Handcrafted Ceramic Artisan Bowl from India, "Leafy Dance"

"I was born in 1989 in Tamil Nadu in Southern India. Those who know me well describe me as creative and hardworking.

"A few years ago, I came across an article on pottery and, on a whim, I decided to take lessons. The ability to touch, feel and use clay in one's everyday life attracted me the most. I learned the skill with another potter who taught me for two and a half years. I attended full-day sessions, four to five days a week. I learned everything under her tutelage including a six-month course on glazing.

"Setting up a studio on my own has thrown up all kinds of challenges at every step. From sourcing materials, purchasing tools and bringing in a kiln from abroad to being able to successfully create ceramics that are well-appreciated — this has all brought me quite a few difficult moments. However, I have been able to overcome them with the support of my parents and a close circle of friends.

"No matter how labor-intensive or time-consuming the work is, I go all the way until the end to achieve results.

"Handmade pottery is a tedious task. A lot of hard work and challenges go into creating a single piece. I work with locally-sourced grey stoneware clay that fires to an off-white color and porcelain imported from China. I also source materials for glazing and create my own recipes and colors in my workshop.

"I love clay and the feeling it invokes in me. It's exciting to use something from the earth as opposed to something like plastic or glass. The desire to share this emotion with others inspires me to create designs that will people to switch to using studio pottery in their homes and kitchens.

"A very important aspect of our local community involves connecting with each other and developing strong relationships. I share a love for this art with shoppers and people I have come to know and connect with since starting on my own. This is heartwarming. I hope I'll be able to introduce and share the joy that clay and handmade pottery bring to my life with as many people as possible. I would love to reach out to new markets."