We were lucky to catch up with Livija Milinaviciute recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Livija thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
With ceramics, you have to practice – lots of practice. There is no substitute for spending time with the craft. My first experience with clay was in a beginners’ wheel class at Penguin Foot Studio in Chicago, IL. It was a really fun experience. The instructor warned me, “to get good at it, you need to come as often as you can to practice between the classes”. But I was enjoying a new blossoming relationship with my now husband, exploring the city, and feeling too lazy to take the bus during a windy, cold Winter. So my first little pots remained crooked and heavy (even though my friends appreciated them). Then we packed and moved into our RV and travelled the States for 2 years so clay was put away as, “awe it was such a nice experience”. In 2018 we moved to Charlotte, NC where I took another class at ClayWorks and really devoted my time to the art – then my clay obsession started. I spent endless hours at the studio and practicing. I would come in early in the morning and leave late in the evening. The trajectory of a learning curve is extremely high at the beginning, then it kind of slows down until you start pushing yourself further and further. So I took endless classes, and tried many different techniques. This medium does not forgive mistakes and demands a lot of energy and patience. So yes, putting in time is the fastest way to speed up the learning process. My biggest obstacles were the usual – life, and my own self-discipline.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
I am new to the clay world so sometimes if feels like I am trying to catch up to the artists working with this medium for 10+ years. When you start working with clay, teachers always warn you about porcelain and how hard it is to work with. Well, that is what I chose to narrow my focus on at this moment. I was drawn to its translucent properties. I guess there is a group of us worldwide – light chasers of some sort – who are fascinated by how porcelain glows when the light rays hit the surface, the shadows it creates, and that etherial haze and purity of color. It demands precision, timing and skill. I love carving porcelain. The feel of a blade sliding through the almost “gummy” body along with the sound it makes are almost addictive. When I can push the clay to the thinnest, lightest form possible, then I am the happiest person in the world. My work right now is mostly luminaries and some functional pieces with freehanded floral motifs or repetitive patterns. I also spend an enormous amount of time piercing and burnishing the pieces for that marble feel and bone-like look. I want people to know that each piece was made with lots of love and care, held in my hands for hours in quiet solitude under a lightbulb making sure it is translucent and that every curve and flower tells a story.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I am an immigrant who came to the US in 2001 with only $150.00 in my pocket. I was only 21 and had no family, no adult guidance, and no financial support from anyone. I am thankful to my parents for raising me to be an honest and hardworking person, the instilled morals kept me from getting lost in drugs, alcohol or criminal activities, but also it was very hard to be a young naive artist and a woman in a completely different culture and economic system. I think the curiosity, sense of humor, eagerness to learn keeps me going and striving to achieve my dream.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/livijaceramics?ref=profile_header
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livijaceramics/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/LiviMili/
Image Credits
all photos taken by me , livija milinaviciute