Alpha Fired Arts

What an amazing experience! My daughter wanted to paint something for her 14^th Birthday so we went to Alpha Fired Arts! An amazing selection of pieces to paint! Paints, brushes, stencils, all the tools and stuff you could ever imagine using. The staff was especially awesome! Super friendly and exceptionally helpful! We will definitely be back!

It was my first time going to Alpha Fired Arts and I had brought my daughter for her birthday to do some studio time in the pottery studio. I was treated very rudely by the staff upon our visit. They claimed that their pottery studio was an adult only facility and that she could not come in. Their website has images of children on it. They said it was a strict policy and I very calmly explained that I had not seen anything on their website signifying that their pottery studio was adult only but I had driven 40 miles from home and it was her birthday so I asked if they would make the exception to let her sit and watch as I used the wheel. I explained that I am a professional artist myself and I have learned to use the wheel properly and that she simply wanted to see how it was done and they refused. After stating this one employee said to the other «it’s your call» and that employee explained again it was a very strict policy and went on to say in a very rude tone «if we just let everyone and their kid come in here and use the facility we’d have to do it every time.» Even to just watch, they still wouldn’t let my daughter in. My daughter is 10 years old and was very patient and when I asked her what she wanted to do she said «it’s okay I don’t want to do the pottery anymore» Her birthday surprise was ruined.

Really nice studio for painting your own ceramics. The customer service at alpha is great, everyone is very friendly and had helpful tips throughout my visit. Their prices are better than both places I check out in Roseville and the Roseville studios were not friendly. I have had very enjoyable experiences at alpha and I am always super excited to come up with a new project to go back before I even leave the studio. Each time I’ve been at alpha painting I have over heard interactions with other customers and alpha staff is very friendly to everyone and very accommodating to customer needs. The staff seems very in touch with the community, each time I’ve been there have been people who stop in and it seems like old friends catching up. Really a great experience at alpha every time over the last couple years.

I’ve been here three times in the past year.
So far I am not impressed. But I will qualify that comment below.
1) if you are looking for a place to do «crafty» projects, this seems like a good place but I cannot comment on that aspect. It appears that you can paint and glaze pre-​made ceramics and have them fired. Look at the other reviews for info on this aspect of their business.
2) If you are potter who throws or hand builds, I find this place lacking. The service is meh. and the selection of tools is ok. They have a range of tools from beginner to some good MudTools stuff, but expect to pay dearly.
I just moved to the Sacto area from a place that had very little in the way of supplies but great studios. This «studio» looks like more of a recreational studio and the work I saw people working on reflected that.
I had asked about clay types since I wasn’t familiar with the clays they offered and it seemed that I could get more info from the Laguna web site than the people that worked there. I don’t know how many of the staff throws. I wanted a good selection of throwing bodies and was pointed at the shelves but it didn’t seem like they were very experienced throwers. That’s not a criticism, just an observation.
The guy that checked me out was an older guy that seemed like he had checked out a few years ago. And when I asked about getting some empty clay bags he said they didn’t have any and I should just use plastic grocery bags. Duh. If I wanted thin easy to tear bags I would have done that but I wanted the heavier bags clay comes in for a reason.
Maybe I’m being picky, or maybe I’m asking for clay people to be more down to earth like most of the potters I know and try to help other potters.
I will go back here only if I need to but their service doesn’t MAKE me want to spend my money there. If this was an isolated case, that’s one thing but each of the three times I visited it was the same meh service.

I absolutely LOVE this place. A friend of mine and I have been a couple of times. We’ll go in on a Saturday, pick a piece or two to paint. And just relax, chit chat and paint ’til our hearts content. :)
Lots of ceramics to choose from — dishes, vases, boxes, animals, piggy banks, etc. They have all the supplies ready for you — glazes, brushes, stamps, bowls, etc. Decent prices for ceramics and studio time. They’ll fire the piece for you and you can come pick it up after a couple days. All in all, a great place to go to get your ART on! :)

This place is great! Very reasonable prices, big selection, and you can paint or work with clay. The staff is super friendly and down to earth and helpful. Very homey, artsy feel. It was about $ 17 for my daughter to paint a cat piggy bank.

I’m very happy with the services at Alpha Fired Arts. Although I completed a project after the deadline to have it ready for Father’s Day, the staff went out of their way to make sure I received it in time for Father’s Day. Thank you!

