I could describe it as a synergy of many art forms. I graduated from the Folk Music Department of Latvian Academy of Music as a violinist. Then gained a master’s in Cultural Theory too. But I learnt my craft from a master of ceramics - my husband. I would say that the best teacher are the experiences we have.

When I first saw the dishes of black ceramics, I was fascinated right away. I became very interested and started to actively travel to workshops, buy the pottery, until I had a big collection. It turned out that most of the dishes were made by Staņislavs Viļums. With time, we met and got married.

When I moved to the countryside, my previous professional experiences had no use there. I visited the workshop to observe the process of pottery making. It was like a meditation for me. I realised what kind of ceramics I wanted in our house, and started to make the pottery myself.

For centuries Latgale has been known for its traditions as a region where there are many potters. As there was no suitable land for agriculture, but a heavy, loamy soil, it was perfect for making ceramics. That’s how the craft of the potter found its place here.