Ms Brenda Tan and her mother at a clay pottery painting workshop held by the consumer division of SPH Media for ST subscribers. SINGAPORE – Over the Aug 17 and 18 weekend, subscribers of The Straits Times got to play with coffee and clay. To celebrate the 179th anniversary of the national broadsheet, which was founded in 1845, the consumer division of SPH Media held four discounted workshops for loyal subscribers and readers of the paper.

In two clay pottery painting workshops held on Aug 18 at Clay Clay Pottery, 37 ST subscribers played with colour. They were guided to paint their prepared pottery pieces, such as mugs, plates, bowls or vases. Ms Brenda Tan, 22, and her mother, who is in her 50s, attended one of the sessions together.

Both are first-timers to an ST subscriber event and enjoyed their time. Ms Tan painted flowers on her mug while her mother, who wanted to be known as Mrs Tan, painted a “family portrait” on her mug. The members of the Tan family were represented on the mug by their Chinese zodiac animals – two monkeys, a snake and a horse.

Ms Tan said: “The painting is rather therapeutic and enjoyable. It is a much-needed break from our daily routines. We’re excited about going to pottery painting and making workshops in the future because we both value creating tangible items that can be used.

” Another 34 participants learnt the art of making coffee beautiful, from a professional barista at Cowpresso Coffee Roasters on Aug 17. The workshop include.