Picture the scene - the sun is beaming, the grass is dancing in the breeze and you’ve got a little cup of your favourite something in your paws. You’re that ideal level of satisfied that comes after a potluck picnic with your best pals.

Everyone knows everyone’s favourites, so the spread has been excellent, the company has filled your boots with every joy you’ve been missing all these distanced months, and you’re ready to treat yourself to a proper afternoon with loved ones… painting pottery!

I think I can speak on behalf of the ENTIRE WORLD when I say we’re all so glad to see life shift toward the brighter times ahead.

Here at The Pottery Experience, Jesmond, it’s been our necessary pleasure to adapt what we do to bringing pottery painting and making to the safety and comfort of your own home for the duration of this wild ol’ year of lockdown. It’s been beautiful to feel and see the support of customers, old and new, and as we prepare to reopen the studio for events ahead, we of course have more adaptive tricks in our apron pockets to bring to you for Spring and Summer time soirees ahead.

As we gear toward spending more time outside with friends and loved ones, what better way to mark these sweet occasions we’ve missed so dearly than to turn an afternoon together into a quadruple ‘P’ jamboree: a Pottery Painting Picnic Party!?

Whether you’re having a barbecue in your garden or playing some tunes in the park with the classic Heaton slack liners in the background, painting pottery with your pals is a perfect way to spend a few hours together and have a sweet wee creation to take away as a forever memory of actually getting to see your friends again(!!!!).

Think it all sounds a bit fiddly and fragile? Think again! Painting pottery, especially as a group, is accessible to everyone, and we have made every effort to make it as such for anyone to get involved and make something they’ll treasure.

Upon booking, you can choose your pre-made pottery and your paints, then we will supply you with truly everything you need to make your masterpieces. We’ll also send links to videos for you so you can get clued up on how to get the finest result out of your painting. From us you’ll have a selection of brushes, sponges, nib pens for intricate details and writing, pencils, erasers, sanders and wrapping to keep your pottery safe to return to us. When you’ve finished painting, just swing by our studio to drop it off, then we’ll do all the hot work of glazing and firing your piece to get it to it’s bright and shiny true self. (check out our Instagram for before and afters!)

The only things you have to remember to pack are:
1️⃣ a few plates for paint palettes, preferably some old crockery instead of any pesky paper ones (reduce reuse!)
2️⃣ a wee tea towel or kitchen roll for any spills (of paint, or wine, or ketchup, or general picnic good times)
3️⃣ a couple of cups for brush water
4️⃣ a bag to collect any rubbish / put your painty dishes in
5️⃣ and finally, don’t forget your picnic blanket - no soggy bottoms here, please!

Image courtesy of Dot Bagels, who did you know are opening a branch in Jesmond - what a dreeeeeam come true.

Why not make it a real easy feast too, seen as we’re so lucky in the old East End to have so many fine fooderies to choose from. Word on the street is that Papa Ganoush, Flint Pizza, Gingerinos, Ernie, Dot Bagels, Kimchi Planet and Cake Stories are just a few of the finest scran accompaniments to a pottery painting party, but I’ve also heard the 109 General Store has everything you’d possibly need to bake your own canny snacks to bring along to any outdoor jamboree in the pipeline. The possibilities!!

Of course, we know it’s not going to be *too* difficult to coax one another out of the woodwork to ease into this safe & social life again, but let’s be real, we’ve all become a little weird and isolated, so it’s all too peachy to have an activity to do alongside the much-awaited catch up of the new decade.

If you’re thinking about chipping in together to a painting party for six, for example, you could always send our handy demo video around in advance so you can all try and outdo each other on the day with your painting extraordinares! Pinterest is also ideal for gathering up some inspiration for what to paint (we’ve made loads of boards to give you ahead start), as well as our aforementioned Instagram, which is forever filling up with your glorious creations.

We’d suggest setting aside a couple of hours to paint your work. If you are working outside, do bear in mind our ridiculous weather and fret not: if the rain comes, you can always finish your painting at your homes, respectively.

As for any clean up, all we ask is that you treat your wee pottery piece like a soft baby: wrap it up (once the paint is dry!), wash brushes and tools in warm soapy water, and bring it all back to us for glazing, along with your paints and materials.

…and with that, what are you waiting for! I know I am ready and raring to get covered in paint with my pals in the park and fill my cupboards with new creations! Check out our kit hire page to get yourself booked up for your own pottery painting party.

We can’t wait to see what you make!

Jenni and The Pottery Experience team xoxo

P.S. spare picnic snacks also always welcome at the studio ;)

Planning the perfect Pottery Painting Picnic!