Here at Experience Gifts, we're big fans of creative lessons and classes, so this pottery painting class seemed like the perfect activity for us.
The Painting Pottery Café located in Brighton is a great way to let your creativity flow and spend quality time with loved ones. As well as being a fun creative outlet, this activity was also surprisingly therapeutic and something I would absolutely recommend to friends. Keep reading to find out how we got on!
Painted pottery is displayed in each window of the café giving onlookers a glimpse of the pieces of artwork they could come in and create. The cosy and bright space is filled with tables dressed in colourful tablecloths and all the necessary tools we needed for our painting experience.
Upon arrival, Alice, Ayla, Millie and I were greeted by a friendly member of staff at the door. Once our booking was confirmed we were seated comfortably at our own table for four. The small café was full, making for a lively yet quaint atmosphere. With a variety of ages seated around us, it’s clear that this wholesome activity is fun for a wide range of demographics.
Our table was set with brushes, paint pots, mixing plates, colour charts and pencils. Each of us had our own set of equipment and over 20 paints to share that can be mixed to make even more. We were seated opposite a wall of pottery designs ranging from unicorns to trinket dishes. Once we browsed the options, we were able to select the pieces we wanted to paint, and they were brought to our table.
Millie and I chose Latte Mugs, Ayla decided on the Cocoa Mug, and Alice opted for a Miso Bowl. Each of our pieces were £22 or under, but prices range from £15 to £40 depending on the intricacy of the design. (For example, the unicorn was more than the trinket dish.)
While the Painting Pottery Café offers snacks and refreshments, they also have a BYOB policy where participants can bring their own drinks. Millie and I decided it would only be right to bring a bottle of wine to sip during our visit. Painting and Pino, what could go wrong?
We were instructed that prior to painting, the mugs and bowl needed to be sanded down and dampened. This is to ensure the paint applies smoothly to the surface of the pottery. We each had a small sander to use at our painting stations. After a few minutes of sanding, the rough surface of my mug wore down and became smooth to touch. We then used sponges to lightly wet the entire body of the pottery. After this was done, a member of staff came to our table with a colour chart and gave us a helpful insight into how the colours would look once dry.
While there are more than 20 colours available to chose from, layering the paints influences how they dry. We were advised that up to three coats of paint would leave the darkest shade, whereas one coat would leave us with the lightest. It became apparent that it would be important to remember how many coats of paint we had applied to certain areas, as the layering process effects the outcome of the colours.
Once we had prepped our pottery, it was time for painting! I started with a light blue base colour and proceeded to sketch a cluster of peaches in pencil over the paint. This was an easy task as the paint dries quickly, making it difficult to smudge. The carbon pencil also completely disappears in the kiln, so you don’t need to worry about ruining your aesthetic. If your chosen design requires a delicate hand, there were also paint pots with fine-line tips to create the finer lines you may need for outlining or painting smaller spaces.
My top tip for this experience is to choose the type of design you want to create before you get to the café, that way you make the most of your 2-hour painting slot.
We all began leisurely painting our chosen designs with a little bit of chatting and rather a lot of concentrating. The afternoon proceeded in a relaxed and calming way. I do however recommend keeping an eye on the clock, if you get too relaxed you could find yourself with a half-painted mug and ten minutes left. Rest assured, 2 hours was plenty of time for us to unleash our inner artists and complete our designs. But if you did find yourself out of time, you can pay a studio fee to return another day and finish your masterpiece.
10 days later our pottery was ready to be collected so we headed back down to the Painting Pottery Café and picked up our shiny new artwork. I’m sure you would remember the design you put all your love and care into, but if not, we painted our initials on the bottom of our pottery. The colours dried accurately to how they were shown on the colour chart, and we were all happy with the outcome. If this creative activity sounds appealing but you’re only in Brighton for a flying visit, you can organise for your pottery to be posted home.
The Painting Pottery Café offered a friendly and relaxed atmosphere where participants can chill out and be creative.
