I am new here. I am happy to find this discussion forum, I found a lot of good tips here. I learned about ceramics at a Color Me Mine but I am still very new at this. I am looking for unique pieces to paint and learn more about kilns. I just wanted to say hi and welcome any suggestions for someone just starting out.

Hello Andrea, welcome! Color Me Mine is a fun place to learn the basics, and once you get beyond that, you can go to any ceramics or plastercraft shop such as Statuary Place to find a much larger selection of things to paint. You can paint ceramics, which is more durable for things like tableware, or if you don't want to have to use a kiln (finish the pieces at home) you can choose plaster items.

Welcome Andrea! About Color Me Mine,

The thing that's amusing to me about these sorts of studios is that
they're the mirror of what I grew up with as a military brat living on
US Air Force bases around the world in the 1950s and early '60s.

Every base had some sort of craft/recreation center for dependent
families. You could go in on a Saturday afternoon, choose a piece of
bisque-fired pottery and paint it, then come back the next weekend and
they'd have it all fired and ready to take home.

It's funny to see something that feels like a relic of my past come back
as a franchise. Goes to show there's nothing new under the sun, I guess...

Pat Kight

Someone gave me some pieces for my son to paint, and I wonder if there are any places where one can take painted ceramics and pay to have them placed in a kiln? I am new to this so I don't know the buzz words, but my son wants his pieces shiny, like they come out at Color Me Mine. Any ideas? We are in Santa Monica.

Thank you! Debbie

Bring these items to Statuary Place .
Judy

It's funny to see something that feels like a relic of my past come back
as a franchise. Color Me Mine is a fun place to learn the basics, and once you get beyond that, you can go to any ceramics or plastercraft shop such as Statuary Place to find a much larger selection of things to paint.Thanks...