Make your own painted pieces at Glazed Over Studio
DOWNTOWN Ocean City has everything you can want and more. Coffee shop for breakfast on the go? Check. A sit down joint for any meal throughout the day? You have a ton of fab options there. Artisanal shops? Absolutely.
Connie Henry’s place, however, is special. She offers a truly unique experience to anyone on the island as the owner and operator of Glazed Over Studios, the island’s DIY pottery shop at 704 Asbury Avenue. There isn’t another spot on the island where you can go, paint pottery and leave with a souvenir – as well as memories that last a lifetime.
“There used to be a business where you could make your own jewelry,” Connie said, “but now there’s nothing like us on the island.”
Fired Up
Glazed Over has been sewn (or fired!) into the Ocean City experience since opening its doors 22 years ago. Connie isn’t the original owner – in fact, she’s the third. She bought it from Jennifer Boyce who ran it from 2008 to 2023. Connie was a former employee of Jennifer’s from the time she moved to the island in 2014 until 2019.
“I would come in as a customer to paint and became friendly with the owner,” Connie recalled. “One day I overheard her saying she could use another person to work and I volunteered.”
It started out as a once-per-week gig every Sunday. From there it grew into coming in on rainy days, too. Then it blossomed into a full-blown work relationship where the two worked together like yin and yang. Jennifer was the creative mind, or the artist, if you will, whereas Connie was more of the organizer, a specializer in efficiency making the business run as smoothly as possible. The two worked side by side for five years before Connie left to pursue other opportunities.
After leaving Glazed Over, Connie worked every job under the sun on the island from bike rentals to slinging sandwiches at a deli, tending to a local arcade to the stereotypical summer job at the surf shop. You name it, Connie probably did it.
Through all the years, Connie kept in touch with Jennifer, telling her at every turn that if she ever wanted to sell the business she would buy it.
That became a reality on January 31 of this past year.
“I worked hand-in-hand with her,” Connie said of Jennifer. “She handled the art, I handled the organizing. I learned everything from her: the kiln, pottery, everything I needed to know. Now I feel like all my organizing benefits me.”
At Glazed Over, it’s all about connecting. Connie connects with her customers, and the customers connect with her – and the experience as a whole. Glazed Over becomes a tradition for many. Whether it’s a monthly visit, annual visit or something in between, Glazed Over guests more often than not return again and again to let their inner artists shine.
“I enjoy meeting people, talking to them, finding out where they’re from, trying to find that common denominator,” Connie said. “I’m here every day. I see so many people that come back year after year. You see kids grow up and families expand.”
Glazed Over welcomes all walks of life, and Connie touts that anyone ages 1 to 100 are welcome to come in and try their hand at painting their own pottery. They operate on a walk-in, first-come, first-served basis, open every day from 11am to 5pm with hundreds of options to paint lining shelves around the studio walls. There are banks, ice cream cones, donuts, animals, plates, vases, bowls, spoon rests, mugs, beach-themed items like shells and so much more.
What to Paint
“If people come in and can’t decide what to paint, I feel like I did my job,” Connie said.
“Believe it or not, shot glasses are famous on TikTok,” she added with a smile, “so I kind of have to follow TikTok and see what’s popular.”
Artistic skill is far from a requirement at Glazed Over. Toddlers can make handprint ornaments or small gifts for Mother’s or Father’s Day. Grandmoms and Grandpops come in and paint and walk down memory lane with whoever is around to listen, spinning tales about their time painting at Aunt So-and-So’s house once or twice a month. And tweens and teens, Connie said, know about ceramics from their classes in school. They understand the process of using glaze and firing it in the kiln because it’s part of the curriculum.
When visiting the studio, Connie offers one piece of advice: Relax.
“We don’t want people stressed out,” she said of people worrying about their artistic abilities. “We tell parents to let the kids go and try not to touch it up. You’ll be happy it’s created by them.”
Glazed Over is here to serve the community in any way they can. Want to host a birthday or bachelorette party? Just give Connie a call. Want a fundraiser for your school or Scout troop? The studio is no stranger to these kinds of events.
“If the date’s available, I’m free!” she said.
Glazed Over is as unique an institution as they come on the island. Being around for more than 20 years is no easy feat – it’s one done through being authentic and offering an experience everyone can enjoy no matter their age or artistic ability.
“The AC works well!” Connie said with a laugh. “It’s a relaxed vibe. We don’t hound over you. There are over 1,000 pieces to pick from, hundreds of colors. We play everything from The Beatles to Taylor Swift, so pick a table, relax, and enjoy your time.”
Glazed Over Studios is located at 704 Asbury Avenue, Ocean City, and can be reached at (609) 398-8880. Find the business online at glazedoverstudios.com, on Facebook @walkinartocnj and Instagram @glazedoverstudio.
Text by Anthony J. Mazziotti III
Photos courtesy of Glazed Over Studios