I had seen the work of a ceramic artist I liked and was trying to find more of her work, and that led me to Alpha Fired Arts.
They say they are the largest ceramic supply store in Northern California. You can buy clay supplies, there is studio space and firing services for members, and they offer classes, they also have paint your own ceramics that would be a fun thing for parties, and they show works from professional clay artists, and there are some wonderful examples on display around the store.
If you turn up feeling a bit peckish you can help yourself to cookies and coffee.
I signed up for their email announcements so I can be notified of upcoming shows.

totally accessible way to get your creativity flowing. i have previous hand-​building clay experience but for someone who doesn’t, i don’t now how comfortable starting on the wheel is. it seems the beginners don’t totally «get it» & take the class a few times which is not cheap.

I’m a child of the 70’s and grew up making ceramic items, and watching my mom and her friends make ceramics of different types so now that my daughter is old enough to make things for herself, I wanted to take her out for a day of bisque painting. Imagine my horror when I discovered nearly all the ceramics studios in town are now closed, save Color Me Mine and Alpha Fired Arts.
After reading about the price gouging at Color Me Mine, I looked to the Alpha Fired Arts web site and checked their online store. «WOW,» I thought, «The bisque prices are totally affordable!» Visions of decorative plates, mugs, and trinket boxes danced in my head. A resting fairy figurine for roughly $ 4? Sign me up! A donut piggy bank for a mere $ 3? I’m so on that! Decorative plates, teapots, vases, serving bowls — -all so affordable! I was excited at the prospects.
I did the mental math – $ 7 for the kid to paint, $ 9 for me to paint, plus the cost of the bisque would mean a $ 20 – 25 day of fun, depending on the pieces we bought. Oh yeah! Pretty affordable, considering.
So, we drove to the studio and when I saw the pricing of the in-​store pieces, my heart sank. Are you KIDDING me? What happened? Why are the prices in the studio so different from the ones online? The prices in the store are QUITE a bit more, in many cases triple the online price. Had I never seen the online pricing, or if the online prices reflected what’s on the shelves, I wouldn’t have been so irritated and would have chosen to go on a day when the budget allowed both of us to make something. $ 22 for an unfinished teapot? $ 15 for an unfinished plate?
My good mood balloon deflated instantly when I looked at the shelves, but I wanted my daughter to have a great day, so I told her I just couldn’t make up my mind about what to paint, she would be painting by herself, but I’d be right there to help, and let her choose anything she wanted. Her piece, roughly $ 4.00 online was actually closer to $ 15 in the store.
We will pick up our piece in a few days, and my daughter will love it, but honestly, I don’t think I’ll be back without a Groupon or something because going alone is going to be out of the question. My daughter LOVES to do crafty things like this, so if I venture here by myself, there will be Hell to pay. :) No, really… there will be!
Were their blank bisque prices closer to what they are online, we’d come here all the time and make things. We would be very frequent fixtures in the paint studio. Seriously, I’d create in volume what they were losing by offering lowered pricing and it’s possible other people would, too.
They offer a punch card. On your 2^nd visit, you get 5% off. On your 3^rd visit, you get 10% off. On your 4^th visit, you get the paint fee waived. I’ve got punch cards for nearly every business in town that offers them, and this one might get filled eventually, but it would be nice if I could say, «Hot damn, and hell yeah, this card is going to be completely filled in a matter of weeks,» because it WOULD be. I’d come in here at least twice a month.
All that said, the staff was great. They had the table set and ready, explained things clearly, and let us go do what we needed to do. When we were finished, they took our piece for glazing and firing. I really cannot wait to see the finished piece.
If you’re looking for a really different kind of thing to do, and enjoy making things that are totally your own design, you’ll like Alpha Fired Arts. I’ve not been to the other place in town, but knowing they are more expensive than Alpha, I have no desire to check them out. If I ever need to make something again, I’ll come to Alpha, and only Alpha simply because it looks like they have no competition other than Color Me Mine. Should I find other ceramics studios (hello? anyone there? get with the times and get a web site so you can be found!) I will definitely check them out.

