When you hear the words "pottery painting," you'll probably think of a children's art class or a family-friendly activity. When Dixie Dot opened I'd have said that was pretty accurate. However, particularly post Lockdowns, the studio is seeing so many more adults than kids these days.
I think there are many reasons for this, after all it's a happy and fun experience that adults can truly appreciate because, well, we all need happiness and fun eh?
Here are 9 reasons I believe pottery painting is a fulfilling experience for adults:
Creative Expression: We often juggle numerous responsibilities, busy schedules and whole lot of 'life' leaving very little room for creative expression. Pottery painting provides a therapeutic outlet for adults to reconnect with their artistic side. Or, for some, to FIND their creative side. If you decided early on in your life you were rubbish at Art you might have ignored it until now, but it's a great chance for you to explore colours, shapes, and textures in a relaxed environment - with no teachers to tell you off or that you are 'doing it wrong'.
Stress Relief: And blimey don't we all need it! Engaging in these kinds of creative activities has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. The rhythmic motion of painting, combined with the focus required to create a design, can promote both mindfulness and relaxation. It's a wonderful way to unwind after a busy day or week, month, year, decade, life....
Instagrammable Home Decor: Painting pottery allows adults to craft unique and personalised pieces for their homes. Whether it's a custom mug, decorative plate, a set of coasters or a spoon rest, the finished pieces can serve as functional art that reflects individual style. It serves two purposes - one of it's actual use and one of the warm and fuzzy feeling that you created that! Plus, you'll never see in on the high street. What you make is completely unique and one of a kind!
Social Connection: We often offer group events or workshops where adults can gather, socialise, and create together, whether you come to a Pizza and Pottery night and paint what you want however you wish, or come to a tutor led session, it's a fantastic opportunity to meet like-minded individuals, make new friends, and build a sense of community through your newly found artistic flair!
Skill Development: Pottery painting is a bit of a skill that can be developed and honed over time whilst also being easy for a complete beginner. You can learn various painting techniques, experiment with different glazes, and challenge yourself creatively. Our amazing team are always on hand with hints, tips or advice too.
Meaningful Gifts: We solve the problem of what to give the person who has everything. Hand-painted pottery makes for thoughtful and heartfelt gifts. Whether it's a birthday present, a token of appreciation, or 'just because' a hand painted piece of pottery shows both thoughtfulness and effort. It takes something you've spent a tenner on and added a dose of love on top - making is super special to the recipient and of course the bonus brownie points you get for thinking about someone instead of giving them a bottle of wine you grabbed at the corner shop.
Art Therapy Benefits: This could probably be a blog post in itself really. Pottery painting has therapeutic benefits beyond stress relief. It can be a form of art therapy that encourages emotional healing, self-reflection, and self-expression. Sitting quietly painting for a few hours dulls the noise of life down enough that your brain and start closing some of the many tabs that are open (and that don't need to be). Adults can use pottery painting as a tool for personal growth and introspection. The joy of seeing regular customers wander through the door, let out a deep sigh and drop their shoulders a few inches when they know they can switch off for a while... actually priceless.
Couples and Date Nights: Pottery painting can be a romantic and engaging activity for couples. It offers a shared experience that encourages bonding and connection. It's really easy to live with someone yet not even 'see' them. Conversations about what to have for tea every night hardly set your soul alight do they? Take some time to do something different and remember what it's like to talk and have fun.
Rediscovering Playfulness: There's that saying, isn't there, 'You don't stop playing because you get old, you get old because you stop playing' and to me, it sums it up in a nutshell. As adults, we often lose touch with our sense of playfulness. Pottery painting invites adults to embrace play and spontaneity without any judgment. It's a chance to tap into our inner child and experience the joy of creating without constraints.
You may or may not know that we won some awards in 2021-22 and '22-23 for the Best Children's Business in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. We then made it into the top 4 for the nationals, which is an amazing accolade and we were all very proud. However we've deliberately opted out of these awards for the last couple of years because the category we are in doesn't fit the business we have. Kids love us, the school holidays are always filled with them having lots of fun, but mostly we see their grown ups in need of some down time now!
If you've ever thought that pottery painting is just for kids I'm going to very politely tell you, you're wrong. Why not come and give it a go for yourself and see? You're welcome alone or with your family and friends.
We can't wait to see your smiles when we hand back something you've made!