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The Painted Pot in Downtown Rochester

Feeling creative? Have kids that like to create? Want a keepsake?

The place to go is The Painted Pot in downtown Rochester, Michigan. The Painted Pot is a ceramic studio where you can paint or create pottery. Our family visited the ” Paint it” portion of the studio and had a great time! 
First, check-in to the counter and let them know you are there to paint. Then decide on your family budget. They have shelves of white unfinished ‘ready to paint’ ceramic pieces from around 8$ (a small flat ornament) to 40$ (a large ceramic ornamental piece). My kids had a budget of a 10-14$ piece and they had many options to choose from! Select your piece and then find a location at the many appealing work tables.
This is just a sampling of the many shelves of ceramic choices!

Next, a staff member will assist you in the ‘picking paint’ process. They have a separate room dedicated to paint choices. There is a vast selection that is organized by number and color. All the available colors are posted on a wall so you can see what the final color looks like. Colors range from standard shades to glitter & speckled paints. You can choose as many colors as you like and simply put them in a provided painting tray and take back to your location at a work table. On the work table all other supplies (brushes of various sizes & water) are available. Puffy paint, stencils, and other options are available.
The paints we selected to use!
Last, paint!! Painting has an hourly fee (7$ an hour per painter that is prorated by 15 minutes). A staff member will write down your ceramic pieces and start time. The start time generously begins once you start painting and doesn’t include your time for selecting your piece or explanations from staff. When you are done painting, take your piece to the front desk. They will tell you the total fee (ceramic piece+ paint time) and let you know when you can pick up your final piece after firing/glazing. Pick-up time may vary but we were told it is usually one week later. 
Painting our ceramic piece!
A few things to note:
*The paint is lighter in color when painted on the pieces than it will look after it fired! More layers of the same color will darken the color.
* If you have questions-ask! The staff was wonderful on making suggestions, offering advice, and pointing our tips for using certain brushes or recreating a look you may see in the studio.
*Smocks are available! Painters smocks are available to wear to protect your clothes.
*Blank ceramic pieces change frequently. If you see a piece you want to paint, choose it while your there!
* All glazes are food safe! They are non toxic, dishwasher & microwave safe. Though hand washing is suggested for large pieces.
* No reservations are required! Simply check The Painted Pot Website for when they are open.
* The Painted Pot often runs special events for kids and adults! Check the website calendar or Facebook page frequently for updates.
* They offer group rates, birthday parties, corporate parties and classes. There is a whole separate ‘party’ room for larger groups available.

The ‘Party” or large group room.

*There is a restroom available for customer use. It was clean and spacious.
* We saw painters of all ages! Parents had babies and were doing footprint keepsakes, groups of kids, and adults! Though maneuvering a stroller in the store may be tricky due to the low shelves and doorways, the building it is in was a home converted to a business and has a lot of rooms/doorways.
The Painted Pot also offers make your own ceramics, mosaics, decorated garden rocks, and other activities we did not participate in.  We hope to return and try a different experience next visit.
Our family had a wonderful time at The Painted Pot. We really enjoyed our time there. The atmosphere is pleasant and welcoming.  All the staff we interacted with were very friendly, knowledgable, and helpful. It was a great way to spend an afternoon getting crafty!
Our final ceramic pieces! Glazed and fired to painted perfection.

Amber Louchart
Author: Amber Louchart

Amber is the proud mother to four beautiful children, Damian (27), Rosaleigh (14), Carlyn (11), and Naomi (8). Her family also includes four cats. She loves being a stay-at-home mom and feels blessed to be able to care for her children full-time and provide them with so many opportunities through Metro Detroit Mommy. In addition to Metro Detroit Mommy, Amber has a passion for hosting karaoke with Malibu Entertainment.  She enjoys the metro Detroit nightlife especially, singing, dancing and meeting new people.