Centre Punch Studio

Simonie Rego is a talented pottery artist based in Arossim, South Goa, whose passion for pottery was ignited during her college days. Born and raised in Arossim-Cansaulim, Simonie completed her primary education at St. Thomas High School in Cansaulim and her secondary education at Carmel College for Women in Nuvem. She pursued her Bachelor's in Fine Arts at the Goa College of Art, Altinho, and later obtained a diploma in interior design from JD Institute of Fashion Technology in Panjim.

After completing her higher education, Simonie Rego took a small step into the world of wall murals and art classes. However, her true calling for pottery remained dormant until a lack of potters in South Goa inspired her to pursue it. Her journey into the world of pottery was an unconventional one, and her mentor was a jack-of-all-trades who taught her skills such as metal beating and stained glass. Simonie discovered her love for pottery amidst this array of skills, and she decided to pursue it full-time.

Simonie Rego's studio is located right beside her residence in Arossim, South Goa. She started operating her studio in November 2022, and it houses a traditional wood fire kiln and an electric kiln. The studio is a small but vibrant space with an abundance of plants and a variety of pottery works.

Her preferred medium is terracotta, and her designs are characterised by delicate cutwork and intricate patterns.

Nature is Simonie's primary source of inspiration, and she takes impressions of leaves from her garden to incorporate into her designs. Simonie believes in exploring all possibilities but only after learning the basics properly. Her teaching philosophy centres around discipline, consistency, and practice. Currently, she conducts weekend hand-built pottery workshops where she teaches different techniques, and students get creative with their own designs.

Firing pottery is a challenging process, and Simonie Rego uses both the wood fire kiln and electric kiln to fire her pottery. The electric kiln gives a consistent colour, while the wood fire kiln produces varying colours from one piece to another. Sometimes, even after spending days working on a single piece, it may break during the firing process. However, Simonie takes these challenges in stride and continues to experiment and create.

Simonie Rego's passion for pottery and her dedication to the art form have made her a wellknown pottery artist in South Goa. Her love for nature, intricate patterns, and textures are visible in every piece she creates. People can find out more about Simonie Rego's work on her Facebook page, "Simonie Rego," and her Instagram page, "centre_punch_studio." And for those who want to experience her work up close, Simonie Rego's studio is always open to visitors.

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Simonie Rego's future plans for her pottery studio and classes involve creating more works and conducting more workshops. Her advice for those who are interested in starting with pottery is to be consistent, take breaks when required, experiment and explore, and not get demotivated when things don't go as planned.