Artists always want muses without realizing they are a big responsibility, demanding regular walks, a ticket to every sunset, and smoothies made of old pastels and Greek yogurt. Cultivate creativity an easier way with today's deal: for $12, children ages five and up can attend an after-school ceramic sculpture and painting class (a $25 value) at Glazed Expectations in Carrboro.

Young artists flock to Glazed Expectations' charming studio to learn a variety of clay-based building techniques, such as the pinch method, coiling, slab work, and cartooning (figurines). After-school classes also impart knowledge about paint application, texturing, and the fire-breathing hamsters that power most traditional kilns. Experienced and friendly instructors soothe novice nerves and show youngsters how to harness their inner Michelangelo. This Groupon covers the class fee, materials, glazes, and kiln firing, and the 1.5-hour sessions take place between 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. every Tuesday through Friday.