How did you start pottery? And how long have you been doing it?
It all started three years ago in Saint Petersburg. I was kind of obsessed with the idea of pottery but never took the plunge—until my coworkers (angels!) surprised me with a pottery course. Honestly, the moment my hands touched clay, I was hooked.
Then life did its thing and brought me to sunny Cyprus. I found a local studio called Erencia Creative and spent hours there just soaking it all in. Later, I discovered online lessons with Evgenii Pokidaeff, and that’s when things really clicked. Now I go to Emira Pottery in Larnaca to fire my pieces—and I still learn something new every time I’m there.
Where do you do pottery now?
So, picture this: a little corner in my backyard with a wheel, a table, and all my tools. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s my space, and I love it. I'm still dreaming of getting my own kiln, but for now, I sneak in sessions whenever I can around my full-time job. Weekends are basically sacred pottery time.
How would you describe your pottery style?
Oof, this is a tricky one! I think my style is a bit playful but thoughtful at the same time. Like, I love imperfections—they make things feel alive. My pieces often have this childlike charm, but there’s usually a deeper message tucked in there somewhere.
I get inspired by nature, color, everyday weirdness—and yep, by The Great Pottery Throw Down itself. I want my pieces to feel honest and a little magical.
Why do you love ceramics?
What’s not to love?! You literally take mud and turn it into something beautiful and useful. It feels like magic. Plus, the process is just so grounding. Hands in clay, no phone, no rush—just being present and creating something from scratch. It’s pure joy.
What’s your process like?
I usually start with a sketch. I’ve got a background in art, so drawing helps me get my ideas out first. Then I jump on the wheel and let the clay guide me—it never turns out exactly how I imagined, but that’s part of the fun.
Once the piece is bisque-fired, I go wild with underglazes. That’s honestly my favorite part. It feels like I’m painting little stories onto my pots.
Which pieces are you most proud of?
Can I pick two? One is a piece I call the Volumetric Flask—it’s this smooth, alchemy-inspired shape that just feels elegant and a little mysterious. The other is Merperson, which I painted super freely—it’s colorful, quirky, and just makes me happy every time I look at it. Both of them feel like little snapshots of my pottery journey.
Do you have other hobbies?
Yep! I’m also really into swimming and freediving. Living in Cyprus makes that super easy—the sea here is amazing. I can dive 20 meters deep and hold my breath for about three minutes (crazy, right?). Freediving gives me the same kind of peace that pottery does. It’s quiet, focused, and kind of meditative. Totally my thing.
So… will I apply next year?
Honestly? I just might! Writing all this out has made me even more excited about the idea. If you’re thinking of applying too, let’s do it together. We’ll fire pots and live our best ceramic lives on national TV.
Until then—happy potting! 💛
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