Water colours or pottery?

[Sleephound]

I'm struggling a bit lately. Probably a combination of menopause, bereavement, mid-life crisis. I feel like I need a project and/or to learn something new.

I am terrible at anything artistic, but when I felt a bit like this before I did a basket weaving course (yes really 😆) which did me the world of good.

There's not a lot of provision round here and I'm quite restricted on time because of work and other commitments, but I've found either a privately run 14 week drawing and watercolour class, or a 16 week "pottery for wellbeing course" run by the adult education college. Cost is much the same for both. Both say they're Ok for absolute beginners. The pottery will ask me to set wellbeing goals, which I'm not thrilled at the idea of, but might do me good. Painting is 5 mins from home, pottery is about 35 min.

Which would you choose?

I find pottery very absorbing and soothing especially if it's handbuilding .. is there any of that involved? Just my personal preference though. Both sound good.

As far as the well-being goals, don't share too much if you don't want to. You could say something vague like "I want to feel calmer and more positive"

Painting - easier to do outside the class if it grabs you.

How much of a factor is the proximity? 35 minutes is quite far to go if you’re tired and can’t be arsed? You could try the painting and switch to the pottery next term if you don’t like it? The only thing is that you do need to buy stuff with watercolour and buying the cheap stuff is no good. I don’t know how much you need to buy for pottery.

Pottery is not easy to do on your own, if you need a kiln. Water colour - you can use water colour pencils! Easy peasy. But the 35 mins thing would bother me if it's in the evening - hard to get off the sofa if it's dark and cold outside.

Water colour painting.

Water colour will be way easier and cheaper to carry on at home than pottery. But if you just want to go to a class and not continue afterwards, pottery would probably be lots of fun.

Do they offer taster classes? I have done a taster pottery class and loved it but the commute to do the classes put me off.

I haven't taken watercolour classes but did follow some people on social media over COVID and tried it. I found it very relaxing. Admittedly my attempts are very basic but I find it very relaxing and an easy hobby to do at home or anywhere really.

Pottery is therapeutic for me so I'd do it. Especially since it says pottery for wellbeing. I would think they'll be a very calming self care component.

Painting you can watch courses on line and get some water colour paints. That's what I do.