Clay is one of the most interesting and sublime mediums in art. It is joyful to work and shape the clay as one desires because as much as you shape the clay, it shapes you as well. Imagine a place surrounded by tall snow capped mountains offering you a space to relax and do some art. Pottery Retreat at Dharamkot is one such initiative by Dharamkot Studio. Our idea is simple, to offer you a creative space away from the chaos of everyday life where you can practice art, engage in wellness activities and explore the stunning mountain surroundings.
When you go on a retreat, you sign up to get some space for yourself and reflect on things that matter. Well there is more than one reason to join the retreat. In this article we list five.
1. Rest, Relax & Rejuvenate
Fast paced, competitive and full of sacrifices is what the city normalises. While this life has benefits of its own, it does take a toll on an individual. The idea of retreat is to offer you a peaceful and restorative environment where you can relax. It takes a day or two to adjust to a new pace and deal with the newfound quietude. Once you settle in, relaxation comes naturally, you breathe and prioritise yourself and your needs. Five days is an ideal time to take a walk in nature, reconnect with the self and what really matters to you in your life. True healing and wellness really begins when one is rested and relaxed. In stunning mountain scenery, in an inspiring setting where all your creative needs are taken care of, you can truly indulge in self care. The understandings that dawn upon you in a quiet and serene environment stay with you for weeks and months to come. One becomes more mindful of small joys that life has to offer.
2. Learn the art of clay
In this retreat you learn pottery basics while creating your own art pieces. On your day one you start with an Introduction to Pottery session lasting for almost three hours. Your second day continues with learning the techniques of Hand-building and getting the Introduction to the Wheel. Day three focuses on Texturing and Surface decoration. Day four is when you dive deeper into the Advanced Hand-building- Slab/coiling method and Wheel Throwing/ Shaping Technique workshop. The last session on day five is when you learn Surface Decoration with coloured Under-Glazes. There is no other medium that is so agile as clay because the whole process of working with the clay teaches you patience, accepting changes, experimenting and exploring. One learns that balance is everything. Too little pressure and nothing happens, too much pressure and the form gets destabilised.
3. Be in the nature
Pottery retreat premises is a charming location, surrounded by tall and ancient trees. Deodars, Pine and Oak trees form a thick canopy which creates a dreamy world where one can get lost in their own thoughts. This location is away from the crowds providing an inspiring haven for creative pursuits amidst bright and colourful rhododendron. The studio space receives ample amount of sun shine during the days and is blessed by uninterrupted views of Kangra Valley and Dhauladhar mountain ranges serving as an inspiration to just sit back, relax and go into the depth of one’s thoughts and works. You must have heard that nature heals and has a therapeutic effect, and once you enter our retreat premises, you feel it.
4. Connection & Community of like-minded people
When you sign up for a retreat, you sign up to be among the group of like-minded people looking forward to a relaxing and creative time. People from all walks of life get together to spend some time in nature pursuing creativity and art. It is a gathering of sorts, where you’re most likely to find yourself in the company of people who have something in common and most importantly, things to talk about. Pottery making is just not vacation, it is a sense of connection that one forges in a community of art lovers and creative individuals. It is possible to form bonds and friendships that last for a long time after the retreat is over.
5. Reignite the creative spark
Most, if not all, humans are creative. Starting from our childhood to our adulthood, life poses unique challenges forcing us to get our creative juices flowing. It is during the routine of everyday life that we forget and start taking our creative powers for granted and having not utilized them for a long time, we come to an understanding that we lack creativity. It is not that we lack creativity, it is more of a situation where we don’t allow ourselves to be creative. And when we do it for long periods of time, creativity, just like any other gift, lies dead and dormant. When you come close to nature, take a walk into the forest, work with the clay and have meaningful conversations with people who share the same passion you re-ignite the creative spark.
