In conversation with Sreeja Srinivasan, Founder of Sree Studio

Sreeja & The Art of Storytelling in Clay

The Pivot (Media vs. Maker)

1. Reflecting on the Pace:
You transitioned from the high-velocity environment of the media industry to the slow, patience-demanding world of pottery. Do you feel your background in media subconsciously influences how you tell stories through your ceramics today?
Answer:
Absolutely—my background in media deeply influences how I approach my work, even if subconsciously. Through years of working with brands and people, I learned one core truth: people connect most strongly with emotions and stories. Narratives have the power to bring people together and leave a lasting impact.
On a personal level, I’ve always been someone who cherishes memories deeply—through photographs, keepsakes, or meaningful objects. That instinct naturally found its way into my practice with clay. I realised that if there could be a medium through which people could treasure memories while using them in their everyday lives, it would create a deeper connection.
Media taught me how stories move people; pottery gave me a tactile way to tell those stories. Through my work, I try to translate emotions and memories into objects that are not just functional, but personal—things people can live with, hold close, and treasure over time.

2. The “Pause” Strategy:
Many professionals fear a gap in their resume, yet your 5-year break was the incubator for your new career. How did that period of “quiet intensity” equip you with the mental resilience needed to run a business during a pandemic?
Answer:
I had taken a break from my media profession to fully enjoy motherhood and be present with my kids. During those years, I was completely focused on them and never really thought about my career or my professional ambitions.
It was during the pandemic, however, that I began to realise there were so many things I wanted to try but hadn’t yet explored. Pottery was one of those things I had always wanted to try—something I had put on a personal “to-do” list. The stillness of the lockdown and the sudden pause in everyday life made me reflect on what truly mattered.
I started pottery without any intention of turning it into a career. But the more I worked with clay, the more natural it felt—as if it had always been waiting for me. Looking back, it feels less like a conscious choice and more like a path that gently revealed itself. That period of pause, focus on family, and later exploration during the pandemic became the foundation for everything that followed.

The Brand & The Audience

3. Organic Marketing:
Your growth on Instagram wasn’t born from a calculated strategy but from genuine sharing. At what point did you realize your “personal diary” of pottery was actually building a loyal consumer brand?
Answer:
There was no single defining moment—it unfolded very naturally. I was sharing my work on my personal Instagram account simply because I wanted to, almost like leaving a record of my journey with clay. There was no intention to sell or be noticed beyond my circle.
Slowly, messages began coming in—first from friends, then acquaintances, and eventually from people I hadn’t met before. They weren’t asking for a product—they were asking if I could create something that carried the same feeling or emotion.
The real shift came when I realised people valued the work instinctively. They weren’t just appreciating the object—they were connecting with it. That quiet, emotional connection slowly became the foundation of a loyal audience and brand.

4. The Narrative USP:
In a market flooded with mass-produced ceramics, you differentiate through “narrative.” Can you walk us through the process of translating an abstract emotion or memory into a tangible texture or glaze?
Answer:
My process always begins with emotion, not form. I’m deeply nostalgic by nature—I hold on to memories from childhood, the 90s, old songs, stories, and moments that shape who we are. I start by sitting with that feeling and asking how it can live inside an object.
Once the emotion or story is clear, I decide what it wants to become—a mug, a plate, a bowl, or even a wall piece. From there, I build layers that people emotionally recognise. For example, my Harry Potter mugs resonate across generations because they carry familiar symbols, quotes, and details that fans instantly connect with—it feels personal and a little magical.
Only after the story is set do I think about shape, colour, and glaze. Each piece then goes through two firings—first at around 950°C, and a second at 1220°C—which is when the glaze transforms and the piece fully becomes ceramic. Every step is intentional, so the final object feels less like a product and more like a memory you can hold and live with.

The Business of Art (Scaling Up)

5. Space & Structure:
Moving from a balcony kiln to a dedicated studio is a major leap. What were the biggest operational challenges you faced when formalizing Sree Studio, and how do you balance the freedom of an artist with the structure required of an entrepreneur?
Answer:
The biggest challenge was learning to separate creation from logistics. Suddenly, I had to think about inventory, schedules and scalability—things that don’t come naturally to an artist. At first, it felt overwhelming, like two very different worlds colliding—the quiet, intuitive flow of making and the structured, procedural side of running a studio.
Running a studio means thinking about everything beyond making: selling products, posting on Instagram and the website, photographing pieces, packing them carefully, and keeping track of every order until it reaches the customer. I’ve even had to track the smallest things—clay,glazes, firing schedules to minute things like tapes,cardboard boxes etc. On top of that, people coming for workshops and classes require careful scheduling and attention, so I manage both my creative work and the coordination with my students. These aren’t part of the passion itself, but they’re now part of my profession.
To manage everything, I plan and schedule my work well in advance. I create calendars for the months ahead, organise pre-orders, and allow a time frame of three to four weeks for delivery. Pottery takes time, and creativity cannot be rushed, and fortunately, my clients understand that. This planning lets me balance making art, running the studio, and teaching workshops, while ensuring every piece gets the attention it deserves.

6. Community Building:
You mentioned that people didn’t just want to buy, they wanted to learn. How has teaching workshops changed your own relationship with the craft?
Answer:
Teaching workshops has been a profound experience because it shows me how much I’ve grown as a person. Pottery truly tests patience, and when students struggle—to center the clay, wedge it, or bring it to shape—I’m reminded of how many times I’ve practiced and redone my own work. That patience has become natural, and I carry it into every class.
I make sure my students understand that it’s a process and that learning takes time. I never rush the classes, and I explain not just the techniques but also the reasoning behind them—the “why” of what they’re doing and the materials they’re using. My goal is to make learning pottery both in-depth and engaging, and from the feedback I’ve received, students really appreciate that approach. Teaching has deepened my own respect for the craft and made me more present and intentional in my work.

Future & Philosophy

7. Trusting the Process:
You operate without “rigid plans.” In the corporate world, this is often seen as a risk. How has this philosophy of “curiosity over strategy” served you better than a traditional business plan?
Answer:
Curiosity keeps the work alive. A rigid plan can sometimes close you off to organic growth and unexpected possibilities. By staying curious, I’ve allowed Sree Studio to evolve naturally—responding to people, moments, and intuition rather than projections. This approach may seem risky, but it’s also deeply sustainable because it’s rooted in honesty. When your work grows from genuine exploration, it remains relevant and resilient.

8. The Next Chapter:
As Sree Studio continues to evolve, are there new mediums or storytelling formats you are looking to explore next?
Answer:
Yes! We have planned several exciting collaborations and projects for the coming year, and the planning and work for them have already begun. I’ll be experimenting with new forms, ideas, and creative directions, and as the days go by, I’ll be sharing updates on my Instagram page and website so people can follow along. I’m really excited to bring fresh creativity to life in different forms and mediums, and I can’t wait to share these experiences, pieces, and stories with everyone.