Jill’s Ceramics – West Nyack
845-623-4975
180 Germonds Road
The selection of molded pieces at Jill’s is truly overwhelming so leave extra time for decision-making. Jill invites artists of all ages to open studio times Monday through Friday and gives special attention to toddlers Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 12-2pm. Although most things are fired and glazed to make them safe for food, she also has a number of decorative items that can be painted and taken home the same day for those with younger, more impatient artists.  BYOB mommy nights are held each Tuesday and Thursday, 7-9:30pm. Call for weekend hours, which depend on the studio’s schedule of birthday party bookings.

Glaze –  Orangeburg
845-359-9020
34 Orangetown Shopping Center
Glaze pottery and art studio welcomes kids and adults at their open studio hours six days a week (closed Tuesdays). It also offers non-pottery crafts for kids the first Friday evening of each month, as well as a summer camp program. Reservations are not required .

Westchester Putnam Pottery –  Mahopac
845-628-2127
Westchester Putnam Pottery has open studio hours six days a week (closed Mondays except for school holidays), and appointments are not required. The studio is staffed by professional artists and art students, on hand to help with projects. Owner Debora Albanese pours all her own molds, so look out for a constantly changing selection. The studio also offers mini-camps during school and summer breaks. 

Image courtesy of Westchester Putnam Pottery

Paint Your Own Pottery –  Scarsdale
914-472-7281
969 Central Park Avenue    
It’s pay-what-you-paint at this Scarsdale studio. Potters can choose from hundreds of different pieces at Paint Your Own Pottery, and you will be charged for the piece only—no studio fees. Pieces can be painted free-hand or with the help of a stencil applied by an employee. The studio also offers a one-hour drop-off program for kids ages 6 and older, as well as Wine and Design Nights for adults. During the holidays, parents can bring their baby or toddler to the studio, where staff take a quick imprint of the child’s hand or foot. Professional artists then turn the imprint into a personalized ornament with the year, child’s name, and a holiday or winter-theme design. 

A Maze in Pottery –  Briarcliff Manor
914-502-0088
76 North State Road
A Maze in Pottery prides itself as something of a Cheers-like gathering place and, as such, encourages a social aspect to art. Although it does charge a studio fee, this is waived for preschoolers on Tuesdays and halved for everyone on Wednesdays. There are also half-price discounts on Thursdays and Fridays from 6-8pm. Mommy and Me story and paint events are held about once a month, as are after-school classes for older kids. Specials can change, so check with them for the latest deals. 

Top image courtesy of A Maze in Pottery