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| - My first foray into painting at this place brought back some memories of the early 70s when my former husband and I got involved in doing ceramics at the hobby shop on the Navy base where he was stationed. We poured our own pieces; cleaned the greenware and fired it to bisque ourselves, then painted, glazed, fired, and ended up with a finished piece. This is easier--and quicker. For $8.00, you go in and select a piece of bisque to paint, sit at a table with your friend(s) and paint to your heart's content, then let the competent staff finish it off with glaze and firing. You pay for the piece you've purchased, and a few days later you walk out with a finished piece for yourself or a friend.
I went with my daughter on a weekday afternoon and the place was almost empty. I selected a rather large piece to start with--a large salad bowl. We were there about 2-1/2 hours and it was so relaxing just to sit and paint and chat and laugh.
My one gripe has to do with the finishing of my piece. When I got it back, there was a spot where the paint I had applied had somehow disappeared, leaving a white blotch in the middle of the green. Also, on the outside of the piece, many little bubbles had appeared in the glaze and marred the look and feel of the finish. I took it back and the staff there repaired it - took a Dremel to it and removed the bad spots, reglazed and refired it. It looks great now and I'm ready to put my next salad in it.
It was fun and a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon. I'll be back the next time I'm in Mesa.
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