If pottery painting and candle making is your thing, check out The Hot Spot Studio in Liberty Station this spring.
Budding ceramicists and chandlers can hone their skills at the studio serving all ages at 2770 Historic Decatur Road near Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens-Liberty Station.
Best of all, and unlike most similar studios, there are no studio fees at The Hot Spot.
“We serve anybody from 9 months old, coming in to get their hands and feet painted, to adults of all ages,” said Lexi Champagne, company spokesperson, noting the studio’s pottery is premade and that people select items to paint and finish them in kilns. Kiln firing lends a super-glossy, shiny look to the finished, painted ceramic product.
Champagne said they get lots of school children.
“We get a lot of school activities and events,” she said. “We have students from one school coming in and making a huge tile wall at their school with tile squares, and the students are painting the tiles.”
The Hot Spot has been in Liberty Station nearly four years.
“It’s an open studio,” said Champagne. “People are welcome to come in and just take a walk around.”
On a typical weekday late afternoon, a mom and her two kids were in working on painting pottery.
Another adult, a woman who identified herself as Kali from San Diego, was cutting wax pieces to melt into her ceramic cup.
“I made this mug here a few weeks ago for my birthday party, and now I’m making a candle to fit inside it,” Kali said, noting the entire process “is really fun,” while adding she likes that there are no studio fees, which cuts down on the cost.
“It’s a lot more relaxed here and the staff is a lot more relaxed here,” said Kali about what she likes about The Hot Spot. “It’s a good vibe.”
Walking around the wide-open studio space featuring lots of work tables, Champagne points to pre-made ceramics with varying prices. Everything from football helmets to piggy banks, figurines, mugs and plenty of animals line the shelves waiting to be picked out and painted.
Prices on pre-made ceramics range from $15 to $60 averaging about $20.
Champagne noted that a client can come in and start a ceramic painting project, and return to finish it later.
The studio does cater to its older clientele as well.
“Parents can bring in their own bottles of wine and drink on Thursday nights,” Champagne said. “People bring their bottles of wine, and we set out some cheese and crackers for them.”
Champagne noted the studio gets lots of walk-in traffic from patrons visiting Stone Brewing or the recently opened Liberty Public Market nearby.
Hot Spot is pleased to serve sororities and other groups, and is open to doing corporate events, team building and office parties. The Hot Spot Studio What: Pottery painting and candle making in Liberty Station. Where: 2770 Historic Decatur Road. Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 9 p.m. weekends. Info: (619) 223-1339, www.thehotspotstudio.com.