From Clay to Kiln: The Art of Slow Pottery
Every piece here starts as a simple, humble lump of clay. See the journey from a wet, spinning wheel to the final, fired form—a slow, messy, and beautiful process.
A close-up of my hands shaping the inside of a cylinder on the wheel. This is where you feel the clay and guide it upwards, creating the basic form.
The steady and focused process of shaping a cylinder on the pottery wheel. With each pull, the walls become thinner and taller, centering the clay and my mind.
A montage of hands working with clay. It shows the messy, tactile process of throwing on the wheel and trimming the base of a pot to give it a finished foot.
Watch a simple lump of terracotta clay being transformed into a bowl on the wheel. The process is quick and fluid, a skill that takes years of practice to master.
The delicate art of carving. Here, I am hand-carving traditional Chinese cloud motifs onto a small porcelain cup before it is fired. This technique requires a steady hand and immense patience.
Creating texture by scooping and carving into a solid block of clay. This technique creates deep grooves and fine lines, which will catch the glaze in interesting ways.
I often make my own stamps to sign my work or add decorative patterns. This video shows how I press a handmade clay stamp into a soft slab of clay to create a unique impression.
A look at different glazing techniques. I use spray guns for an even coat on these bowls, but also hand-brushing for more painterly effects. The last shot shows hundreds of bowls, glazed and ready for the kiln.
Glazing day in the studio. A student is carefully washing bisque-fired pots to prepare them for glazing. This ensures the glaze adheres properly for a smooth, even finish.
A student is dipping small bowls into a bucket of glaze. This is a quick and effective way to get a consistent coating on a large batch of pottery.
About From Clay to Kiln: The Process
Everything you see here started as a simple, humble lump of clay. I don't believe in rushing the process because, for me, 'Artist ka matlab hai galti karna' (being an artist means making mistakes). Whether it's the centering of a cylinder on the wheel or the delicate balance of a Raku firing, every stage is part of a slow, tactile conversation between my hands and the earth.
When you step into my studio in Jona Pur, you won't find perfectly identical pieces. You will find things that have been born through trial and error. The process starts at the wheel, where I centre the clay—this is where focus meets force. It is a dance of light and clay, as I like to say.
The Stages of the Work
- Wheel Throwing: This is where the initial form is born. It is quick, fluid, and demands complete presence.
- Hand-Building & Carving: Once the piece has dried to a leather-hard state, I often add details. This might involve carving traditional motifs or using handmade stamps to press patterns into the soft surface.
- Glazing: This is where chemistry meets art. I use a mix of techniques—spray guns for even coats or hand-brushing for a more painterly, expressive look.
- Firing: The kiln is the final judge. Whether it is a standard stoneware firing or the unpredictable magic of Raku, this is where the fire does its own thing. Sometimes the glaze runs, sometimes the shape warps—bas wohi toh maza hai (that's the fun part).
I believe art is about taking challenges. If you are curious about how we turn mud into something that holds your morning coffee or sits on your mantle as a statement, we can explore that together. My workshops are not just about technique; they are about letting go of that fear of making a mistake. Come by, put your hands in the clay, and see what you can shape.
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