Seize the Clay

Definitely a great place to take the family. I felt like a kid. I had no idea that I would enjoy painting pottery that much. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. This is definitely a place that you can relax and get lost in a fun project for 2 – 3 hours while enjoying family time!

I’ll be up front: I worked at a spot much like this for two years in high school/​college. So I know a little bit about the process. Just enough to be picky about results I guess…
I met a friend here one Friday night for some wine and painting. I love that they encourage you to bring in wine to drink while you paint on Fridays. It’s a great draw for them. (And legal, apparently? I honestly can’t wrap my head around the crazy liquor laws here.)
Anyhow, we find a table and pick out what we want to paint. Now I know the rules of pottery painting (1 coat=see-through, 3 coats=solid color, etc), but my friend had never done it. I kept looking around for an employee to explain things to her and I finally had to go get one. They didn’t look busy enough to ignore us, but it happened.
We got to work. They had a pretty great selection of pieces with a wide range of prices. My friend picked out a coaster set. I painted a soap dispenser to match my (apparently common in Memphis) pink and gray-​tiled bathroom. I am absolutely thoughtful about things like this: I chose my colors accordingly, thought about the design beforehand, etc. I’m glad I did because we weren’t offered help with any of the ancillary supplies that I spotted.
We finished a while before closing but the two girls working seemed absolutely ready to run for the hills. I felt rushed, which isn’t exactly supportive of creativity. I was given a slip and told my piece would be ready Sunday. (Whoa, fast turnaround! Awesome!)
When I picked my piece up, my heart sank. Now, I know that pinks are notoriously finicky, but c’mon. There was a straight up LINE running across my piece. If you know anything about the process, you know that glazing is tricky. Usually you have to dip the painted piece into the glaze in two parts (because you’re holding it and can’t have fingerprints mucking it up). Where the halves meet and you have to blend together or there will be, you guessed it, a line showing. I was taught to place that line in an inconspicuous spot in case the blending didn’t work well. This was right in the middle of everything. It’s not so bad that I’m embarrassed to use it, but I was disappointed.
I feel like the staff needs better training to combat the problems I had there. Until then I won’t be painting anything «serious» there, although I did have a good time and the quick turnaround was incredible.

Spending time at Seize the Clay is blissfully therapeutic – troubles and worries seem to fade in the background with each brushstroke. Sometimes I find myself dealing with difficult people in life, and I end up thinking I would like to assign them an hour or two of painting at Seize the Clay to get that crap out of their system. A large variety of pieces are available to paint as your heart desires, ranging from a few dollars to the big bucks (~$ 50). There is lot on display to give you inspiration (plus you can look at the things other people have painted that are waiting to be fired for ideas). You pay a one time sitting fee of $ 7 and then you can come as many times as you would like to finish the piece. Friday night is wine and cheese (BYOB) and makes for a great girls night. Staff are very skilled and just as helpful when it comes to advice/​input on how to perfect your piece. Additionally, aside from Friday nights, it is a very kid friendly environment. A host of classes are also available ranging from glass fusing to pottery. Go by yourself or take a group, and keep your eyes peeled – they regularly run Groupons.

I love all paint your own pottery places. I have moved around a lot and always try to find one close to me. This particular place is great. Its roomy, clean and the employees are very nice. The only down side is there is not much of a selection of things to paint. It could just be the location. I have just had more options at other places.

