The Best Places To Get Crafty In Bangkok
Art connoisseurs, amateurs, and Andy Warhol wannabes: come one, come all. Bangkok’s art scene is better than ever, with exhibitions, galleries, and more popping up in and around the city almost every day. If you want in on a piece of the action, however, there are plenty of places around the city where you can get your hands dirty and start crafting. Whether you’re hankering to create your own leather bag or want to sit back, relax, and paint with a tall glass of wine in hand, Bangkok has something for you. Here we’ve got the six best places to get crafty in Bangkok.
JWD Workshop
University
JWD Workshop began as a passion. It was created by Thanyanan Srichaiwan, otherwise known as Jeed. She received her bachelor of fine arts from Chiang Mai University and has been using the skills she acquired here in her workshops. Her passion is in do it yourself (DIY) projects. She was working on the editorial team of BanLaeSuan Magazine when friends of hers requested her assistance with some crafting projects. This was in 2012, and the JWD Workshop now has its very own studio. Workshop prices depend on the number of students in the class, but all prices start at ฿1,200. The next workshop will teach you how to create a flower box, and it’s now open for enrolment.
Paintbar Bangkok
School
Paint and sip at one of the best bars to get creative in the city: Paintbar Bangkok. There are few establishments that allow you to both drink wine and get those creative juices flowing. In addition to a wide variety of wine, beer, cider, soda, and non-alcoholic beverages, Paintbar Bangkok also serves up some delicious light tapas and snacks for you to nibble on while you channel your inner-Picasso. You can bring your own wine, however, there’s a corkage fee. Paintbar Bangkok also has a wide variety of painting subjects for you to choose from, including a lavender field, Thailand’s famous tom yum goong dish, and fuji blossoms, just to name a few. The total cost includes the painting supplies, the canvas, and a few hours of instruction. We recommend that you book ahead of time. Paintbar Bangkok is open from 2 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday, open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, but is closed on Monday. It can also host private parties. All courses start at ฿799. To get to Paintbar Bangkok, take the BTS Skytrain to stop Phrom Phong. Then it’s only a short taxi ride away.
Attic Studios
Attic Studios offers both adult and junior workshops, as well as corporate events. Their classes offer a variety of different medias to channel your inner artist, such as oil, acrylic, pastel, mosaic, and more. Every week, you can find a life drawing session being held at Attic Studios, with the support of an internationally known instructor. Attic Studios has classes available almost every day of the week, from painting techniques classes to figurative workshops and more. Prices start at ฿1,200 per lesson for students under the age of 18. Adult lessons start at ฿1,400, or you can purchase six lessons for ฿7,000. Attic Studios also has weekly and monthly memberships available.
Shannta
Bridge, Shop, Stadium
If you love DIY projects, Shannta is the jewelry shop to visit. It’s here you can handcraft your very own pieces of silver jewelry. You can also purchase some of the shop’s handmade jewelry that they create and sell. You can find Shannta on the third floor of the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. It also has a second location in Terminal 21. To get here, take the BTS Skytrain to stop National Stadium. Take exit three, then use the sky bridge to walk directly into the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre.
Oneform-OnePiece School of Jewelry
School
Art enthusiasts of any skill level will be pleased to know that Oneform-OnePiece School of Jewelry is designed for both beginner and advanced students. Beginner courses are structured to introduce the use of tools, workshop discipline, materials, and the techniques needed to make jewelry. In the beginner’s course, you will learn more about coloring, basic stone setting, and more. These courses begin at ฿10,000 (for 15 hours). Oneform-Onepiece School of Jewelry also offers intermediate jewelry courses (฿12,000-13,000), advanced jewelry courses (฿14,000-15,000), a couple rings course (฿6,5000-7,5000 for two people), and even an eyewear course (฿15,000).
Craftsmangus
Shop
You might be surprised to hear that Craftsmangus welcomes beginners. Craftsmangus is a leather workshop, offering different courses focused on sewing methods, coloring, detailing, and more. The end-products of these workshops are so stunning, however, you would have thought that these handmade bags were created by the leather craft guru himself: Suphat Jansubbakich, otherwise known as Kru (teacher) Gus. To get to Craftsmangus, take the MRT Subway to stop Lumpini. The shop is about a seven minute walk from there.