Fake It To Make IT: The Hands That Play With Clay To Make Food

Shilpa Mitha makes fake food for living. Sumptuous meals are at her fingertip, which even five-star chefs can’t dream of making. Her skillful hands can mold clay into an array of culinary dishes from all around the world. She may not be willing to share her secret recipe of clay making but she opened up to Ritz about her unique creative pursuit.

- Abby

What prompted you to start making clay food?

I finished my engineering and had started to work somewhere. I started learning the basics of clay art on the side. At one point, I decided to completely focus on my hobby as a full-time profession, and it ended up becoming the source of my bread and butter.

When did you start getting media attention?

In 2016, people started recognising my work via social media, some leading news channels and newspapers interviewed me, and then orders started pouring in, which meant that I could cover my costs as well as make profit.

Were you very creative as a child?

No, I was not creative at all. I was a very studious kid, but I guess that creativity must have been inside me all the time. People tend to make real career choices only in their 30’s, until then whatever they do is to please their parents and to cope up with peer pressure. I found my calling after turning 30.

Do you travel a lot to get inspired for new ideas for your clay food?