I’ve been here a few times now, during various visits to see my boyfriend, and I’ve had fun every time I’ve gone. The main attraction is a wide array of blank/​white pottery/​clay pieces that can be painted using a variety of kinds of paints, but they also offer glass fusing (a bit like mosaic, except without grout and the pieces are actually fired and shaped into pieces like bowls and plates), mosaic, make your own pottery, and Silver Clay Jewelry. I’ve painted pottery and attended a glass fusing class and both are a lot of fun.
Pottery painting: In order to do this, you pay a small studio fee (usually $ 7, which covers the use of the paints and brushes as well as the firing of the painted product). The only other fee you pay is simply the price of whatever piece (s) you choose (i.e. if you choose a $ 10 mug, you will pay the price of the mug, plus the studio fee). Pieces range from a little under $ 10 up to $ 100. The store has a large and changing selection of blank/​white clay pieces to choose from, ranging from mugs to figurines to small boxes to platters. They have three varieties of paints: Fun Strokes (the biggest selection; plain colors), Pottery Glaze (those classic colors/​glazes you think of when picturing handmade pottery; lots of earth tones), and Crystal Glazes (these colors have chunks of color in them that «explode» when in the kiln, causing unique bursts of color on the piece). The person working gives a brief overview of how to use the paints and may offer some ideas and techniques, and then you’re left to your own devices to paint as long as you like. They have a design/​ideas station with pictures, pens and pencils, stencils, and an array of other things to help you out if you’re not sure what to paint. Your finished product is fired in the kiln and can be picked up after a few days. Painting pottery is fun for a date or for a get together with a few friends, and it’s definitely a great choice for kids’ birthday parties and as a family activity. I always see moms with their children or grandparents with their grandchildren painting when I’m there, and they have a great selection of pottery pieces for kids. The brushes and paints are a little beat up, but they have a lot available, so you won’t run out, and the tables are perfect for these projects. Definitely a lot of fun to make and a good way to spend the day (especially if it’s cold or rainy out).
Glass fusing: Honestly, I’m a little surprised they don’t have you sign some sort of basic waiver to do this, because, while it’s not really all that dangerous, you’re still working with glass and cuts do happen. That aside, this is a really neat activity, but you have to participate in a glass fusing class there before you can do it on your own there. You get a set of cutting tools, some Elmer’s glue (to lightly glue the glass pieces to the base piece), and a pretty big selection of colored glass pieces to use. You start with a thin, clear glass circle or square (you choose which type and what size; they don’t always have every size available) and you pay for the price of that glass base (approx. $ 30-​$ 60, depending on size; you can also make jewelry for $ 20), plus an additional fee if you want the finished piece to be shaped into something (bowl, plate, etc.). The teacher/​employee gives instructions and helps as needed, but this is a do-​it-​yourself activity. It’s hard to create real shapes, especially if you want curves or circles, but abstract designs are easy to do (anything with straight lines really), and it’s really cool choosing and arranging the colors as you like (pretty easy to make the piece too). The finished pieces are fired and returned after a few weeks.
All in all, Seize the Clay is a fun place with some great arts-​and-​crafts activities. The pieces you make are obviously nice to keep for yourself, but they make nice gifts too, and it’s really rewarding to see your finished piece and know that you made it. It’s very hands-​on and really lets you delve into your creative side, and I highly recommend you try it out – it’s something different from the usual trip to a theme park or the mall and it’s really a lot of fun.

So much fun! Wine and cheese night Friday 6 – 10! Adults only and byob!
Me and my boyfriend went because we had groupons but the prices are reasonable even without a discount. You pay for the piece you want to paint and a $ 7 studio fee for paints and the kiln. On Friday during the wine and cheese night, I believe the studio fee goes down to 3.50.
The range of things to paint is enormous – everything from seasonal décor to plates and mugs and even Yoda. No, you read that right. You can paint your own Yoda statue. Seriously, they have something for everyone.
Once you pick your piece, the employees will show you the enormous wall of paint and glazes and explain how it works. Most of this is included in your studio fee, but you can opt up a little bit with a 3 $ charge for some nifty glazes with marbling effects.
With all the options for paint and glaze and pottery, this does not have to add to your attic box of kitsch décor given to you by crazy Aunt Irma. They make painting something tasteful and cool really easy.
Once you’re finished painting, you hand your piece off to the employees who will give you a time and day it will be available to pick up, and voila! Instant night out with the girls or your boyfriend that doesn’t involve a movie or a half dozen cocktails. As much as I love the cocktails, that stuff adds up, and it’s nice to have a little bit of variety now and then.
My boyfriend and I painted mugs for each other and it was kind of adorable watching him get all artsy. I’d highly recommend this place. They even make reservations for parties or larger groups. So don’t miss out! It’s relaxing and fun (especially with a glass of wine on a Friday night.)

When I lived in Chicago as a single gal at the ripe age of 25, I once had a guy take me on a first date to a paint-​your-​own-​pottery place. Before you laugh, it was actually one of the best first dates I ever had. It allowed for us to actually talk and get to know one another, and it was a great way to break the ice.
That experience aside, I’ve gone on many occasions to different pottery places and painted my little heart out. I have an eclectic taste and style about me, and Seize the Clay allows me to design whatever my little heart desires. I have quite a few vases and candy dishes strewn about my house that I have created. They always get compliments, and I’ve even had people think i purchased them decorated that way. Bonus!
Seize the Clay has hundreds of options to choose from. You basically pick your item of clay, paint it and then leave it there for a few days for them to heat it up (or something much more technical). You then can go back, and wala! You have your very own masterpiece to adorn your home.
This is a great option for children’s parties as I have seen them both times I have been here. The kids have so much fun, and I can only imagine how much more fun it is when they actually get to pick up their finished masterpiece.

I love going to Seize the Clay to make special gifts for birthdays and holidays. It’s so much fun to exercise those creative, artistic genes every once in a while.
The concept is simple– pick out your piece, choose your paints and go to work. I’ve taken my daughter to make ashtrays for Uncle Mike, pencil cups for PawPaw, and plates for Mimi. We dipped her little hands in paint and pressed them into the plate for a special keepsake.
There are also pieces that have already been painted available for purchase, and they host parties for kids (birthday hit!) and adults (wine and cheese while you paint your masterpiece, anyone?).

I love this kind of a thing. It’s simple — you come in, pick out the pottery of your choice (from three hundred different designs), paint it, leave it for them to fire in their kiln, and pick it up in three to five days. This is a lot nicer than other studios that I’ve been to, where the selection was simply plates, mugs, and bowls. However, be aware — your average pottery purchase will range somewhere from $ 30-​$ 40. Unless you’re painting a figurine, it’s not that cheap.