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SMASH things up, stick them to another surface and fashion something beautiful – this is the first step to begin creating a stress-beating stunning piece of mosaic magic.
Led by Tina Stokle, resident artist of Studio Ceramics located off Budaiya Highway, at-home mums and busy dads are engaging in a peaceful act of jewellery-making, enamelling on copper, ceramic bead jewellery-making, clay-building and mosaicking.
Experts estimate that 60 per cent of all work absences are caused by stress-related illness and research suggests stress-related problems can reduce business profits by up to 10 per cent.
"Working on mosaics is therapeutic in a way," explained Tina. "One starts by smashing things up and letting out your aggression, next comes cutting things up and sitting quietly and calmly to create something beautiful.
"It is particularly satisfying when a customer comes in, professing no artistic ability at all and takes the class and with just the tiniest bit of help comes out thrilled with the result.
"I believe there is an artist in everybody. If people took just one hour out of their week to do something different they could experience a world of calm. After all, art is never wrong.
"You might get something wrong in maths or English or a meeting may not have gone so well but down here, nothing is ever wrong!"
Mosaicking can be done on any hard surface where you can stick the tiles on to. It could be a flat piece of wood or a flower pot or glass ones that Tina says are pretty for candles or for window ornaments. Different groups have worked on designing mirrors, flower stands and pots.
Peta Jorgensen from Al Quraya has finished her third session of mosaicking and is putting the finishing touches to a flower pot. She said: "I just found it really interesting. I am not particularly artistic but I found this really exciting."
She was joined by Judy Gailani, Yulia Astashova, Ange, Sherry Adams, Elena Bosaia, Elena Gates, Desiree Cooke and Angelina Saintin at one recent session. The next project is to make a designer clock.
Studio Ceramics is currently running a March Madness promotion in which a group of up to six can choose any of the creative courses on offer for a private workshop at a time and day of their choice. The organiser also gets a 15 per cent discount. Call 17599026 for more details.
