A couple of years ago, a vibrant illustrated poster on Instagram led Chinmayee Sridharan on a new career path. The poster — by ceramicist Vivitsa Kohli — had Chinmayee sign up for a month-long intensive residential course with Vivitaa.
Cut to September 2022 and Chinmayee launched The Kumbhkári Project, her label featuring a range of functional tableware. “After the course, I studied for a couple of weeks at ClayStation, Bengaluru, and Life&Art Academy in Chennai. I also signed up for some online workshops along the way. I then got myself a wheel and set up my home studio,” says the 25-year-old who crafts mugs, cups, bowls, plates and her bestseller, the davara tumbler sets. “I tend to lean on surface design more than forms to express my creativity with clay. I love retaining the natural colour of the clay bodies I use, by glazing them transparent,” adds the artist who also runs sustainable brand Urvi - The Project, where she designs cotton wallets, cardholders, passport holders and backpacks.
