Amazing Glaze in Baltimore: Artist-Grade Supplies in Fells Point
Amazing Glaze is an independent art supply store in Fells Point stocking ceramics materials, oils, acrylics, watercolors, and specialty glazes, with particular depth in pottery equipment and a small selection of printmaking supplies. The shop operates as a full-service retailer rather than a discount warehouse, positioning itself for serious hobbyists and professionals who value expert guidance over bulk pricing.
What Amazing Glaze actually stocks
The store carries wet and dry media across price tiers, from student-grade acrylics to professional-level oils and ceramics glazes. Ceramics inventory includes kiln-ready stoneware, earthenware, and porcelain clay in 25-pound bags, plus a dedicated wall of specialty glazes from manufacturers including Amaco and Cone 6. The painting section emphasizes oil and watercolor over acrylics, reflecting the neighborhood's concentration of figurative painters. Printmaking materials are limited to relief supplies (linoleum blocks, carving tools, oil-based inks) rather than lithography or screen-printing equipment.
Pricing and what to expect to spend
Student-grade acrylic sets run $12 to $18 per tube. Professional acrylics and oils range from $8 to $22 per standard tube depending on pigment cost and brand. Specialty ceramic glazes cost $6 to $9 per pint, with bulk discounts available for orders of five or more. A 25-pound bag of stoneware clay runs $22 to $28. Watercolor sets for beginners start at $15; professional artist-grade individual pans are $3 to $6 each. Custom color mixing and glaze consultation sessions are offered but pricing varies; call 410-558-3490 to confirm current rates, as service pricing changes seasonally.
How Amazing Glaze compares to other Baltimore art supply options
Blick Art Materials, located in the Inner Harbor, stocks a broader range of brands and a deeper inventory in every medium, with more competitive pricing on high-volume items like sketchbooks and student supplies. Blick is the better choice if you need a specific brand unavailable elsewhere or want to compare multiple options in one visit. Amazing Glaze compensates through personalized service: staff can discuss glaze chemistry and clay body compatibility in detail, something general retailers rarely attempt. For purely online shopping with fast delivery, Dickblick.com undercuts local prices on most standard items, but offers no face-to-face guidance. Amazing Glaze's real advantage is ceramics depth; the glaze selection and kiln-fired sample library exceed what Blick maintains, making it the logical stop for potters troubleshooting results or seeking obscure cone temperatures.
Who benefits, and who does not
This shop suits oil painters, watercolorists, ceramicists, and serious hobbyists who work in established styles and need reliable professional materials. It works for customers who value conversation with staff who understand medium-specific problems: a ceramicist troubleshooting glaze crawling, a watercolorist comparing pigment permanence across brands. It does not suit buyers seeking the widest selection, lowest prices, or quick commodity purchases like sketch pads and pencils. Beginners on a tight budget will find better value at big-box craft retailers, though Amazing Glaze does stock entry-level options and staff will not push expensive supplies on someone learning.
What your first visit involves
Walk in without an appointment. The shop spans roughly 1,200 square feet, divided into zones by medium: oils and acrylics along the front wall, watercolors and paper in the center, ceramics supplies and glazes toward the back. Staff typically greet browsers but do not assume you need help; if you do, ask specifically. If you are a ceramicist, ask to see the glaze sample board, which shows fired results at different cone temperatures. Staff can order items not in stock within 3 to 5 business days at standard distributor pricing plus 10 to 15 percent markup. No membership or loyalty program exists.
Hours, location, and parking
Amazing Glaze is located at 1641 Thames Street in Fells Point. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. Street parking is available on Thames and adjacent blocks but fills quickly on weekends; a public lot sits one block south on Broadway. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting, as retail schedules occasionally shift with seasonal demand.
Amazing Glaze fills a neighborhood need that generic retailers ignore: a place where painters and ceramicists can discuss materials with someone who understands their work, sourcing supplies that reflect both professional standards and the artistic practices rooted in Fells Point's long tradition as a studio quarter.
