Decorative Pottery and Sculptures
These pieces are where I let my imagination wander, from intricate lanterns to whimsical incense burners. Every item is shaped by hand in my Bengaluru studio to bring a touch of nature and artistry into your home.
I love making these little house incense burners. The smoke gently drifting from the chimney creates such a peaceful and cozy atmosphere. This one was made during a kids' workshop.
A finished house incense burner, with the smoke curling out of the chimney. The textured roof and tiny windows give it so much character.
Another shot of the house incense burner, a perfect little piece of functional art for your home.
The final result of the frog incense holder, glazed and ready to use. The frog holds the incense stick while the leaf-shaped dish catches the ash.
Part one of the process: making the frog incense holders. I hand-sculpt each little frog and attach it to a leaf-imprinted tray.
The second part of the dragon backflow incense burner process, showing the piece after glazing. The metallic, iridescent glaze gives the dragon scales a magical, life-like quality.
A trio of hand-carved lanterns, ready for the kiln. I love creating different patterns like dragonflies and flowers that cast beautiful shadows when a candle is lit inside.
A finished wheel-thrown tea light holder with vertical carved slots. The turquoise glaze pools and breaks over the edges, creating a beautiful effect when lit from within.
A tea light holder I carved with a piercing technique. The process of carving is slow and meditative, and the result is a delicate, lace-like pattern.
This video shows how I hand-build a bird-themed tea light holder. The little bird on top adds a whimsical touch.
About Decorative Pottery & Sculptures
Each decorative piece, whether it is a hand-carved lantern or a backflow incense burner, follows a slow process of drying, firing, and glazing that takes several weeks. Because I work with high-fired stoneware, these are durable, water-tight, and designed to last a lifetime as functional art.
My studio process revolves around the seasons and the organic textures I find on walks near Uttarahalli. When creating sculptures like my house incense burners or geometric lanterns, I start with raw stoneware clay. The magic happens during the carving phase, where I use tools to etch patterns like dragonfly wings or cratered moon surfaces into the clay while it is leather-hard.
These pieces are not just static decor. My incense burners are designed for flow, allowing smoke to drift through chimneys or around sculpted animals. My lanterns are carved using piercing techniques so that when you place a candle inside, they cast intricate shadows across your walls.
Working with High-Fired Stoneware
- Durability: Everything is high-fired, making the pieces fully vitrified and water-tight if you choose to use them as vases.
- Glazing: I use layered, premium glazes like the ones that mimic monsoon skies or volcanic textures to add depth to each surface.
- Customization: If you have a specific vision, like a custom animal planter or a thematic lamp, we can discuss the design during a consultation, but please keep in mind the 3 to 5-week production timeline required for the drying and firing stages.
Ihalo Studio
I am the artist behind Ihalo Studio, where I spend my days shaping clay into stories inspired by the birds and leaves around me. My work is meditative, and I love creating pieces that feel like a little piece of peace in your home.
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