Klaystation

Business Details

18 Years

experience

Raleigh's Premier Pottery Painting Studio

Klaystation was founded in 2008 by Saundra and James Earp as a family-friendly pottery painting studio. In 2016, ownership transitioned to Emily and Frederick Mergenthaler, who continue the tradition while introducing new creative offerings. We specialize in walk-in pottery painting, wheel throwing classes, and hand-building courses designed for all skill levels. Our studio provides pre-fired bisqueware, expert guidance, and a welcoming environment for personal expression. Customers create custom dinnerware, home decor, and gifts using our glaze menu and design aids.

Acrylic painting options allow same-day takeaways for decorative pieces. Pottery is fired in our on-site kilns and available for pickup within 7-10 days. We host birthday parties, baby hand imprints, and corporate events while offering custom piece requests. Our mission remains to provide accessible artistic experiences that wash away daily stress through creativity. With two decades of combined leadership experience, we maintain Raleigh's premier destination for hands-on art creation.

Services

Pottery Painting Wheel Throwing Classes Hand Building Classes Acrylic Painting Baby Hand Imprints

Details

Year established: 2008

Highlights and features

We offer expert instruction for all skill levels since 2008
Our studio provides same-day acrylic painting options
We maintain on-site kilns for professional ceramic firing
We host specialized classes including wheel throwing & hand building
Our team offers personalized design assistance for custom projects

What people say

Fun family activity Helpful staff Creative freedom Unique gifts Great parties

Website

Update Listing

Services

Pottery Painting

Create personalized ceramics using our pre-fired bisqueware collection. Choose from hundreds of pottery pieces and glaze options with expert guidance. Finished works are fired in our on-site kilns and available for pickup within 7-10 days. No prior experience required.

Wheel Throwing Classes

Learn traditional pottery techniques in our structured wheel throwing sessions. Professional instructors teach fundamental skills for shaping clay on the wheel. Classes accommodate all experience levels with equipment and materials provided.

Hand Building Classes

Develop hand-crafted ceramic pieces through coiling, slab construction, and sculpting techniques. Our courses cover basic to advanced methods for creating functional and decorative items. All tools and materials included.

Acrylic Painting

Paint pottery pieces with acrylics for immediate take-home results. 30% discounted pricing applies to ceramic items used in this non-food-safe decorative option. No firing required for same-day completion.

Baby Hand Imprints

Create lasting memories with custom baby hand and foot imprint ceramics. Our staff assists with capturing perfect impressions in clay. Keepsakes are professionally fired and ready for pickup within 1-2 weeks.

People

Emily Mergenthaler

Co-Owner

Co-owner since 2016, Emily brings fresh creative vision while maintaining Klaystation's family-friendly atmosphere. She oversees daily operations and new program development.

Frederick Mergenthaler

Co-Owner

Co-owner Frederick manages studio logistics and technical operations. With 8 years of ceramics experience, he ensures professional firing processes and equipment maintenance.

Questions

What are Klaystation's operating hours?

We're open Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 1pm-6pm.

Do I need reservations for pottery painting?

Walk-ins are welcome for pottery painting. Reservations required for classes and special events.

How long does pottery firing take?

Ceramic pieces require 7-10 business days for glazing and firing processes.

Can I bring my own food or drinks?

Outside food and drinks aren't permitted in the studio space.

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept cash, credit cards, and studio gift cards for all services.

Do you offer private events?

Yes, we host birthday parties, baby showers, and corporate events for groups.

Reviews (5)

Write a Review

Owen

Nov 02, 2021 Report

Really love this place. Went here recently with family and it was awesome! Great selection of media - "unfired" clay that you paint with glaze, wood pieces that you can paint, and another kind of plaster ?I think? that can be painted with acrylic paint and taken home on the same day. The staff was amazing. They were always very friendly as well as versed in their craft. We were visited by each of them at different times and always quickly assisted with brushes, paints or general design help. When we finished our pieces, it actually felt like we had just gone through a workshop. We learned so

Justine Strickland

Sep 08, 2021 Report

We just had a 6th birthday party at Klaystation. It was amazing! We get a separate room for 5-10 kids. They had the birthday girls name on the large Chalkboard wall and extra chalk for all the guest to draw on the wall as well. There is a separate bathroom for the party room, a separate table for gifts and cake, a
table for the kids to paint their chosen
pottery piece, and a refrigerator for the drinks and ice cream. The owner, Fred, was there for us the whole party to help with directions, painting, and any questions or help we needed. He was amazing with my 3 year old son (little brother) and

Aqeel Naqawe

Jul 27, 2021 Report

Great experience going there! Went for a pottery making class and it was great. They give you step by step instructions but let you create your own piece and you get to paint it later. If you want pottery making and painting, this is the place to go.

Lindsey Wakely

Jul 24, 2021 Report

Fantastic place. Needed an activity for our 10 year old niece and she loved it. Heather was great in guiding us on our projects. Will be back for sure.

Isaac Morado

May 01, 2021 Report

Wonderful place! Owner was very fun and talked us through our projects. Was very knowledgeable and gave very fun ideas to make our pieces pop. Heather was also very sweet and provided encouragement and superb customer service. She definitely sold me on coming here for future fun projects. I can't recommend this place enough!