Pottery had always been an activity I wanted to try — the thought of using my hands to create something out of nothing had always fascinated me. So, when an opportunity opened up for me to try my hand at pottery, I had to give it a go.
3Arts Pottery is located in a quaint corner of Joo Chiat, and hosts various pottery classes including wheel throwing and handbuilding.
Upon entering the studio, I was met with different pottery pieces — vases and cups of various shapes and sizes, giving me some inspiration before class began. The friendly staff at 3Arts were helpful in showing me around the area, before finally bringing me to where my class would be.
The class was small and intimate, with students of all ages participating. Our teacher, Mr Tan, began the class by introducing us to different tools and techniques we would need to create our very own piece.
He also gave us some insight on the various classes 3Arts offers, and the differences between each of them. There was wheel-throwing, where students use an electric pottery wheel to create their piece, and hand-building, where students use a manual spinning wheel to mould their clay.
We were told we would be experiencing hand-building, and could choose to make either a cup or a bowl. Mr Tan was patient in showing us the multiple steps that were needed to create these pieces.
As we watched our skilled instructor carefully mould the clay into its desired shape, I was mesmerised — this was something I knew needed years of practice to master.
I felt increasingly overwhelmed by the slab of clay mounted on my working area as I watched Mr Tan work. The entire tutorial only lasted a few minutes, but he was already able to create a fully defined, miniature cup.
Once the tutorial was over, it was our turn to create our pieces. I chose to create a bowl, hoping it would be easier than a mug, but it was definitely harder than it looked.
Fortunately, Mr Tan was very patient and constantly went around the table to help each student with their piece. He repeatedly assured us not to worry as mistakes could always be fixed at the end.
Even when my bowl turned into a semi cup in the middle of the creating process, he told me, “don’t worry, we will make it look like a bowl”.
Although the smoothing process was definitely the hardest part, it was also the most therapeutic — trying to get the clay to work in your favour took up the most time, but was extremely satisfying when it did.
By the end of the session, I had successfully made a bowl, thanks to Mr Tan’s ongoing guidance and encouragement. It was a fascinating experience to watch how clay could be moulded into so many different shapes.
We were told our pieces would then need to be dried, glazed, and fired before collection, which would take around eight weeks. We had a choice to return to the studio to glaze our own items or get a staff to do it for us. A certificate of achievement was also given to each participant upon completion of the class.
By the end of our session, I definitely gained more knowledge and appreciation for the art of pottery making.
If you are open to trying out pottery making, why not give it a go at 3Arts Pottery? They even offer trial classes for beginners wanting to dip their toes in this unique type of art.
Interested? Head to our Experiences to book a pottery-making session for only $79.
This article is in partnership with 3Arts Pottery.
3Arts Pottery
Address: 394 Joo Chiat Pl, Singapore 428078
Opening Hours: Tuesday from 7pm–10pm, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30am–4pm, Thursday from 3pm–10pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9:30am–7pm; Closed on Monday
Contact: 9720 8055
