Parties for children

Children love painting of any kind but there is a special thrill in painting pottery pieces.

For young toddlers, bowls and plates are popular.  They  allow plenty of room to for the child to experiment with colours and designs. Many toddlers also enjoy painting small figures like Bob The Builder or something from our Winnie The Pooh collection - just don't expect them to stick to the traditional colours!

Older children can be more adventurous, creating exciting designs on plates, bowls or mugs.  Many girls enjoy painting a horse, fairy or rabbit, while boys might prefer a dragon, a gecko or a dinosaur!

Venue

You can hold a pottery painting party almost anywhere - for example at home, in a hall or a marquee.  All you'll need is a table and chairs and some water.  The paints we use will wash out of most clothes but as with any creative activity it is usually sensible to wear older clothes or an apron, and cover any surfaces with newspaper.

Pottery painting parties are creative parties.  Each guest chooses a piece of unpainted pottery (known as bisque) and uses special paints to decorate the piece.  The main artist's tool is the humble brush, but there are also shaped sponges, special 'writing pens' and other tools to help in the creative process.

Tricks and tips

Pencil can be used to help work out your design on the bisque - it burns off in the kiln and shouldn't leave a trace.  A special type of paper called clay carbon paper, can also be used to trace designs onto the bisque.  There are also templates to help with geometric designs and other shapes.  Whatever tricks you might use to help your vision become a reality, it is the creative ideas themselves that are important.

After the party

After the party we will take all the painted bisque to our workshop. There we will cover the pieces with high quality glaze before placing them in our kiln.  The kiln will fire the pots to over 1000°c where the glaze will melt, become shiny and transparent, and set to a glass finish.  After the kiln has cooled, the items are rubbed down and carefully packaged before being returned to you.

Using your finished pieces

The finished pieces of pottery are completely safe for food and can be used like any other china.  We do suggest that you avoid putting them in the microwave as this can cause crazing to the glaze over time. Also, while the china is normally fine for occasional use in the dishwasher this should generally be done sparingly as the high temperatures and modern detergents can have an adverse affect on the finish of the plate.

Party in a Box

If you live outside our party area, or if you are just happy to do everything yourself you can order a party in a box.  We'll deliver everything you need for your party, along with complete instructions.  Then you send it back to us for glazing and firing.  It's simple, and all delivery and return charges are included in the price you pay up front!  Learn more...