We’re all creative in our own ways. We express ourselves through writing, photography, drawing, singing, dancing – the list goes on and on. We got to experience how these lovely studios allow people to let out a different side of their creativity through painting.
Ceramic Creations
We love our cosy workspaces, but as creatives, we must get outside our “boxes” now and then, to do new things and reignite that creative spark. We had heard of Paint a Pot, and we were very excited to go do some pottery painting!
Friendly faces and an atmosphere charged with inspiration greeted us. Inside, the studio had an interesting set-up, with cute trinkets available to paint, on display. Each table had a large printed page of information containing tips, available colours, and a planning area.
We were then shown to our table and found a display of stencils, pencils, stamps, paint brushes, and anything else we’d need to create our crockery masterpiece. We were given plates to work with since they’re great for beginners. We first wiped the plates down with a damp sponge to remove any residual dust on the surface since these particles could mess up the paint and designs.
Next was the matter of colours. Each of us was given a little sheet to choose which six colours we’d like to use from their selection. The colours arrived in little baskets from each of our choices. We got a few tips about when using the colours: you always start dark and then go light! If you want pastel colours, you should mix a bit of white into the paint. We then got our stencils out and started tracing the patterns we wanted.
Things went very slow at first. The fear of making a mistake had us on edge since we all wanted our art to be perfect. We were reminded that art isn’t about perfection but expression, and we were there to express ourselves and relax.
We soon found ourselves laughing and chatting about what we were creating. I loved watching each person work. We were doing the same activity, but each person put personal touches on every line and stroke. There was much more to the whole process than we initially thought! After we were done, we were told that we weren’t taking our plates home that day. The plates need to go through additional processes and are placed into a kiln several times (over 28 hours worth). Only after that, would we get back our final piece in all of its glazed glory.
It was such an incredible experience. We felt lighter as we walked out. Through all of the cringing and erasing, we were thrilled with how our little projects came out. The excitement of receiving the final products and how they turned out were definitely worth the wait!
They offer a range of party packages, team buildings and high teas! Treat yourself and your loved ones to some relaxing art time, souvenirs you’ll be able to cherish forever.
Instagram: @paintapotsa
Art is Therapy
I love art. I’m no Picasso, but I enjoy the peace of mind when you’re adding colour to a blank canvas. My colleagues were excited about this experience, hosted at Unity Performing Arts studio at Gateway Mall. Pause and Paint is a therapeutic guided painting class that teaches beginners the basics of painting.
Everyone in the studio was equipped with an apron, easel, a blank canvas, palettes with paint and a paintbrush. We also had a ruler, pencil and a plastic cup for this particular session. Sonaly, our guide, greeted everyone and explained the first step. We used rulers and pencils to split our canvases into three blocks. We were instructed to lightly blend white and blue paint on the first block, painting what looked like a dark blue sky. It was important not to mix the colours. The same step was repeated for the second block with white and purple and the bottom block with yellow and red. The painting effect gave us a stunning blend, and Sonaly gave us sufficient time before moving to the next step. When everyone had completed their background, it was time for the next step.
At the top of our canvas over the blue and white block, we needed to dip our brush in white paint and lightly tap the brush with a ruler to splatter it onto the block. It was messy, but it gave us a beautiful starry night effect. We used a plastic cup to trace out a moon and mixed black and white to finish it in grey. There was laughter, music and lots of conversations. You could even order food and drinks from Cape Town Fish Market, with waiters attending to the tables. Sonaly and her team walked around, filling paint in people’s palettes and guiding the painters throughout the session.
The final step was all black. We googled a skyline and traced it out with toothpicks dipped in paint. Not everybody did a skyline, some did trees, and others painted their own interpretation of a city at dusk. My colleagues and I used the same technique, but we all finished differently. That’s truly the power of art. It was a therapeutic experience; the best part was that we got to take our canvases home to show our families and friends!
Instagram: @pausenpaint
Words by: Cristina Govender + Toni Savannah Reddy