Finland, 2023 (Apprenticeship course)

“My course with Laima was something that changed my future as a human and my path in pottery forever.

Laima is really unique person in this kind of world we live nowadays. She is open and understanding, but really what stroke to me was her way of dealing group dynamic, how sacred it was to her to keep the group dynamic working even we had our up and downs, she was supporting us all the way trough.

And should not forget the importance of Oksana in studio - her presence shines the day and really we all felt like family in there together.

The most important lesson from Laima was her encouragement for me to go forward as an artist in ceramics, to believe in my talent and also to trust in myself. And that was exactly what I needed from this month.

I found life-long friends from different ages with same passion, sharing this magical one month together.

This course is so much more than just pottery learning. If you get the chance to learn from her - jump for the chance! “

USA, 2022 (Internship)

“I had the time of my life at Laima Ceramics! This was one of the greatest opportunities I’ve ever had the privilege to partake in. Laima’s studio is the perfect balance of beauty and functionality, which makes sense considering the beautiful pottery she makes.

Not only did I get to learn her methods, but also she championed me to find my own! I learned all kinds of things from production pottery to glaze theories, and everything in between! She fosters creativity and is generous in sharing her extensive knowledge. She encouraged myself and the others in the studio to read her glorious little library of books, which broadened my horizons even more! Laima empowers you to dig deep within yourself and pull inspiration from the world around you and utilize the creativity that you may not even know you had within you! Her home and family farm are absolutely stunning and are the perfect place to go if you want to dive into the world of ceramics and get renewed in the beauty that surrounds you!

I also have to shout out Oksana, who is Laima’ AMAZING assistant! The hard work and humor she brings to the studio is inspiring and lifts everyone around her.

Latvia quickly became one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited! (And I’ve visited A LOT) Now, I don’t know if it’s because of how beautiful it is as a country or if I just adored Laima, her family and Oksana… or if it was the potato pancakes! Maybe a combination of all of these!

All and all, I left a better potter and human, I owe that to Laima.”

UK, 2021 (Internship)

”My time spent with Laima in the depths of Latvian wintertime solidified and developed my understanding, appreciation, and absorption with clay. Not only was the experience deeply grounding in that it reinforced my previously held belief that I wanted to pursue ceramics through and beyond the treatment of it as purely a hobby, but it also expanded my ideas regarding what I myself may be capable of through utilisation of it as an endlessly practical, functional and beautiful material.

The experience in the studio I can truly say I found to be transformational. Not only for the exposure to so many different kinds of learning - from Laima’s way with horses, to the endurance of the cold, to dealing with breakages and disappointment in the studio - but also for the time it allowed me to think, to be quiet, to indulge in introspection and to consider where I wanted my priorities to lie post-apprenticeship. This allowance of time to think is a part of the role which I feel I personally may have somewhat undervalued in my past experiences of learning a new skill. Yet, having a space to breathe, to be alone, to think about one’s own motivation and passion, is a greatly underrated aspect of the apprenticeship that I am - three months post-leaving - still benefiting from.

I am endlessly grateful to Laima - as well as Kristine, Dzera, Minne and Dzeronimo - for providing a space to learn, grow, connect, and explore during such an unprecedented period of time. I very much hope to return to the studio to swim in that feeling of peaceful productivity once again.”

UK, 2020 (Artist Residency)

“The studio is a brilliant environment for working, equipped with everything you might need to explore new ideas. It invited creative thinking and productivity, but also peace, and wellness, with a constant stream of herbal tea to take you through the day.

It was a hugely immersive experience being in the middle of nowhere, having no distraction, and therefore the ability to truly relax. The studio backs on to Laima’s beautiful orchard and garden, where she grows her own veg and keeps her very sweet goats. It was a lovely space to take a walk and breaks throughout the day. There is also a little pond that I would swim in in the mornings, and after Sauna on Sundays, which were probably my favourite thing of all. 

I feel so happy to made a friend out of Laima, she was kind and open and generous with her time and experience. We had loads of lovely chats about the lessons of pottery, and her animals and life in general. She has carved out a true home for herself, one which I would love to go back one day!”

https://www.estherpalmerceramics.co.uk

UK, 2020 (Artist Residency)

“Experiencing Laima's world was a beautiful experience. The communal studio created a creative environment which was nurturing and explorative.

My understanding of clay and appreciation of slow making was enriched, as was my mindfulness as I slowed down in the calming landscape. Laima's world is full of passions and connections with nature, and I found these influences reflected in the making process and outcomes.

Her home was shared open heartedly, and her generosity and friendship will be remembered very fondly.”

UK, 2022 (Internship)

“I spent a few months at Laima’s studio in a truly immersive experience. The week days were focused on producing a range of designs, which exposed me to new techniques and skills as well as an understanding of the discipline of production pottery.

Laima would often work alongside, openly talking about her approach and philosophies and inviting observation of her making. She also gave some insights into the commercial aspects of running her own business and successful studio. I really appreciated Laima’s encouragement for exploration and willingness to share her experiences.

I had the freedom to work on my own pieces and creative practice. Having a beautiful and well-equipped studio at my doorstep, and engaging in a little community of avid creatives in the middle of the Latvian countryside - it was a unique microcosm in which I could indulge in my love for ceramics. I gained a lot from my time there and I’m very grateful that this opportunity came my way.”

USA, 2020 (Internship)

“Laima allowed me to explore materials without barriers and create without rules. Even when she doubted my loud and impractical ideas, she never scolded or discouraged them, but instead was always there to step in with support if you asked. Always concerned with giving us our own time to build our craft, Laima’s scheduled workday was laid back yet extremely productive.

