Owner: Debra Schaefer
By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
The Accidental Artist, located next to Mitchell Hardware at 219-A Craven Street in downtown New Bern, is an inspiring and playful “paint your own pottery” shop, owned by Debra Schaefer and managed by her daughter, Audra Schaefer.
The colorful shop is filled with “naked” bisque-ware (i.e. pottery that has been fired once and ready to be glazed) of every shape and size imaginable, like mugs, bowls, plates, coasters, animals—and of course, smaller version of our famous New Bern bears. Patrons then choose which piece of pottery that appeals to them, then enjoy covering the piece with glazes (paint). In addition to color, there are also options to add interesting textures.
“This is a teaching studio, and we offer traditional and unique techniques as part of the experience, such as using lace or cheese cloth, netting, or eyelash yarn, which leave patterns in the piece, as well as bubbles, stamps, paper cut-outs, and specialty “reactive” glazes with crystals that explode in the kilns, causing background color with bursts of color on top,” says Debra. “One of the fun parts of the process is that you don’t really know what it is going to look like until it is fired in the kiln—so it’s a surprise because the colors get brighter and the finish is glossy. Many artists come in that usually work in mediums other than pottery, and they learn that painting pottery is a completely different technique than other types of painting, so it’s a new challenge even for people that are very experienced. On the other hand, people without any experience at all with art can enjoy it as well, even little kids.”
The studio allows walk-in guests but reservations are recommended on weekends, busy times, and for groups and parties. If you want to celebrate a special event, there is a hosted two-hour session for groups of eight or more. The studio is open on Monday and Wednesday from 10am-6pm, Thursday – Saturday 10am-8pm, and Sunday noon to 6pm (closed on Tuesdays).
The studio charges a basic fee which includes glazes and firing: $8 adults; $6 for kids, which includes everything except the pottery you choose to paint. The average price for pottery is between $15-$25. Weekly specials include Sunday family day where kids 12 and under aren’t charged a studio fee when painting with adults, Military Monday with half off studio fees, Wednesday Paint with Me for parents with a child with half off studio fees, and Thursday ladies night for half off studio fees from 5pm-8pm: wine and girlfriends are welcome!
And if you get hooked on painting pottery, Accidental Artist offers a special deal to join the pottery club, which is $50 for adults and $30 for kids, and includes:
three consecutive months of unlimited studio time
15% off all regular priced bisque
Free Accidental Artist tote bag (Adult) or a t-shirt (child)
Discounts on workshops & classes
Coupons & special offers
Debra began her interest in art as an amateur that enjoyed sketching and taking art classes at the local community college. She has always been a “serial entrepreneur,” and purchased the Accidental Artist in 2018, after moving to New Bern from Hendersonville. She says, “I learned quickly during Florence and the pandemic that New Bern is a friendly and supportive place to live, especially during hard times. The studio has been in existence for about 30 years, and I love the community interaction and the family atmosphere when people come to celebrate their birthdays.”
The studio also actively supports Empty Bowls, which is a local event that raises funds by creating pottery and selling soup with proceeds being donated to local food banks. The Accidental Artist offers free studio time for individuals that want to support the event; patrons buy and paint their bowls and then donate them to help raise proceeds for the event. One New Bern resident, Richard Harper, works all year long making bowls, visiting the studio three times a week! Guests can paint in the store or get a “take home” painting kit from January 1 – February 16 to support the cause. Overall, the studio contributes roughly 300 bowls a year for charitable contributions.