A new place, Brevard Clay, opened in downtown Brevard, North Carolina and it is certainly going to be a hit if I have anything to say about it. Owner Stuart Howe is a talented and personable potter who has created an amazing space in Brevard for artists and wanna be artists to come and create. It is also his main personal studio space with a wheel in the front of the store so I am excited to see what creations he will be working on on that very wheel.
Brevard Clay is a unique place that offers a studio, a gallery, and a paint your own pottery option for budding artists. All three functions flow together and offer visitors a unique experience.
The space is light and airy and cheery and I could just feel the creative vibes the moment I walked into the shop. Fun displays of pottery that can be purchased as well as a plentiful arrangement of tables for personal pottery painting made the shop so welcoming when Ann and I walked in. We felt right at home and we have both been to several of these types of places in the past but I have to admit that this one is my favorite.
Stuart has such a nice personality and while we were there we witnessed his patience with younger clients which is going to be an absolute must for a business that will attract families, children’s birthday parties as well as other clientele. He happily explained the process to us, the best way to use the stencils and the layering of paints and we felt well equipped to start our little projects. 
If you have never been to a pottery painting studio like this you might want to check one out. The process is easy and at Brevard Clay it is incredibly simple. Pick out a piece of bisque from their shelves to paint. The price that is on the piece is the complete cost with no hidden charges. Choose your colors of paints, stencils, brushes, etc., pick a table and get to work. Once you are finished you pay for the project (all prices are clearly marked on the shelves ) and let them do the rest. The turn around time for them to get the piece glazed and fired and back in the creator’s hands is a mere 5 -7 days and Stuart told us it may actually be less time depending on the kiln schedule. The only thing to remember is that it is up to you to get there within 30 days for pickup as they do not do phone calls to tell you when your piece is ready. 
The pieces that are on display for sale are all amazing selections and very reasonably priced. I loved the Christmas trees that are on display in the window and at various places within the studio. Not only is this a great place to gather with friends to enjoy creating a masterpiece it is a great little place to find that perfect gift item or affordable item for use in your own home. 
Do I sound like an advertisement? Perhaps I do but I am always thrilled when I can find a local place that is offering a great thing and Brevard Clay is one of those places. I am happy to have them as part of our Brevard downtown and hope that many people can while away some hours being creative in this new place. The bonus is that it is much more than your typical paint your own pottery place. It has a working studio and gallery as well and that is inspiring.
Hours at the location at 16 West Main Street are as follows:
Monday 10am – 6pm
Tuesday 10am – 6pm
Wednesday 10am – 6pm
Thursday 10am – 6pm
Friday 10am – 8pm
Saturday 10am – 8pm
Sunday 12pm – 6pm
If you are in the area you definitely need to check out Brevard Clay. The Transylvania Times wrote a really nice article about Stuart that you can read by clicking here. Please connect with Brevard Clay by clicking the social media links at the bottom of this post. As far as our “masterpieces” – we will see how they actually turn out in a week.
22 Comments
Leave a commentLooks like a fun place. There was one similar in my small community in BC and it was always busy. I can see you will be frequenting this place!
You have your very own potter in your family so you probably would not need anything like this but it is a fun place to visit for people like me who have not talent in that area! Thanks for stopping by!
True, I am lucky and my house is filled with her pottery! But I still think these places are cool.
I love your daughter’s pottery! What a blessing to have such a gift of creativity and skill.
I like those Christmas trees, too!!!!
They are really fun. They are a little bit quirky and fun and not the traditional ceramic Christmas tree which is why I like them I think.
What a cool lil’ spot! You are always finding quaint little, eclectic shops!
I seem to search them out –there is always someplace to explore!
My mom owned a ceramics store in the 70s when I was in high school. We all worked there. Dad and my two brothers poured the clay into molds. Mom and my sister and I worked in the store and taught classes. In those days the things were called greenware and weren’t fired yet. People cleaned up the seams (left from the mold) and in some cases put color on the greenware (which was very fragile). Then we fired it and it turned white (not the spots with color) like what you see in your store there. Then the customer put glaze on, or underglaze, it was fired again. Sometimes at that point it was done, sometimes there was another coat and one more firing.
That business put me through college, but I have to say I don’t look at ceramic Christmas trees quite like anyone else does, after working hundreds if not thousands through our kilns!
Oh Dawn! You know all about this stuff! You are an expert! What great memories but I can totally image that those ceramic Christmas trees were something that you look at much differently than most of us do! Thanks for sharing your memories with us!
Way back when as a newlywed, a couple of new friends who also were young Army officers wives and I did this. It was fun and we enjoyed socializing and getting to know each other better while we painted. I have to know….did you paint a teapot????? 😉
They did not have any teapots this time but I have painted two before in other places. I might have to see if they can get some in just for me. Maybe I could start a Beth Ann Painted Teapot line?????
Ally and I were just saying how we haven’t been to our pottery painting place in a while and need to go. They just got all their holiday stuff in so I definitively want to make some time. It’s so relaxing and enjoyable for me and I love spending the time with my girls.
It is the perfect way to spend some hours and I love that you and your girls can have those creative times together. Making memories!
We ended up going yesterday afternoon. Can’t wait to pick up our pieces after they have been fired!
OH fun! I still have to pick mine up!
Oh, what fun this would be. I love what you’ve shown us.
It really is a great place and hopefully Erin and I are going to try our hand at something when she and Aaron come this weekend. If we have time!
We have “Painted Pot” here in Helena to do paint-your-own pottery. The really fun thing is on the first Friday of the month, they have an adults only night and for the ‘entry fee’ you get dinner catered by a local resturant. It’s so much fun.
Well that is an AMAZING idea! I might have to suggest that to the owners of Brevard Clay!
The pieces that I am seeing are so unique. I love the mugs.
They really have a great selection of fun and unique items and I am sure it will be constantly changing them out.