‘Painting with a purpose’: Pottery studio focuses on connection, giving back

Jul 25, 2021

As the pandemic eased, Mary Nogueras was looking for a way to connect with people. 

And so, she and her husband decided to open a new business: The Onset Clay Room, located in the center of the village in Dudley Brown Square.

The paint-your-own pottery studio is designed to let people of all ages spend time together while creating a unique piece of art.

Those over 21 years old can bring a bottle of wine or beer, too. 

Customers at the studio will pick out a ceramic object — current offerings include wine glasses, piggy banks, ice cream bowls, and princesses — and paint it any way they’d like. Then Nogueras will coat the pieces in a clear glaze and fire them in a kiln. Pieces will be ready for pick up in a few days or a week.

And, Nogueras said, “We’ll clean up the mess” — which parents will likely appreciate.

She recruited her kids and husband to help pick out a variety of ceramics to stock the shelves that line one wall of the business.

“We really hand-picked the stuff that we would like to paint together, whether with our kids or with our friends,” Nogueras said.

She said she hopes the business will be a good addition to the restaurants and shops around Onset, as it provides something to do on rainy days when the beach is less appealing. 

Customers will be “painting with a purpose,” Nogueras said. A percentage of every purchase will go to the Gifted Crate, Nogueras’ non-profit that puts together birthdays-in-a-box for kids in foster care, complete with gifts, cake mix, and decorations. 

Customers will also be able to pay it forward by purchasing a specific piece or store credit to be redeemed by a kid in foster care.

The business will also offer “paint-at-home” options and private parties.

For more information, go to www.onsetclayroom.com.