Pottery painting and pour painting get searched for interchangeably around Naperville, and they are not the same thing at all. If you are trying to work out which one your group actually wants, here is the honest comparison, including what we do and what we do not.
The short version
Pottery painting means decorating a pre-made ceramic piece with a brush, which is then glazed and kiln fired. Pour painting means pouring thinned paint onto a surface and moving it with tilt and air, then sealing it with resin or a matte finish.
One is careful and controlled. The other is deliberately not. Which suits you depends less on skill and more on temperament.
What we do and what we do not
To be straight about it: Naperville Art Studio is a pour painting and resin studio. We do not have a kiln and we do not do ceramics. If you specifically want to paint a pre-made mug and have it fired, a pottery studio is what you want, and there are several in the area.
People still find us searching for pottery, which is why this page exists. Often what they actually want is a hands-on creative night out where they make something to keep, and that is exactly what we do.
Where pottery painting wins
- You want a specific, recognisable object: a mug, a bowl, a plate
- You like precision and want control over the result
- You are happy waiting one to two weeks for firing
- You want something dishwasher and microwave safe
Where pour painting wins
- Your group has wildly different confidence levels and you want everyone to enjoy it equally
- You would rather not be judged against a picture you were trying to copy
- You want variety: canvases, tumblers, boards, trays, sculptures, lamps, jackets and resin ocean art, 25 projects in total
- You want the process itself to be the fun part. Watching colors move is the bit people do not expect to enjoy as much as they do
What each costs in Naperville
Pottery painting studios usually charge for the piece plus a studio fee, so a mug commonly lands somewhere around $25 to $45 all in.
With us, booking is $25 per person and that comes off your project. Projects run $25 to $105, with canvases at $35 for kids and $45 for adults. One price covers the session, all materials, guidance and the professional finish, with nothing extra at the counter.
How long each takes to get back
Pottery has to be glazed and kiln fired, which usually means a week or two. Our pieces cure, get sealed and are professionally finished in about 10 days. Neither goes home with you the same day, so if it is a gift, book earlier than you think.
Common questions
Do you do pottery painting in Naperville?
No. We are a pour painting and resin studio with no kiln. If you want ceramics fired, look for a dedicated pottery studio. If you want a guided creative session where everyone makes something original to keep, that is us.
Which is better for a group with mixed abilities?
Pour painting, comfortably. There is nothing to copy and no wrong answer, so the confident one and the nervous one both leave pleased. Pottery painting rewards a steady hand, which shows.
Which is better for young children?
Both work from about age 4. Pour painting is more forgiving, because there is no fine brushwork, and children tend to stay engaged longer because the paint keeps doing something.
Can I use what I make?
Yes. Our boards and trays have a food-safe resin surface, tumblers and bottles are made for daily use, and lazy susans, coasters and vases all do a real job. Hand wash rather than using the dishwasher.
Where are you?
115 E Ogden Ave, Suite 121, Naperville, minutes from downtown, with free parking outside. Guests come from Aurora, Wheaton, Lisle, Downers Grove, Bolingbrook and Plainfield too.
Not sure which you want? Have a look at what a pour painting session involves and all 25 projects before you decide.
Have a question for the studio?
Send us a message and a real person at Naperville Art Studio will get back to you within one business day. Prefer to talk? Call or text 630-441-3951.