The first thing to learn in any form of art is ‘Patience’ and Pottery is no exception to it. Pottery rather demands much higher levels of patience right from design conceptualization till the fired article finally comes out of the kiln. This form of art is quite complex and as a potter one has to be clear on what is the final outcome expected. There are many levels and processes to be followed, but there are two key aspects that need to be kept in mind. One is the design thinking which deals with the fact that how the final product would look and another is the technical understanding. Technical understanding is the behavior of raw material to various processes like mix of other ingredients in the clay and their impact on the product, planning the surface finish, timing and thickness of glaze or even the right temperature & duration of firing. The combination of these elements makes it a complex art to learn. The studio promises a holistic training on all these facets of pottery and has a clear edge due to this. The training techniques and workshops give hands on experience to the aspiring potters and has become a known name among the art and pottery enthusiasts.

Let’s know more about the fame behind the studio in conversation with Ritu Jadham– Founder - Mud Effects Pottery Studio.

Tell Us Major Facets About Your Entrepreneurial Journey And Your Expertise As A Potter.
I was working with clay & fine arts from as early as 2005 primarily to keep myself engaged in what I like to do. The idea of formally launching a brand and opening an exclusive Pottery Studio was envisaged in the year 2010 when I decided to give a professional face to my art and that's when Mud Effects was born as a registered Brand under the Indian Trademark Registry, Govt of India. Prior to this I was more inclined towards showcasing my creations through various platforms like exhibitions, corporate workshops and social media. This went on for few years until I was sure that having a proper setup is the way to unleash next level of creativity and spread the art to many others. That's how the Studio came into existence. It is indeed a long journey and is still continuing.

When it comes to pottery expertise & craftsmanship, I feel it not only reflects in the final product but also at each stage that is involved. The finished product is outcome of various smaller stages of expertises. In a nutshell, expertise at each level is important. Keeping that as a thumb rule, at Mud Effects we teach multiple facets & processes involved in pottery making. We also believe that every aspiring potter has his own niche of skills & it naturally comes out gradually. We help them nurture this natural inclination and that's how every piece created by a each potter becomes unique. We also cover technical aspects of the raw material and their behavior and reaction to various techniques. This gives a holistic understanding to a potter and triggers design thinking within them - which is very important. Most of our customers & reviews appreciate this way of training. For us, it reinstates the fact that we are doing what's right for a person to learn. In each potter we closely observe these indications of natural inclination & accordingly mold the training in that direction.

And that’s where our expertise lies. It is not just the coaching but giving a direction to them for developing their individual expertise and niche of art.

Take Us Through The Initial Days And Major Challenges Faced By Mud Effects.
Though, I was aware that for any professional setup one has to face multiple challenges. The biggest out of them is the cost. Like any new startup we too faced teething issues in various forms. Pottery Studio is a unique setup and there really aren’t many resources, consultation or support available for people who want to open a pottery studio. I was all on my own right from thinking till execution. This took away a lot of productive time that I would rather have spent on my art.

“Through the journey of learning an art, the first lesson to be learnt has to be patience. If not, what you learn will not be art”

The only positive for me was “acceptance” of my work by the customers. I has observed this over many years that my art is being loved by many. This gave a lot of confidence to invest and put all the savings in opening my own Pottery Studio. The second challenge was to find an appropriate place which again was a very unique requirement. What was available in market were shops, offices and co-working spaces. My requirement was very different from all these as I wanted an open, airy, vibrant and sunny setup which is apt for creative work of pottery. It took 2 years for me to find the right space at the optimum cost. There were many other challenges which are common to other startups too. Though they were pretty small as compared to the two I mentioned.

What Are The Various Pottery Workshops That Mud Effects Pottery Studio Specializes In?
In terms of skills we specialize in Ceramic & Glazed Pottery, Stoneware, Wheel Pottery, Terracotta Sculptures, Interior Décor articles, kitchenware & dinner sets. To learn these, we have short term as well as long duration workshops for all age groups. For people who are really serious about pursuing a career in Pottery there are advanced workshops which are very detailed. Apart from this there are workshops for people who just want to try their hands on pottery or just spend a day off to keep the stress away. Workshops duration ranges from a single day to many weeks.

How Do You Keep Yourself Aligned With The Various Trends And Techniques Developing In The Industry?
I am connected with lot of potters in India and abroad. Apart from India, many of my students hail from the US, Germany, Denmark and other European countries.

This gives a good flavor of what is happening across the world in the area of art and pottery. People always keep in touch. Sometimes a quick chat with previous students, potters and even raw material suppliers gives a good idea on the trends.

Whenever I get time, I also browse and enhance my knowledge on what’s there in vogue.

What Would Your Words Of Advice Be To Aspiring Designers And Potters?
I have simple 4 pointer advice.

1. Give justified time to your art. It demands a lot of time and patience. So, keep up with the practice.

2. You & your techniques are unique. Nurture them. Get inspired from others but do not copy. Do not compete. Make your own space with uniqueness and your fans will follow you!

3. Focus on basics. Time spent on basics is actually not spent but saved.

4. Don’t jump the guns. Try your hands on the next level after you have thoroughly learnt the previous one. Learning pottery is a stage wise affair. Follow the right sequence.

Ritu Jadham, Founder, Mud Effects Pottery Studio
Ritu is a leading Potter and Ceramic artist based in the culturally-rich city of Bangalore. She is a known name among the Potter fraternity for the differentiated work she does and for her unique techniques of Pottery making. She has been running her Pottery Studio successfully for past many years and it is one of the highest rated studios in Bangalore. She is a avid traveler and gets her inspiration from everything that she sees around. For her art is boundless & should not be restricted to beautiful things alone. Her passion, simplicity and willingness to spread the art of pottery makes Mud Effects Pottery Studio the first choice among the aspiring potters.