Yes art is work! Vital work!
We can all be inspired by examples of the tremendous contribution that the creative arts make to our wellbeing and resistance to the challenges presented by mental health issues.
One such inspiration is Lissah Hall's pottery classes that Lissah has recommenced with full Covid-19 security.
In their own words her students give testimony to the vital contribution her pottery classes are making to their wellbeing and mental health in these challenging times:
I have been going to Lissah’s pottery classes for over 2 years and can thoroughly recommend them They are very relaxing and Lissah allows you to develop your skills at your own pace with help when needed. She makes the classes fun whether you are experienced or a complete beginner
Sue retired GP
Lissah's pottery class has been a kind of therapy for me. Attending Lissah's relaxed and fun classes, meeting new people and tapping into my own and shared group creativity has had a hugely positive impact on my mental health and wellbeing.
Andrea 47
I started pottery in October 2019 something I hadn’t done since being at school, I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy it but I knew from the first class I loved it and was hooked. The people are so friendly, helpful and great fun. You can work at your own pace and what you make is entirely up to you. Lissah is always there to guide you to achieve your best and has helped me to produce some great pieces. Thank you Lissah.
Tracy 55 years feeling 12 again
I have been doing pottery with Lissah for two years. She is a patient and encouraging teacher which I needed especially on returning to classes after Corona virus lockdown when I felt like I had forgotten everything I’d learnt. I work in mental health services and corona virus was and is a challenge personally and for the people I work with. Pottery is the perfect antidote to pressure and stress. It is absorbing and creative and Lissah has the magical ability to guide people at all levels of ability to achieve their best in a safe, fun, and friendly environment. Lissah’s classes should be on prescription - they are most certainly an investment and I am pleased to say I am daring to call myself a potter! Judy 59
Pottery has been a hobby that I have enjoyed and to some extent relied on as a source of relaxation throughout life. Three years ago, the pottery class that I had been attending was closed due to financial restraints. Discovering Lissah's class and having it close to where I lived was such a relief!
Like any new venture, joining a new class, meeting new people, and adapting to different structures can be a daunting prospect but within a few weeks of arrival I was excitedly anticipating each Tuesday morning class with relish! Lissah's greeting to all members of her class is always welcoming and inviting. Irrespective of your potting abilities she takes time and patience to explain and illustrate the various techniques and skills required in the potting process. In both hand building and the wheel Lissah's enthusiasm for her art is apparent and class members can choose to follow the processes she demonstrates or use their imaginations to create their own artistic gems.
Classes are a great way of meeting new people and making new friends in a fun and unpressurized environment.
Over the last three years Lissah's class has been a little oasis of peace and serenity.
Angela
I love my pottery lessons. It’s a real antidote to all the hurry and chaos of life today. I hadn’t done it since school but have loved getting back on the wheel and learning new techniques. Lissah is a really friendly and encouraging teacher and I’ve met some lovely people in the classes too.
Natalie 46
I have been attending Lissah’s pottery classes for 3 years since watching the pottery throw down. I was a complete amateur with not many creative skills but, despite worrying about what people would think, I absolutely love going and have managed to produce many pots, Christmas decorations and much more. The class is relaxing and fun, and we have many laughs. Lissah is a great teacher.
Gen
.
I really love coming to the pottery classes. They are a wonderful de-stressor in a mad busy life.
Lissah is always upbeat, friendly and very welcoming and we have a laugh.
No matter how many times you ask the same question (because you've forgotten which glaze to use, again!!!!), she is always patient and happy to help. Nothing is too much trouble for Lissah, she is a wonderful teacher.
Elaine
Lissah, is a fantastic teacher.
Pottery for me has given me an environment where not only can I use it as a creative outlet, I can chat about my week and have a banter with the the rest of the class.
Thank you Lissah for keeping me sane.
Suzanne Kelly
Lissah’s pottery classes are a thoroughly enjoyable highlight of the week. They take part in a most friendly and relaxed environment in very good class sizes with a diverse range of abilities and people. Lissah is friendly, calm, patient and professional and her approach is as constantly positive as it is encouraging. She is also skilled in how she teaches you and enables you to develop at your own pace. Above all, Lissah’s pottery is huge fun and a great tonic for stress relief and relaxation!
As a recently retired Headteacher, School Adviser and National Leader Of Education, I am well placed to be able to evaluate and assess excellent practice. I have no hesitation in commending Lissah Hall and her pottery class to any individual, group school or organisation. She is an excellent pottery teacher and her exceedingly enjoyable Pottery classes are hallmarked by her patient, calm manner, effective teaching style, great subject knowledge, her most positive and encouraging approach and the consistently fun and enjoy enjoyable learning environment she creates. Lissah also relates well to all people and reflects understanding and empathy towards people of all ages and from a range of diverse backgrounds. This enables those who come to her popular classes to feel genuine welcome, relaxed and valued. Given the outstanding levels of enjoyment and fun people express in her classes, it is understandable why people progress and achieve so well under her care and her tuition. Pottery is meaningful, fun and calming on the mind with Lissah.
Andy 56
Lissah, is a fantastic teacher. Pottery for me has given me an environment where not only can I use it as a creative outlet, I can chat about my week and have a banter with the the rest of the class.
Thank you Lissah for keeping me sane.
Suzanne Kelly
I love my pottery lessons. It’s a real antidote to all the hurry and chaos of life today. I hadn’t done it since school but have loved getting back on the wheel and learning new techniques. Lissah is a really friendly and encouraging teacher and I’ve met some lovely people in the classes too.
Natalie 46
I really love coming to the pottery classes. They are a wonderful de-stressor in a mad busy life.
Lissah is always upbeat, friendly and very welcoming and we have a laugh.
No matter how many times you ask the same question (because you've forgotten which glaze to use, again!!!!), she is always patient and happy to help. Nothing is too much trouble for Lissah, she is a wonderful teacher.
Elaine
Over the years, I've come to realise that time to focus on something creative, where work and home life is put to one side, is vital for my mental health and wellbeing. Lissah's pottery class at Norden Primary School, Rochdale, gives me the opportunity to develop skills with clay (a material I love) under her expert care and guidance. Lissah is a talented and skilful potter in her own right. She is also is a fun, informative and patient tutor. Her classes are an opportunity to meet people and chat, or to quietly reflect and become absorbed in whatever you are making. For me, they're a breathing space in a busy week.
Lyn, teacher, 54
We always look forward to our pottery evenings. It is a welcoming group of people of very mixed abilities, you do not have to be an expert. The group are very inclusive but if you want to keep to yourself that's fine too. Everyone achieves something with Lissah's support. The two-hour session just flies because it is so absorbing, it is like meditation for the mind and hands.
Tony and Lynne 58yrs.
Lissah's classes have really inspired me to expand my creative horizons, as a teacher she's a true enthusiast who's great at sharing her love and knowledge of pottery with her students.
Jeremy
CONTACT LISSAH:
Mob 07807644630
Email: lissah.hall@outlook.com
and here are some of their creations
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