Today we’d like to introduce you to Vera Smiley.
Vera, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It has been a long journey before I came to open my ceramic sculpture studio here in Austin. I grew up in the Soviet Union before it collapsed. The realization that I was merely a small piece of a greater system sparked a strong desire in me to be different and stand out from the social norms of a conservative society. From an early age, I turned to art as means of creating my own reality and world where I could be myself and not belong to a political or social system or be limited by anything. Although I am Russian by birth, I grew up in Kazakhstan, which became a separate country after the fall of the USSR. I graduated with a BS in art education from Kazakh Pedagogical University in the early nineties. I’ve had the privilege of traveling around the world and exploring unique cultures. Later I lived in South America as a citizen of the United States.
And now I am very happy to call Austin, TX home.
The purpose of my art has changed over the years. I no longer want to surprise people or prove my eccentricity. I want to find something that unites. I devote myself to what I call “Connection Beyond Words,” the universal language of human emotion through sculpture, clay prints, time, and place.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Life itself is a challenge and I have yet to meet a person with no struggles in their life. I lost my father at five years old, he took his own life because the political system broke him. Needless to say, it was like like a bolt from the blue. And for my mom, my older sister, and me it felt like our house lost its roof. My mom was a civil engineer and she had to work long hours to provide a good life for us. She was my early inspiration and taught us to be strong and independent. It was then that I learned if you struggle to deal with your challenges, you simply have to learn to love them. And I do! Challenges are always exciting. Life would be boring without them. Dealing with challenges leads us towards progress in our lives.
Growing up without my loving father made me feel like I am not complete. All my cousins and friends had loving fathers. It made me feel like I didn’t deserve mine dad because I wasn’t good enough. It created big insecurity in me. Since my early childhood I always struggled to be better than I am. My art became my escape from reality, the place where I could be myself. And finally, through appreciation of my artwork by others, I learned that being myself is good enough. It is perfect to be imperfect.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve had a creative spirit since I remember myself as a person. As an art student at a university, I had to try all different techniques like drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramic, batik, wood carving even sewing so we could teach. However, after getting a degree, I didn’t feel like I was ready to teach. I wanted to be an independent artist, therefore I’ve spent several years painting and making batik, selling my artworks, after which I transitioned to computer creative technology and worked as a graphic designer. Finally, I was happy to arrive at the stage in my life when I could ask myself “WHAT” do I like to do the most with my art? It didn’t take me long to answer. I love to study people. I love how great artists express not only the shape of the figure but even beyond…the sole. When I was traveling also learned that all the people in the world are the same. Cultures and traditions make us different, but we all pursue the same happiness. With my art I love to inspire people, help them to see the beauty around them, the uniqueness and simplicity of every moment. My sculptures are about those moments in our lives that make us humans. I mostly sculpt female bodies because as a woman, I have a better understanding of the female body language.
It took me longer to find my next answer was “HOW” do I want to represent the people in my art.
I love the movement of line in multi-dimensional space, compared to flat lines on canvas or paper. My other favorite element is a shape, which I call a “plan”. And the third element is color. I love the impressionist palette. To be able to use all those three elements I love, I had to arrive at the sculpture as my favorite media.
I sculpt clay using a sculpting knife and metal rib to find the perfect collaboration between three elements: Planes, Lines, and Color to present the complexity of life. My philosophy is Planes are our paradigms (I see it as our map to find our way), Lines are our direction of movements and Color is our reaction to the world. It all defines us in so many ways and shapes us both physically and emotionally.
What sets my art apart from others is my personality, every artist will agree with me. I try to leave a part of myself in every sculpture I create.
I believe that integrity always attracts people, especially in art. The real art wasn’t made for money or for the purpose to please people. Whatever I create, I do it with love, desire, and an open mind.
I am also blessed that my husband, my son, and my sister always support me. It would be much more difficult to be successful in the art business without their support.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I believe our childhoods shape the people and personalities we are today. Some early age paradigms transform later in life; some stay engraved in us forever. In general, I have had a happy childhood. Growing up, my friends and I had a lot of time for ourselves because our parents had to work. Every single adult in USSR had to have a job and leave home for business hours. It was an obligation back then. Therefore our parents taught us independence and self-reliance from a very young age. I remember myself being stubborn; outside of house chores, no one could make me do something if it didn’t excite me. Since I was little, I always loved to create unique things. My mother respected that and always supported my creative needs, giving me craft material, providing tools, and her advice. I appreciate it a lot! I remember I made my first dress imaging that I am a famous clothing designer at eight years old. My mother gave me a piece of fabric and freedom. I managed to cut two holes for my hands in it, I wrapped my “dress” around my body, fixed it with a belt, and went shopping with my mom. I remember getting a lot of compliments for my dress from our neighbors. I remember how proud I was. I also remember my failure with making sandals for myself. It took me a few days to cut styrofoam for the platforms. I used long shoelaces to tie it around my feet imagining that I am a Greek goddess…. I couldn’t make a few steps in my sandals, both platforms broke apart in the middle… this project was a failure, but creative excitement from it stayed forever in me!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@artsvera.com
- Website: artsvera.com
- Instagram: @smileyvera
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/verasmileyart
