Puttin’ on the paint is exactly what customers are doing at Ames’ newest pottery studio.

Patty Neubauer, owner of Puttin’ on the Paint, 2010 Philadelphia St., said her contemporary pottery studio is designed for all age groups.

There are more than 200 types of pottery customers can choose from, including figurines, banks, puppies and fairies for children and lamps, soap dispensers, picture frames, flowerpots and dishes for adults.

For a studio fee — which includes paints, brushes, stencils, patterns, idea books and the price of the pottery — customers can create their own masterpieces, she said.

When customers are finished with their works of art, a glaze is applied to the pottery to make them food and dishwasher-safe.

Neubauer then fires the pottery at the on-site kilns. The pottery is ready to pick up in seven days, she said.

Puttin’ on the Paint is one of seven members of the Contemporary Ceramics Studios Association in Iowa.

Neubauer said these types of modern pottery studios “are really growing across the nation.”

Experience isn’t necessary to paint pottery, she said, but if a customer decides he or she needs a little guidance, employees are on hand to assist them.

Andrea Boswell, graduate student in art education and part-time employee, has been with Puttin’ on the Paint since it opened less than four months ago.

“I like to design and create an original piece of art and see the customers copy it,” Boswell said. “It makes you feel good.”

Around 40 women from Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority had a sisterhood retreat at Puttin’ on the Paint Sunday.

“It was a lot of fun, a good time to hang out and catch up with everyone,” said Katie Jorgensen, president of Kappa Kappa Gamma and senior in elementary education.

“We’ve had a great response from the public,” said Neubauer, who took six months to learn about the pottery business before opening shop in Ames.

Neubauer said she started the business because it looked like a lot of fun, and she knew there was nothing else like it in Ames.

“I’m trying to come up with fun ideas to spice up the activities,” Neubauer said.

Neubauer plants to have a Hawaiian night, a psychic night when customers can have their cards read and Wheel of Fortune night, when customers can win prizes.