Colva-based artist Shruti Borkar is gaining recognition for her studio, Pour and Bloom, known for its ocean-themed resin artworks. NT BUZZ shares her creative journey
KALYANI JHA | NT BUZZ
For Shruti Borkar, creativity was always more than just a hobby—it was an escape, a passion, and eventually, a career. Once a banker, she took a leap of faith to follow her artistic instincts, turning her love for crafting into Pour and Bloom Studio, a brand known for its ocean-themed resin art.
She explored various creative activities, but resin art struck a deeper chord with her. In December 2023, she took a sabbatical from her job and invested her time in expressing herself through various workshops she attended and learned from. “I made a coffee table, a lamp, and started improving my resin art skills by watching online videos and learning different techniques. At that time, I was just doing it for fun, all on my own,” she recalls.
At a party, she learned about an upcoming event in South Goa in November, which sparked the idea of monetising her work. She decided to test the waters at Brezelfest 2024.
“I found out about Brezelfest happening in November and realised I needed to book a stall. I made the booking in late August, but at that point, I didn’t have enough pieces ready,” shares the artist. After securing her stall, she finalised her brand name, designed a logo, and created fresh pieces for the market.
As she prepared for Brezelfest, she discovered her signature style—ocean-themed resin art, which she calls the Benaulim range. “I use real shells, flowers, and leaves collected from the beach in my pieces. It reflects my deep connection and love for the sea,” she says.
She started with small items but now crafts a variety of home décor, including coasters, cheese platters, wall clocks, trinket trays, jewellery, and keychains. Among her products, wall clocks are her bestsellers.
An ailurophile (a cat lover), she initially wanted to name her studio Two Cats Lovers, as she is a proud parent to two cats. “I spent a lot of time thinking about a name for my brand. Eventually, I settled on Pour and Bloom Studio because in resin art, you mix, pour, and then watch as the patterns bloom across the surface,” she explains.
At first, she was hesitant about showcasing her work at the festival, unsure of how people would respond. She shares, “I wondered, ‘Who will buy these?’ Many people in the crafting community are still unfamiliar with resin, and it’s an expensive material. Also, I wasn’t sure how locals would react to the ocean theme—maybe only tourists would be interested. But I was surprised by the overwhelming response.”
Apart from resin art, she has also enjoyed baking for a small circle of customers through word of mouth. She says, “Creating things by hand has always appealed to me, and there’s so much more I want to do. In the future, I want to make larger pieces of furniture and artwork. I also hope to include woodworking with resin and create something truly unique.”
