Globetrotting Gal

Did you know that creating art reduces stress? Art therapy researchers at Drexel University found that just 45 minutes of various art activities reduced cortisol levels in 75 percent of participants. Best of all, your level of experience doesn’t matter!

With this benefit in mind, I decided to give Cecile M’s local pottery wheel workshop a try. (It was helpful that it is located literally 10 steps from my front door here in Lisbon!)

Pottery Wheel Workshop in Downtown Lisbon

Classes at Cécile Mestelan studio are pretty affordable. One month of classes (4 in total) costs 140 euros. Each class lasts 2 hours and has no more than 6 students. The teachers here speak English and are very knowledgeable. All the materials needed are provided.

The school is very cute, located in the lovely São Bento neighborhood of Lisbon. Below are some photos from inside the workshop area. The storefront area is located across the street and has many unique creations for sale.

I enjoyed my four classes with Paul, an instructor from New Zealand, and two other students, Mark and Patricia (pic below).

Some other students dropped in for just one lesson (a reasonable option if you are a tourist in Lisbon). Personally, though, I don’t think one lesson is enough time to develop some skills on the pottery wheel if you are a true beginner. Another option would be the hand pottery workshop that is also offered here.

Taking Art Classes in Portugal

Lisbon is a wonderful city for growing a love of art. If you are an ex-pat or a digital nomad living in Portugal, I highly recommend learning pottery making at Cecile M. The atmosphere is very nice and you will meet other people with a love of art. There is the option to have a regular membership and make pottery on your own here, as well.

Perhaps you prefer painting or photography? Check out Viator’s list of the top 10 art classes in Lisbon. For free art-making events in Lisbon, Meetup.com is also a great resource!