In Your Hands

There’s no better way to clear your mind than by getting your hands dirty

- Mira Leibowitz

If I had to pick one highlight of 2020, when we had to stay indoors, it’d be the joy and calmness that Clay Hands gave me. A friend of mine has been going to ceramic classes for about a year, and the works of art he produces, some practical, others not so much, are exquisite and downright impressive. The day he gifted me a vase that he’d made with his own hands was the day I thought to myself, ‘I should totally get into these clay classes too!’ Unfortunately, thoughts like this can form as quickly in your mind as they disappear. But if you’re stuck at home, the urge to be as fit, productive and creative as possible is a welcome distraction. When Clay Hands, which started as an in-studio ceramic class, began offering online courses, that sounded perfect to me. I knew getting my hands dirty, quite literally, was just what I needed in a time filled with boredom and anxiety.

Not only did the classes allow me to express myself creatively; the physical act of working with my hands to create something tangible and sometimes functional was an extremely gratifying and wholesome experience. As soon as I started posting stories on Insta about the (basic) pinch pots I was making, I received an influx of interest. So, it got me thinking that if my mates on Insta were captivated and keen, then why not share it and allow an even wider audience to revel in the same meditative and calming process of making things out of clay. Everyone is born an artist; you need to ignite the flame. Clay Hands allows you to become familiar with some of the basics of creating with clay, such as pinching, coiling and slab construction. It designs courses for you to work at your own pace, from home, with guided projects incorporating each of the techniques.