Lilia Venier
Ceramics
A Biographical Profile
I started to work with clay nine years ago, and it has been the most wonderful experience in my life. I was born and grew up in Mexico, and have been living in the United States for twelve years. I started to study English, and after two years I finished my certificate in International Business at Glendale College, in California. This was related to the degree I earned in Mexico which is Business Administration. During the summer of 1998, I took a design class, just to check if I had any talent in this area. The class was exciting, and I enjoyed it tremendously. Seeing this, my teacher encouraged me to take more art classes.
I do not remember how I enrolled in ceramics, but it was the best choice at that time. Ceramics has given me the opportunity to express my ideas and creativity in a different way. I create pieces that have a variety of colors, textures, interesting shapes and carvings which I especially enjoy. Each piece is different, unique, has its own personality and cries out to be touched. Different techniques are used such as raku, low firing (terracotta), stoneware and porcelain. To focus on just one technique would be boring. All of my work gives me different levels of satisfaction and excitement. Most of my work comes from my imagination, though I do check ceramics books or magazines on how to construct an idea. However, I do not have anyone or anything special that inspires my work. Nevertheless, I have to admit that any ceramic picture feeds my creativity and inspires my sense for pottery.
I started to learn about pottery as a hobby, yet today it is the way I express myself to the world. I thank God for this ability, my husband for being supportive and at my side all the time, my family who shares every moment, and my teachers from Glendale College for sharing their knowledge with me.