The Potter’s Process: A Behind-the-Scenes Look
Curious about how a raw lump of clay turns into a functional mug? Come behind the scenes at my Indiranagar studio to see the wheel throwing, detailed carving, and glazing magic.
Just the simple, morning sounds of the studio. Me, the clay, and the wheel. This is where it all begins.
This video shows me throwing large dinner plates from a beautiful rosy clay. Achieving a wide, flat form like this requires a lot of control and practice.
Here I am trimming the base of serving bowls and attaching lugs, or handles. Trimming is just as important as throwing for creating a clean, finished piece.
I often make demo pots for my students that I don't intend to keep. This time, I decided to have some fun carving this bottle form just for the joy of it.
This is a section-thrown vase with relief carvings of hummingbirds. I built the vase in two parts to achieve the height, then carved the birds and branches.
I was so excited to see how the glaze turned out on this hummingbird vase. The colors really brought the birds to life.
A satisfying stop-motion video of the sgraffito process on a commissioned piece. I'm scratching away the white slip to reveal the intricate design underneath.
Part two of the sgraffito process, this time on a luminary. Here, I'm carving out the negative space to complete the design.
The making of my agave bowls, from throwing the initial form to the intricate process of carving each facet.
A close-up of the carving process for the Lagavi collection. This geometric pattern required a very steady hand and precise tool work.
About The Potter's Process
Trimming is where the real shape of a piece is born. It is not just about removing excess clay; it is about refining the foot ring to give a bowl its balance and silhouette. When you see those fine coils of clay peeling off the wheel, you are watching the difference between a raw pot and a refined, ergonomic piece of stoneware.
Every piece I create at the studio follows a specific rhythm, from the first time I center the clay to the final firing. Here is a glimpse into how I work:
The Wheel and Handle Math
It starts on the wheel. Whether I am throwing a standard coffee mug or a large serving bowl, balance is everything. I often obsess over the 'handle math'—the exact proportion needed to ensure a mug feels right in your hand. For taller forms, like vases or lamps, I use a section-throwing technique where I create parts separately and join them seamlessly.
Sgraffito and Relief Carving
This is the meditative part. Using the Sgraffito technique, I apply a layer of slip and then scratch away the negative space to reveal the intricate patterns underneath. It requires a steady hand and a lot of patience, whether I am carving hummingbirds into a vase or geometric designs onto a luminary. It is slow work, but it adds the tactile texture that defines my collections.
The Transformation
Glazing is where the science meets the art. My pieces go through a double firing process in the kiln, hitting 1220 degrees Celsius to reach full vitrification. Seeing a dull, glazed piece emerge from the kiln with its final, vibrant finish is always a highlight of the process.
If you want to see how this works in person, I host small-group pottery workshops right here in Indiranagar. We cover everything from hand-building to wheel skills, so you can leave with your own finished, usable pottery.
Gauri Oak
I’m Gauri, the potter behind GOAK Ceramics. This studio isn’t just my workspace—it’s where I share the carving techniques and 'handle math' that turn simple stoneware into the pieces you use every morning.
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