Walked in and was greeted with professionalism and without the attitude that my questions would be inconveniencing. Purchased clay for 4 small enthusiastic kids to make their masterpieces from a slab of clay. We did all the pounding and forming at home for a well spent afternoon and returned the pieces for the first firing. Upon our return for paints, again, courteous and helpful support provided by the staff. In one hour, the masterpieces were painted, returned for the final firing. These gifts made it under the tree, supplies purchased in September 2012! The joy of making each «work of art», the respect for items the kids now see «ready made», and the time spent is worth the drive from Elk Grove. This is our current go-​to place without a doubt. Thanks for the fun…

So I’m not a pro artist or anything, I’ve been in a ton of times to use their paint studio and I’m totally digging it! The staff is beyond helpful and are well organized. The finished products I’ve gotten are really great keepsakes and fun decorative things that are way cheaper than buying them at the stores. Great times!

Good location, parking etc.
Staff was helpful although they looked at me like I was stupid, It was my first time so of course I have no clue what I am doing. The price is great but an had many supplies but I ended up paying money to buy a tool when they already had some for me to use. …Too bad they didn’t mention it, waste of money. other than that it was a nice environment.

This place is really fun. My daughter and I go here on Saturdays sometimes just to relax and catch up. They sell all kinds of supplies, offer classes, and also do birthdays. We go there and pick an unpainted piece and sit in the paint studio and paint it. The rates are reasonable and we usually get out of there for about $ 30 for the two of us for one or two pieces each. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The pieces when painted on Saturday are usually ready by Wednesday so not a long wait. This place is hidden away and a real gem.

This used to be my favorite place to buy clay and supplies. The people that worked here were always so helpful and the selection was outstanding! I got away from throwing pottery for a couple of years and just recently got back into it so I needed to restock. I been to Alpha twice in the last couple of months and on one occasion I was basically ignored. It sure wasn’t the service I was used to getting at Alpha.
Previously I had taken classes at my local community college and all my pieces were fired there, but now I was going to be firing my own work. On my other recent visit to Alpha, I had some questions about using iron oxide, or slips and stains. The salesperson looked at me like I was crazy. I thought maybe I was using the wrong terminology until I went to another shop in National City while visiting family in San Diego and they knew exactly what I needed and didn’t make me feel like I was stupid.
I used to recommend Alpha Fired Arts to all my artist friends, but not anymore. I’ve even heard similar stories from some of my friends which is why I will be checking out Clay People and Leslie’s Ceramics this week. Hopefully I will have a shopping experience similar to what I used to love at Alpha.

This place has the best selection of ceramics to paint in house out of any I have been to so far. They have amazing ceramic art all over the store! The painting area is comfy and has a great selection of paints. Staff is incredibly friendly and helpful! They also have a variety of classes! I also liked how the classroom is separated from the painting area, so the noise level doesn’t get out of control. Its a bit hard to find. Aldona is a tiny side street, so look carefully once you get on Auburn Blvd. They did lose a star because I was given no date or phone call when my piece would be fired and ready for pick up. Love this place though and will be going again!

This place is awesome! Super helpful staff. Neatly organized shop. I went to buy some clay and tools. The lady that checked me out was very nice. She asked me if I was a student, and I got a discount because of that. Then she helped me load the heavy clay into my car. I will not hesitate to return for all my future ceramics purchases.

— The selection of things to paint was decent. I wish they had more.
— They offered cookies and coffee, which was nice. The mint chocolate cookies were delicious.
— Wish the employees were a bit more attentive. I had to assume to wash and clean up after I was done painting, which I would have preferred not to do since I am already paying ~$ 9 to paint.
— Wish all the puff paint bottles worked.

I discovered this place through «Groupon» and I’m so glad I did! The staff was soooo helpful and patient and explained everything very thoroughly. The prices are more than reasonable, especially when you consider all of the paint and other supplies that are included. While I was searching for the perfect ceramic piece to paint they had already set up my little personal paint station ready for me to get started when I got back.
Now I want to take my niece there as I witnessed how patient they are with kiddos too. Would also be a fun place for a few hours during a «Girls Day» or something to that extent.

I’m a novice clay artist and am thrilled to have a local place to buy glazes, tools, and get advice. I see that serious artists can rent space and time to work on their clay art. There’s a display case of beautiful and whimsical pieces that are fun and inspiring.
The wide variety of fired pieces ready to glaze are so much fun! I love the examples they have for every piece so you can get a sense of how they might look glazed. I also love how they have many pieces glazed using a variety of the glazes they carry. It really gives you and idea of how they look when fired. The ‘bad’ part is that I fall in love with the look and end up buying a lot of glaze!!!
And for a little bonus, they always have delicious cookies and coffee by the door. How sweet!