Artifact- Mankato, Minnesota

As a kid, I have many memories of going to pottery painting studios. Also, one of my wedding showers was at a pottery painting spot and everyone painted pottery for us to keep. Many of the pieces are our favorite things to use in our kitchen. So, I was ecstatic to hear there is a studio in Mankato where you can paint your own pottery. Being that my middle daughter, who LOVES art, was turning five and looking for a Christmas experience gift to do with my in-laws, I decided that we had to try Artifact out. It did not disappoint! 

One of our family traditions is called Snack Sunday. On this day, we do exactly what it sounds like…eat snacks for dinner. We also, include a fun family activity that changes up every week. Part of this tradition includes two special Snack Sunday plates (that were created at a pottery painting spot) that we use for the meal. For the Christmas experience with my in-laws, we decided to gift them a gift card for them to create their own Snack Sunday plates. This way, we hope they think of us every time they do Snack Sunday at their house. 

The experience to Artifact was on a Saturday. I had read that it was best to get reservations on the weekends, so I made one the day prior. When we arrived, the two employees were kind and helpful as they explained the process to us. Our first step was picking out our pieces to paint. This took awhile, as there was a wide variety of options. Several pieces were desired for each person. Finally, my in-laws both picked out different size platters, my son picked a dragon sculpture, my middle daughter picked a mermaid jewelry box, and our youngest daughter picked a sunflower ring plate. My sister-in-law came with and ended up choosing an Irish coffee mug to paint. Prices for the pieces were extremely reasonable and there is no extra cost for painting or using their location. 

After picking out our pieces, we got some more details about the paint. They make choosing colors easy as they have examples of what the paint will look like and a big selection of colors. Picking what each person wanted to do for their pottery was a lot more challenging. Options are endless for making your piece your own. Several notes about the paint…it easily comes off your clothing and yourself, it’s food-safe, and non-toxic. 

Next, we started painting. This was the most fun part as each person differed in their creative ways. Every person enjoyed the process and made their pieces unique to themselves. It truly was an enjoyable experience for all. Our youngest daughter enjoyed painting her hand and putting it on the bottom of her plate and my father-in-law enjoyed making an abstract rainbow on his plate, full of beautiful colors and a unique design. Looking around the studio as we painted, there was such a wide variety of pieces being painted and designs used. Each piece was incredibly special and showcased the owner’s creativity and self. Even more special than the pottery made were the memories that were created while painting. Laughter and conversation echoed throughout the studio during our time here. It was obvious that the experience of painting was just as important as the actual pieces.  

After almost 2.5 hours, everyone in our group had finished painting. The kids stayed busy painting almost this entire time, which is quite amazing. Our youngest (who will be 2 next month) finished the quickest, but stayed busy in their little play area they had and with a few toys I’d brought in my purse. When the painting was completed, we left our name and phone number with our pieces to be fired. They told us it would be about ten days and I would receive a text when our pieces were done. 

Overall, our experience at ARTifact- Paint your Own Pottery was truly fantastic. Our time spent creating our pieces were memories that everyone will talk about for awhile. Even better, every time we see or use our pieces, we will be reminded of our experience and time together. ARTifact-Paint your Own Pottery made the process simple, enjoyable, and reasonably priced. Items started around $15 and again, there were no additional charges for using the studio and glaze. If we hadn’t finished painting our materials in that session, ARTifact does allow you to return additional days, for no extra cost, until you can finish painting your creation. The employees were helpful and quick to answer any questions we had. All members of the group loved the process of painting and their finished products. This is definitely a spot that we will continue to visit for more memories and pieces! 

Here are more details for ARTifact-Paint your own Pottery:

Address: 321 N. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN

Hours: Monday: Closed, Tuesday-Friday: 12pm- 5 pm, Saturday: 11am-6pm, Sunday: 11am-4pm

Until my next adventure,

Allie