles (stamps, sponges, contact and transfer papers) and will show you how to use them. They also offer mosaics and clay impressions crafting (hand and footprint keepsakes).
Hours: Mon-Wed 11am-7pm, Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri & Sat 11am-8pm, Sun. 12pm-5pm
Cost: All-day flat studio fee for children is $6, for adults it’s $8. Plus the price of the pottery. Want a discount? They offer coupons! Birthday parties start at $269 for up to 12 children.
 
431 East 73rd Street, Manhattan
711 Amsterdam Avenue, Manhattan
We’ve been and loved it. Very laid back, super helpful staff, and they don’t charge anything for studio time so you’ll never feel rushed. They offer classic paint-your-own ceramics or paint-your-own plaster tchochkeys (animals, figurines, whatnots), as well as mosaics, t-shirt decoration, woodcraft, frames and “Create a Cuddly” stuffed-animal making (the animal gets a decorated t-shirt too). They also offer classes and workshops for kids.
Hours: Walk-in 7 days a week (even on holidays!) Times vary at the two locations. All ages.
Cost: You just pay for the piece or project—that’s it. (Starting at about $16 for plaster and $20 for pottery). Birthday parties start at $580.
 
3 Manhattan locations: Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and at FAO Schwarz
Your little artists chooses a ceramic piece (there are a couple hundred to pick from) and…(drum roll)..paints it!  Or glazes it. Over 400 choices to pick from and they start at $12.
Hours: All sites open 7 days. Times vary at each venue so check location link above for details. Reservations are recommended.
Cost: A one-day “Paint Pass” costs $12 per child (or adult) and gives you unlimited studio time for that day. Tots 3-and-under get in half-price on weekdays. A $36/year membership gets you unlimited Free paint time Monday-Friday as well as extra perks like “puffy specialty glazes” and a VIP pass and more. Parties start at $795 plus cost of pottery for ten kids.

 

339 Smith Street, Brooklyn (Carroll Gardens)
8000 Third Avenue, Brooklyn (Bay Ridge)
72 Seventh Avenue, Park Slope
Stop by to glaze your own bisque pieces (over 500 to choose from) or paint your selection instead (over 60 paint shades!). You’ll also find a variety of figurines and banks (piggy and oink-free) for painting. Most choices here cost upward of the $10 range. Helpful staff will assist kids with ideas and techniques upon request.They offer pottery wheel and clay classes as well as other craft options like beading and mosaics.
Hours: Bay Ridge and Carroll Gardens venues open at 11am seven days a week. The new location at Park Slope will likely post hours soon. Click here for hours. 
Cost: Stay as long as you wish for a flat fee rate of $6 for children 16 and younger, $8 for adults plus the additional fee for the pottery. For birthday party pricing, call the location where you'd like to hold your child's party.

Reader recommendation: One reader has recommended Plaster Party Place in Queens. We haven't been, but if you have, let us know what you thought.

 

For other cool venues for gatherings and parties, check out our NYC Birthday Party Guide.
 

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