In the rolling hills just north of Boerne, inspiration comes easily. That’s where you’ll find Sunrise Pottery, a warm, welcoming studio where longtime potter and U.S. Navy veteran Doug Oian has set up shop and makes his home.
For over 50 years, Oian has shaped more than clay; he’s helped thousands of people tap into something creative, tactile, and honest. Whether it’s a solo visitor curious to try something new or a multi-generational family celebrating a birthday, Oian’s pottery classes offer a deeply grounding and surprisingly profound experience, a memorable way to step outside the norm and reconnect with the simple joy of making something by hand.
Oian’s journey to clay wasn’t exactly a straight line. “I had gotten out of the Navy and had a year left of my G.I. education,” he recalls. “I went to school to learn to operate heavy equipment, but that just wasn’t for me.” A wandering spirit led him to a one-year pottery program in the mountains of western North Carolina. “As soon as I got my hands on clay, I knew that was it. I was there at 6:30 every morning, and they had to throw me out at night.”
Originally from the Iowa-Minnesota border, Oian eventually made his way to Texas with his new bride, almost by accident. “We were headed to Arizona, but I ran out of money and gas in Texas,” he laughs. “And here I am.”
Oian ran a studio in San Antonio for 23 years before deciding he’d had enough of city rent and traffic. 18 years ago, he built a studio on his property in Boerne and named it Sunrise Pottery, a nod to the subdivision where he first crafted in his garage decades earlier. “I opened a window in the house, passed pots out to my wife in the backyard, and she did all the glazing,” he says with a grin. “It just grew from there.”
The studio is a workspace and a sanctuary for Oian and the many students who walk through his doors. Thursday through Saturday, he offers walk-in classes that range from focused one-on-ones to lively groups of up to eight. “It could be nobody shows up, or I have to turn people away,” he says. “You never know. But it always works out.”
He also offers private lessons throughout the week—to families, couples, or groups of friends looking for a fun and creative way to spend time together. “I’ve had kids as young as seven and folks well into their 70s. Everyone has a blast,” Oian says. “I tell them I’m going to push a little, and if they get tired, let me know. But I want them to make as much as they can.”
Don’t worry if you’ve never touched clay. Oian welcomes absolute beginners with open arms. “I’ve taught thousands of people. Everyone learns differently, and I have my little routines. I read people quickly and adjust as needed,” he explains. “There are no failures in my class, just happy accidents and the joy of discovery.”
For Oian, the magic is when someone realizes they’ve created something with their own hands. “The expression on their face, especially when they didn’t think they could do it, is priceless,” he says. “That’s what I love most about teaching.”
Oian’s own work continues to evolve, even after decades in the craft. He mixes his own glazes and experiments constantly with color combinations and forms. Inspiration strikes in everyday places—a magazine photo, a countertop in a TV show, even a shadow on a wall. “You’re always changing as an artist. You may not be ready to try something the first time you see it, but later it clicks.”
Though his shop is no longer a part of art fairs or gallery circuits—“I just don’t have the stamina for shows anymore,” he admits—his work still finds its way into people’s hands. Oian fulfills special orders, including ceramic cups for Central Texas and Louisiana church retreats. “I don’t do any advertising. It’s all word of mouth now.” His reputation has traveled far beyond Boerne thanks to his consistent craftsmanship and ability to create with artistry and heart.
Living in Boerne has only deepened Oian’s connection to his craft. “I overlook a valley from my studio—it’s peaceful, open. That kind of space changes the way you create,” he says. He’s also no stranger to civic life here, having served as president of the local Lions Club and forming deep ties with the business community over the years. “It was a great way to meet people, and they really helped me grow in confidence.”
While he’s pulled back from formal involvement in recent years, Oian still sees himself as part of the vibrant local arts ecosystem. “I’m doing my thing now, but I’ve done my part. I got to know so many wonderful people in this town. It’s a special place.”
Oian has one piece of advice for those curious but hesitant to try pottery: “Everybody can do it. And if you’re not learning, that’s on the teacher. I’ve had people come in and say they learned more in 15 minutes here than in an eight-week course elsewhere.”
At Sunrise Pottery, Oian works to offer something refreshingly hands-on in a digital world. His classes stand apart from other creative workshops in part because of the unique rhythm of pottery. “It’s not instant gratification,” Oian says. “What you make today, you won’t see finished for at least three weeks. You have to be patient. But when people see that final, glazed piece, it blows their mind.” He adds, “Everyone walks away with something they made—and often, something they never thought they could.”
“Everyone walks away with something they made—and often, something they never thought they could.”
“There are no failures in my class—just happy accidents and the joy of discovery.”
Whether you’re looking for a memorable group activity, a restorative personal retreat, or simply the joy of trying something new, you can find it at Sunrise Pottery. And with a bit of Doug Oian’s guidance and encouragement, you might leave with more than a finished pot—you might leave with a spark of creativity you didn’t know was there and a new appreciation for what’s possible when you slow down and make something real.
Walk-in classes are offered Thursday through Saturday. You can visit the website for times or, better yet, give Oian a call. No experience is necessary. All you need to bring is your curiosity, creativity, and willingness to get a little muddy.
sunrisepottery.com | 210-494-8633 | 330 FM 474