What’s your colour for happiness?

CHENNAI: Every city needs something new in its social scene to keep the ever-evolving social life happy. We have lunches, sports, music, and dance, stand-up comedy, art shows — and now, we have a do-it-yourself ceramic pottery painting studio! Imagine taking some time off on a weekend, driving to an old quaint house, picking out a piece of pottery and designing it, with friends, family or for some quality me-time. Paint Me Happy — Ceramic Studio, so aptly named, is bringing you just that — a creative space for kids, adults, the skilled and unskilled to sit down, relax and unleash the creativity within.

The pet project of three women — Archana Veeramani, Nisha Budhrani, and Sunitha Chakravarthi, Paint Me Happy launches this weekend. “Ceramic pottery is something we all use in our homes in some form — a mug, a cup, a vase etc. And wouldn’t it feel great if you have an item at home that you created with your own hands?” asks Archana, saying it gives a sense of satisfaction and happiness while doing it, a double bonus.

Sunitha adds that this concept of paint-your-own-pottery studios is widely prevalent abroad. “We all have lived abroad at some point in our lives, and we’ve experienced these studios and the lovely environment,” she says.

The concept is simple — folks can walk in, choose their pottery piece, paints, brushes, and palettes will be provided and you can spend your time doing what you will. The painted piece can be left behind to be glazed and fired and can be picked up in a week’s time! “For those who want to take the pottery with them immediately, you have the acrylic paint option instead,” explains Archana.

Making your own pottery may seem a daunting task for those of us who don’t know how to do it, but painting is something we all can do. “Art is very subjective and personal. People with any skill-level can do anything they want to!” she says adding that it’s entirely non-threatening for the unskilled.  

When they held a small event last weekend, the response they received from the kids and adults was surprisingly overwhelming, they share. “The kids were thrilled because they felt they had accomplished something! We got many inquiries too from parents and also a school teacher who wanted a workshop organised for their students,” says Nisha.

Paint Me happy launches today with a kids ceramic painting workshop conducted by Diana Shathish, a well-known artist, art-educator, and ceramicist. They also plan to organise more workshops for both kids and adults, small kitty groups, corporate team building events and more. “Though there are many art classes in Chennai, there’s no place where families can come together, paint and spend quality time. This is as much for adults as it is for kids!” smiles Sunitha, while Nisha quips saying, “It’s a nice way to beat stress. You can sit quietly and paint, getting lost in it.”

Paint Me Happy — Ceramic Studio is launching today with a workshop. The Saturday workshop is sold out, Sunday workshop is from 11 am-12.30 pm. It will be open on Tuesdays, Thursdays & weekends.  For registrations, and details call 9840851000.