At Art&Joy Creative Studio, children and adults can let their imagination run free

A new studio in Portimão lets you unleash creativity in a fun way, where students can experiment with different materials and techniques, from pottery, sculpture, drawing, painting, and more

– July 16, 2024 | Text Beatriz Maio

Lana, founder of the Art&Joy Creative Studio

Portimão has welcomed a vibrant addition to its cultural landscape – the Art&Joy Creative Studio, where everyone is welcome to discover and explore new and untapped talents.

With a dedicated team of trained experts passionate about the arts, the Art&Joy Creative Studio offers master classes on pottery, sculpture, drawing, painting, and more.

Embracing all age groups, with a spectrum stretching from painters as young as three years old to a septuagenarian sculptor, this haven of creativity is a testament to the fact that inspiration knows no bounds.

The team is currently made up of five experts in different areas, but soon, with the start of the new master classes, it will continue to expand.

Art&Joy’s ethos is centred on inclusivity. Here, a kaleidoscope of nationalities, including Ukrainian, Russian, British, French, and Portuguese, blend seamlessly, a reflection of the diverse fabric of Portimão itself.

The studio, founded by Svetlana Dekhtyareva, relies on the universal language of artistic expression.

“In art, we all speak the same language, you can communicate with everyone,” she states. Lana, as she is best known, believes that we learn best through practice and so, after showing and explaining some foundations to the students, she lets them explore their imagination freely.

When she moved to Portugal in November 2023, she felt the need for a place without any creative barriers and where “doing what you love” was what mattered most. And so, she gathered all her art supplies and keyboard, and created a space to learn, relax, or just play board games.

Initially intended as a personal art retreat, the studio quickly evolved into a collaborative experience.

“At first, it was only for me, to draw, to paint, to have my creative studio and store all my materials,” Lana explained adding that, later, her journey took a turn when she crossed paths with like-minded individuals, leading to the studio’s current form – a flourishing centre for artistic exploration and education.

Lana aims for Art&Joy to be an evolving creative ecosystem. In addition to all the activities already available, she is looking into integrating robotics, knitting, modern glass mosaic, Art History, and music into the studio’s curriculum.

“I want to inspire people, bring them peace, provide them with a place where they can take a break or socialise, and have total creative freedom,” Lana said.

For her, the priority is for each student to enjoy their lesson and their time in the studio. In a quiet and family-like atmosphere, students are encouraged to “do something with their hands”, to stimulate the brain, which, in turn, can benefit their overall wellbeing.

They are nurtured not just in artistic skills but in life skills such as patience, respect, and collaboration: “A lot of what students learn in classes, they will really use in their life, such as knowing how to wait and having the ability to reflect,” Lana believes.

Originally from Nikopol, Ukraine, Lana moved to Russia, where she studied at the Moscow State Pedagogical University. Later, she joined the Technical University of Liberec, in the Czech Republic, where she completed her degree in Clothing and Textile Technology. After spending a decade in Prague, she felt the need for a change. Together with her husband, she settled in Portimão, swayed by the location and the good weather that she fondly remembered from her vacation in the city in 2022.

The seeds for Art&Joy were sown in Lana’s childhood. Her nearest and dearest had their own artistic skills and “an acumen for colours and shapes”, which fostered her connection with the artistic world. It’s this lifelong passion for art, combined with a commitment to teaching, that fuels the studio’s ethos.

“Here the students can experiment with different materials and techniques that they don’t have access to at school or at home. It’s all about art and fun,” she highlighted. Lana – who is also a teacher of Russian and Literature and taught at an Arts School while living in Moscow – interweaves the stories of artists into her lessons and educates students on the style they choose, igniting their curiosity.

Set against the backdrop of classical melodies, Art&Joy offers tailored experiences for all – be it a workshop where you can make a personalised painting or a piece of pottery for a gift or a fun group session with friends. The team is currently working on a schedule for workshops but, until then, classes are open to everyone, including tourists – just call them up or stop by the studio to work out the best time for you.

At Art&Joy, every stroke, shape, and sculpture crafted within its walls is infused with happiness, companionship, and an infectious zeal for life – all a stone’s throw from the beach, where inspiration laps at the shore.