Srinath University’s School of Fine Arts inspires students with Pottery and Ceramics workshop

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, May 16: Srinath University’s School of Fine Arts, organized a workshop focused on the art of Pottery and Ceramics. The workshop featured Arun Kumar, a renowned Ceramic Artist from Banaras Hindu University (BHU) as the resource person. Students were provided first hand opportunity to witness Kumar’s expertise as he demonstrated slab building and wheel throwing techniques in the university’s Pottery Department.

Addressing the students, Arun Kumar expressed his enthusiasm for the art of Slab Building Pottery that, according to him, was an exciting form of hand-building that involved joining walled pieces together using slip and score techniques. He explained that slabs can be created through various methods such as hand-rolling, using slab rollers, extruders or even, hand tossing. Additionally, Kumar highlighted wheel throwing as another popular pottery technique commonly used to create ceramic mugs, bowls and plates. Kumar added, “This method combines centrifugal force with the potter’s skillful control, allowing wet clay to be shaped and formed on the wheel. The shaped clay is then left to dry partially and then replaced on the wheel for final trimming.”

The Ceramic artist emphasized the versatility of ceramics pottery as a medium enabling students to learn a multitude of techniques including hand-sculpting and slab pot creation.

HOD of the School of Fine Arts, Nalin Chandra expressed his appreciation for the workshop, acknowledging the practical and hands-on knowledge it provided to the students. He remarked,  “Fine Arts is a subject that allows students to unleash their creativity and artistic skills.”

The workshop on Pottery and Ceramics conducted by Arun Kumar showcased unique techniques with his demonstrations. Using a discarded pot, he demonstrated brushing the surface with sodium silicate and then swiftly drying it with a blower. This process resulted in a crackle pattern on the pot, expanding its visual appeal.

Chandra lauded the ceramic artist while stating, “We are indeed grateful to you for offering our students an exclusive learning experience and enabling them to acquire diverse skills.” Following Kumar’s demonstration, the students eagerly put their newly acquired knowledge to practice under his guidance. The School of Fine Arts was abuzz with activity as the students created several pots out of clay thereby infusing their newly learnt skills to their abilities. The workshop proved to be an enriching experience, fueling the students’ passion for the art of pottery and ceramics.