Twenty years ago, Mary Orzano had just welcomed her third child, and was looking for a job that allowed bringing the baby to work with her. Wanting to bring something unique to Pasadena, she came up with the idea for a paint-your-own pottery studio. With a 9-month-old in tow, Orzano officially opened Pic-N-Paint Pottery at 3020 Mountain Road in October of 2005.
“We made a play area for her and she had a crib in the back where she took naps,” said Orzano. “It was great to be able to bring her to work with me. But, having never started a business before, there were times when I thought to myself – oh my gosh, what did I do?”
Nevertheless, Orzano’s business idea took off, and Pasadena and surrounding communities took delight in having a place where they could put their artistic abilities to use. The paint-your-own pottery studio takes both walk-ins and reservations for painting sessions, where customers select a ceramic item such as a mug, plate, ornament, platter, vase or other product, choose their paints and brushes, and sit at a table for a relaxing painting experience. Pic-N-Paint also boasts a private party room that can be reserved for birthdays, bridal parties, and scouting and school events.
“There’s no other business like this in the area,” emphasized Orzano. “The ones that have been in the area – they’ve all closed, a lot of them during Covid.” What has kept Pic-N-Paint Pottery afloat over the years, Orzano says, is the Pasadena community. “Covid was a big obstacle for us but we were able to pull through, and I believe that’s tied to how connected we are with the community. Pasadena has been great to us and I’ve met the nicest people over the years – a lot of them have become family.”
Giving back to the community has been a big part of Orzano’s business model. Pic-N-Paint offers fundraisers for scouts, schools, and church groups. “We call these fundraisers ‘spirit week’ because they last for a week. Anytime during the designated week, members of a group can come in and paint. We’ve also contributed to silent auctions – I don’t think I’ve ever turned anyone down,” Orzano said.
When it comes to what Pic-N-Paint offers, Orzano compares it to a luxury experience such as getting your nails done or going to the movies. “But in a movie, you can’t talk with your friends. Here it’s a social experience where you can sit around, paint and talk, and then a week later you come back to pick up your finished item,” she said. “A lot of people think they can come in and paint something for $5, but there’s nothing here for $5. What you’re paying for is the item, the kiln, the gas, the brushes, the paint, the employees, and not having to clean up the mess. It’s all inclusive here at one price.” Some of Pic-N-Paint’s most popular ceramic items include mugs, bowls, ornaments, platters and vintage Christmas trees.
While the pottery studio will celebrate 20 years this October, Orzano says she still comes across many people in and around Pasadena who have never heard of the business. “We’re doing a few things to keep growing and stay on top of the trends. This summer, we are hosting some camps – we have three different themes, and you can register on our website,” Orzano noted. Pic-N-Paint also hosts Ladies Night every Thursday, when women ages 18 and older receive ten percent off.
Pic-N-Paint Pottery is located at 3020 Mountain Road in Pasadena, and is open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11:00am to 6:00pm, Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00am to 7:00pm, Saturdays 10:00am to 7:00pm, and Sundays 12:00pm to 5:00pm. The studio’s phone number is 410-439-3555. Walk-ins are accepted, but reservations are encouraged.
