The existence of prehistoric pottery shards paints a clear picture of ancient artisanal practices, while highlighting ancestral clumsiness. Leave behind traces of your own civilization with today's Groupon: for $20, you get $40 worth of pottery painting at Potteryland Studio in The Woodlands.

At Potteryland, paintbrush virtuosos and blossoming artists get a creative workout by decorating a varied assortment of bowls, plates, and mugs. The studio fee covers all the studio time, paint, and brushes needed to transcribe free-spirited imaginations to the surfaces of unglazed pottery ($6 for adults, $4 for kids). Artists select an unfinished plate (averaging $14 each), figurine (averaging $14 each), mug (averaging $10 each), or other object, and then conceal its bare surface with a beautiful layer of pigment. Painters suffering from painter's block can turn to one of the friendly, imaginative staff members for inspiration.

Once designs have been finalized, artists hand their works over for glazing and firing (also covered by the studio fee) to seal their masterpieces in a veneer of permanence. After one week, students can return to retrieve their completed crockery and set it to work shouldering meals or giving the mantel a sense of purpose.

Potteryland's colorful studio boasts a high, giant-friendly ceiling and playfully painted walls that create a fun environment for applying paint to paintless pottery. Bring along a friend and put your exterior-decorating skills to work creating a one-of-a-kind Mother's Day gift or a brightly colored companion to keep drab dishes happy.