There are loads of opportunities to pick up a new hobby in KL. I have followed a talented friend pick up and become skilled in pottery – or ceramics, if you prefer. If you think it means stuffy old fashioned pots for your plants, think again.
I interviewed Ninni about her hobby of a few years: “I wanted to start something that requires a bit of commitment now that I had the chance as a trailing spouse. Pottery has been great in balancing out family life”, she says.
The pros of ceramics are obvious: you learn a concrete skill, see the results and how you improve, and the end results are both pretty and useful – and make great gifts.
According to Ninni, there are several places around KL where you can do ceramics and hobbyists find their favourite studios by word of mouth. She recommends A Touch of Clay in Taman Segambut, owned by local ceramic artist Cheah Yeow Seng. This quiet studio offers beginner classes and a space and equipment for more advanced hobbyists to work.
“The studio has a great atmosphere. The dogs wander around, people work on their projects and Cheah is always happy to guide you in between his own projects. People work independently, but we often end up having interesting discussions.”
Ninni has been practicing her technique on the pottery wheel, and the results are pretty impressive, I think. She does point out, though, that you will end up throwing away lots of pieces that didn’t turn out as planned.
Contact Cheah for bookings and details on pricing. A set fee per session includes clay. You’ll pay extra for the glazing and use of the kiln.
Other places for pottery lessons
If you are keen to start a hobby that is creative and produces very practical results, this could be it! Other places to check out if you are interested could be Tenmoku near Batu Caves or Clay Expression. Some of them also organise kids’ workshops.
If you want to see some masterpieces for inspiration, Cheah Yeow Seng’s works are currently on exhibit:
3 – 18 June 2017 (Closed on Monday)
Opening Hours: 11am to 5pm
Exhibition Venue: Soka Exhibition Hall, Ground Floor, Wisma Kebudayaan SGM
If pottery is not for you, how about learning to sew? Read our article here.
5 Responses
I love the lighter colours with the hint of blue.
Oh wow really nice pottery work. I would like to see in real live
Pay a visit to the studio to have a look!
I would love to learn. Where in Taman Segambut is it?
It’s probably best to call ahead. This is the address:
8 Jalan 1/60B
Taman Segambut
Kuala Lumpur