Petroglyph is a simple and fun activity. You come in, select a seat where you'll be comfortable (some people like tall cafe tables, some like lower work tables, and a few enjoy sitting in the front window), and then look around for a piece of white bisque pottery you'd like to personalize. Our staff will set up your table with some water and a sponge, and then explain to you how the paints work. If you have questions about techniques or pricing, this is a good time to get your answers.

The Process

When you are done painting -- a process that can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your schedule and commitment, we will clean up for you, glaze your piece, and fire it in our special on-site ceramic kilns.

Glazing and Firing

We let your piece dry fully (which produces the best results), hand glaze it, and then fire in the next kiln batch. Temperatures are in excess of 1800 degrees, and your pieces are fired for more than 8 hours. When something has been heated that hot, it takes almost 16 hours for your piece to cool to room temperature. Consequently, most pieces painted in the studio will be ready for pick-up a couple days from when you finish. (At check out you will always be told exactly the date and time when your piece will be ready for pick-up - we guarantee this time.)

When pieces are unloaded from the kilns, our staff carefully hand polish off any sharp bits of glaze that sometimes form during the superhot firing. This is all part of the professional process that brings you shiny ceramic objects and food-safe dinerware.