Pottery, painting, ceramics: the best DIY workshops in Paris

Creating beautiful objects with your hands is both a satisfying activity (“I made this!”) and an opportunity to meet new people at highly feel-good DIY workshops. Pottery, ceramics, embroidery, mosaic... We’ve listed the 6 coolest spots for you to unleash the artist within.

The concept: head over to the 17th arrondissement to settle in at Pigments, a brand-new address ideal for painting lovers. Inside, everything inspires creativity with blank canvases, art magazines, aprons, and color shades galore. Grab your best brush and settle down for a two-hour acrylic painting session, either guided or freeflow for the more inspired minds. And to romanticize your life to the max: choose from the many drinks on the menu: flat white (€5), matcha (€5.50), purple latte (€5.50) or, for warmer days, a refreshing fruit juice (€5) or iced tea (€5). A little piece of advice: come with an idea already in mind, because time flies incredibly fast when you're having fun!

The prices: for your first session, expect €35 for a freeflow session and €40 for a guided session. For freeflow, it’s €120 for 3 sessions, €175 for 5, and €320 for 10. For guided, €150 for 3 sessions, €225 for 5, and €400 for 10.

Pigments, 85 rue Lemercier, Paris 17. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 11 AM to 7:30 PM. Information and bookings online.

 © Jeanne Perrotte / Clément Stalhberger

The concept: we already loved the porcelain gilding workshops at Bazar d'Alger. So when its big boss Arnold d'Alger unveiled Grand Soleil, his brand-new venue imagined with ceramist and illustrator Gaëlle Levray, let’s just say we showed up in a minute to learn more! The result: we adore this new sublime DIY temple where both beginners and experts come to refine their techniques across three amazing workshops, all of which are, of course, led by professionals. The setting is straight out of Pinterest: sunlit glass roof, tons of lovely plants, and shelves full of ceramics... It’s a dream.

The prices: expect €100 for a 3-hour introductory clay modeling session, €100 to learn wheel throwing (shaping the clay using a potter's wheel to make it spin up just like in Ghost), or €120 for 3 hours of gold and dip pen decoration.

Grand Soleil, 8 rue Édouard-Lockroy, Paris 11th. 06 66 98 54 03. Open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM.

The concept: pastries and tapas to nibble between brush strokes while customizing pre-shaped ceramics, all while mingling with strangers to share (or find) inspiration. This cool idea was launched just days before the Covid wave by friends Laura and Coline in a feel-good space designed for chatting (hence the name). You customize, paint, and then leave your creation to bake and rest before picking it up in 2 to 3 weeks. Returning for more? Another option for the impatient: express firing in 72 hours for €5.

The prices: plates, vases, and carafes between €10 and €70 for a 2.5-hour activity. Tomato, mozzarella, and salad bruschetta for €8.50, chocolate cookie for €4.50.

La Papoterie, 13 rue Ternaux, Paris 11th, open Tuesday from 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Wednesday to Friday from 2 PM to 10 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 8:30 PM. 17 rue Notre Dame de Lorette, Paris 9th, open Wednesday and Friday from 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Tuesday and Thursday from 2 PM to 10 PM, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 8:30 PM. 2 rue de Mulhouse, Paris 2nd, open Monday and Thursday from 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Wednesday and Friday from 2 PM to 10 PM, Saturday from 10 AM to 10 PM, and Sunday from 10 AM to 8:30 PM.

The concept: At the heart of her Parisian addresses (11th, 14th, 17th, 3rd, and recently Versailles), Geneviève Landsmann teaches beginners with great pedagogy in ceramic decoration, modeling, mosaic, pottery, and Kintsugi (the poetic Japanese art of restoring broken objects with gold). You can enjoy your favorite moment – brunch, happy hour, or afternoon tea – with organic teas, ethical coffee, organic wines, matcha lattes, and delicious pastries.

The prices: ceramic painting workshop starting from €31.90 including one piece to paint + a drink (2 hours). Ceramic & brunch on Sunday mornings, featuring a vegetarian brunch + a ceramic piece to paint for €59.90 (3 hours). Ceramic & Apéro on Thursday/Friday/Saturday evenings with a ceramic piece to paint + an aperitif board to share + a drink for €44.90 (3 hours). Mosaic introductory workshop for €59 (2.5 hours). Modeling and painting workshop for €84.90 (2x 2 hours).

Céramicafé Geneviève, addresses and hours available online. Online booking recommended. Open to all.

The concept: Founded by two sisters passionate about DIY, Klin d'Œil is primarily a store presenting their favorite creators. However, they also organize events and workshops in weaving, serigraphy, silk painting, lipstick making, ceramic decoration, and embroidery, led by the creators themselves. A rare find, you’ll also discover hyper-niche workshops like Kitchen Gravures, brass wall jewelry, creative journaling, and miniature works of art. A full program!!

The prices: expect between €75 for a punch needle class (a special embroidery needle for a beautiful texture) and €50 for a still-life drawing workshop with colored pencils. Naturally, everyone leaves with their own creation to proudly display at home.

Klin d'Œil, 6 rue Deguerry, Paris 11th. Open Tuesday to Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM & 3 PM to 7 PM, and Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM. 01 77 15 22 30.

The concept: do you love the Kilo Shop concept ? You'll love the Kilo Factory one , launched in Paris by Big Band Poterie . The pitch: you stay as long as you want to create freely and you pay according to the weight of your masterpiece. For the less resourceful, the creators of the place offer to enamel your creation once well cooked, to be collected after a week. And for those who would like to have their friends eat, the place can be privatized for groups. What are we waiting for to reveal the Rodin in us?

The prices: the price is determined by the weight of your creation, firing and glazes included. Prices start at €15 for a 1.5-hour modeling session by the kilo. Full studio privatization on evenings and weekends, from 1 to 14 people, €490 for 2 hours.

Big Band Pottery , 57 rue Saint-André des Arts, Paris 6th. Open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. 06 07 10 60 90.

The concept: Love the concept of Kilo Shop? You’ll adore Kilo Factory, launched in Paris by Big Band Poterie. The pitch: stay as long as you like to create freely, and pay based on the weight of your masterpiece. For the less skilled, the creators at the location will glaze your creation once it’s fired, and you can pick it up after a week. For those wanting to have fun with friends, the space is available for group privatization. What are we waiting for to reveal the Rodin in us?

The prices: expect €15 per hour per person for independent creative time, and between €29 (scrapbooking) and €46 (beginner crochet) for structured classes.

Big Band Poterie, 57 rue Saint-André des Arts, Paris 6th. Open Monday to Friday from 10:30 AM to 6 PM. 06 07 10 60 90.

Also discover a decoration shop like no other and the brilliant concept store where all your broken objects are repaired .