Pottery in Taipei

Never in my wildest dreams did I think that Taipei would be the place that I fell in love with pottery. But it happened. I had taken an 8-week wheel/throwing course in Rhode Island in 2010 (more or less), but that was the extent to my formal experience. My affinity for art and creativity has never subsided; however, I've struggled with finding an sustainable outlet for my creativity. After becoming YouTube-obsessed with pottery, I immediately decided that it would be my thing. And there are lots of advantages as I travel full-time: meeting new people, experiencing something that feels more local, and truly learning from some of the best pottery-enthused studio owners and staff in the world.

And so I found a studio in Taipei. It was a bit unsuspecting and pottery is not the dominant feature of the website. But at Art Journey I discovered a natural talent for ceramics and became fascinated with the history of pottery that I learned along the way. The studio is perfectly chaotic. Cluttered with years of unclaimed pottery projects, the immediacy of a feeling of belonging overtook me. The studio owner, Andrew, was unlike any other artistic teacher. He is excited about pottery, connected to the history, and invested in his students and potters who frequent his studio. Now, I maybe my recollection or feeling about pottery has been slightly shaded by the voluminous compliments I received about being a throwing genius. After all, I hadn't had any substantive skill in ceramics and was able to throw with relative ease. Even more, I was able to center after a mere 30-minute demonstration. I think the teaching was more likely the success but I'll take my flowers where I can.

The studio was a special place. Always an chill vibe with jazzy blues playing in the background and a stream of visitors and potters in and out. The neighborhood is a cool, hipster place and it was fun walking through the crowds to make my way to the studio. It was a state of being. Just a very profound experience for me. And the other potters were friendly. Without hesitation, I would return. And my hope would be to spend more time to really dive into the art of clay.

Images from the Studio

My Pottery