Hands in the clay
This summer, between the pines and the ocean, more than 230 holidaymakers put down their phones to get their hands into clay. Behind these workshops is Lina, founder of Solua Atelier, based in the Basque Country.
For her first season with us, she created two sessions: a clay modelling workshop and a clay painting workshop, open to everyone, from toddlers to adults. In this short interview, Lina looks back on her summer: her inspirations, the people she met, and what she hopes everyone takes home, beyond the object itself.
Clay and sunshine
Solua Atelier was born at the end of 2024, from a wish to reconnect with my passion for creating. I started by making pieces in my studio, working with clay. I love the feel of this material and the freedom it offers: the possibilities are endless.
Modelling brings a real sense of calm. For a few hours, you switch off and (re)connect with your hands… and ultimately with yourself.
Sunshine, bright colours and life's small pleasures are at the heart of Solua. I draw my inspiration from what surrounds me, and in the Basque Country we're rather lucky: a sunset, the ocean, strawberries from the market…
I make colourful pieces, like little bursts of joy to treat yourself or someone else, that bring a smile.
The world of BonjourSauvage spoke to me straight away: reconnecting with nature, the art of slowing down, the invitation to let go. That's exactly what I try to convey in my workshops: a restorative creative break, simple and joyful, where we take the time to create together and leave with a keepsake made with our own hands.
Two workshops, open to all
This season, I ran two kinds of workshops.
The first is modelling. We quickly get to know each other, I suggest different ideas so everyone can choose their project, then we discover the material and the basic techniques. Step by step, I guide them, while leaving them free to experiment on their own.
The second is clay painting. Participants choose one or more pieces I've shaped beforehand, use inspiration sheets prepared for the occasion, then pick their colours from a wide palette. We finish by varnishing the piece.
In both cases, everyone goes at their own pace, chats, experiments, and leaves with their creations, like a holiday souvenir to take home.
To those who tell me “I'm not creative”, I say they're neither the first nor the last! You don't need to know how to draw: that's exactly why I'm here, to guide you step by step. And as I remind everyone at the start of each workshop, there's no pressure on the result.
What matters is giving it a try and letting yourself be carried by the experience. People are often surprised by what they've managed to create.
“You don't need to be creative: what matters is giving it a try.”
A summer of encounters
I love the moment when participants start shaping the clay and share their first impressions: “this is so soothing”. I also love it when they're so focused you could hear a pin drop, and of course, when they leave proud of what they've made.
And then there are the little notes left at the end of a workshop. Someone who never takes the time to create, and for whom this break did a world of good. Another who rediscovered their inner child. A parent thanking me because their 15-year-old, who didn't really want to come, ended up loving it.
These words give Solua its whole meaning. They remind me why I get up every morning happy to do this job, despite the challenges of self-employed life.
This diversity was really wonderful. I welcomed toddlers aged 2, mums who needed a breather, families, teenagers, adults on their own or as couples. Beginners, but also people who had already modelled clay or painted before.
Every workshop was unique, and it helped me refine the way I support each person, whatever their age, level or experience. Above all, it confirmed that working with your hands can bring very different people together and easily create connections.
What remains, and what's next
The object is a lovely holiday souvenir. I like to imagine all these creations finding their place in participants' homes. But above all, I hope they'll remember the moment, the pleasure of having created something, and the urge to keep making time for themselves, to switch off and do things that feel good.
This first season helped me understand what holidaymakers are looking for, work with very different people and improve week after week.
For next year, I'll mainly work on my logistics: several workshops a week, of different kinds, with all the equipment to bring each time… it takes some organising! The heart of the workshops won't change: accessible, joyful moments where we switch off and simply enjoy being there.