She showed me a path forward in ceramics, one that upholds creative authenticity yet sustains as a viable lifetime career.

Having done ceramics for just a year by the time I came to my apprenticeship, I was so thrilled with all of the resources Laima’s studio had to offer.

I had never experienced or heard of space with such an expansive offering of different clays, generous workspaces, an extremely well-stocked glaze room, the ability to fire pieces in multiple environments, and true freedom to explore. A ceramicists dream.

I am still missing the farm and studio— dinners with the crew, movie nights and karaoke singalongs, always searching for a wandering cat, late nights trying and failing and trying again in the studio, and the sunlight streaming in.

Aside from ceramics, our time was filled with getting to know Latvia. It makes me laugh to think about strolling through the countryside and town with our wild pack of dog, cat, horse, and human. I was struck by the kindness of Laima’s family who involved the apprentices in countless family activities and supported me through many stressful times, becoming a lifeline while navigating Covid-19 so far from home. I will never forget my experience, Laima, the people and animals I loved, and I can say with confidence I will return one day with joy and excitement.”

ESTONIA, 2018 (Internship)

“I had this amazing opportunity to stay with Laima for 3 months in the wintertime. On the very first day, I got to see how friendly and open Latvians are with foreigners. I arrived on Sunday and straight away Laima hosted me with herbal tea and introduced me to her friends and the day ended in the sauna. Every Sunday is a sauna day!

Laima was very easy to communicate with. Every workday we went to the studio and she gave me some duties to do. At the same time, she was working on her own things next to me, so I had a chance to learn from her all the time. Laima was very trusting in me and let me work on the tasks however much time I needed. She gave me a lot of freedom to do my own ceramics also.

Laima has so much knowledge of ceramics and different techniques. But still, every day she had a lot of passion to learn more and more new ways how to express herself through ceramics. That was impressive and made me push myself even more, to continue my journey on this ceramic field.”

ITALY, 2019 (Internship)

“I'm very glad this opportunity came through. I started working with ceramic two years before going to Laima's, and I was already in love with it...but once there it was better than I could ever imagine: a fantastic studio equipped with all the things a ceramist can dream of and plenty of different clays, from local one to stoneware and also English porcelain!

And last but not least, Laima with her experience and her discreet presence was always creating a relaxing environment.

I gained a lot of experience and self-confidence in the making process: accomplishing every working day different tasks that Laima was giving to me and developing my skills working with new materials and trying new shapes.

I felt I always had the freedom to choose what to explore and how to develop my ideas. And whenever doubts came over, Laima was there with helpful comments.

The place is immerse in the countryside, I sometimes engaged myself with Laima's horses, with her dog Džera and with her garden too...or sometimes just listening to whistling birds or powerful tractors and relaxing your eyes contemplating nature.”

LATVIA / UK, 2019 (Internship)

"My internship was two beautiful months of learning, exploring and witnessing artistry and craftsmanship.

Starting with zero experience in ceramics, I feel I grew to have a solid foundation and understanding of it. Laima gave a relaxed and supportive environment to freely explore my own ideas and style while I also really enjoyed being involved in the process of helping her with the studio tasks and learning the different techniques and stages of the making process through the practice and observation.

Laima’s place is surrounded by countryside with calm and peaceful environment. so when in need of a break from the studio, there’s a lush garden to inspire from or the presence of Laima’s beautiful horses. I am ever so grateful for this experience and opportunity!”

2023, Poland (Artist Residency)

“The decision to undergo this ceramic residency at Laima Ceramics was informed by my love of the natural world, and being allowed the space to learn from Laima, the landscape and fellow apprentices, while having access to a fully operational studio was enjoyable, challenging and rewarding.

It was a pleasure to be surrounded and informed by Laima's similar ethos and appreciation of nature and to have shaped clay into objects that formed a series of land art installations around the Latvian countryside.

To be offered a space to be creative feels more important now more than ever.”

USA, 2019 (Internship)

“My time at Laima’s expanded my skills and the breadth of my practice extensively. Laima is incredibly generous with her vast and diverse knowledge of ceramics - from different bodies and compositions to glaze experiments to firing techniques and art/craft as activism philosophies - she was just the kind of enthusiastic master you hope to practice with, always up to let me try and wise beyond her years. In particular, I wanted to build out my wheel practice, and during my time as an apprentice she gave me opportunity, guidance, and support during the patience-building exercises.

During the days, I was involved in making her designs and got to run or participate in various inter-workings of her highly-functional and productive studio.

We also ate vegan, tried living zero waste, practiced yoga, and observed a Sunday sauna ritual throughout the summer and fall. As with all practices and collaborations, I learned so much about myself, my environment (including the Latvian countryside), and the wonderful artists, family, friends who passed through the studio during my time. It was a challenging, exploratory, deep learning experience for which I am extremely grateful.”

Germany, 2020 (Internship)

“Laima introduced me to the craft in a gently-paced and considerate way. She was always available for questions and I learned a lot, as would be the case anyway for a beginner; with her guidance however I had somebody to accompany me throughout different stages of my learning process and help me along through roadblocks without interrupting my own explorations.

I had a wonderful experience at the studio and Laima was very generous with her time.

Unfortunately I had to cut my stay short due to Corona, but Laima offered to store my unfinished works for me so I could finish them at a later time.

When things don’t go as planned it’s easy to reach a common understanding with Laima.

I am very grateful to her. She is a very dedicated, committed and detailed potter as well as wonderful teacher, mentor and just a lovely person.

Her demands in terms of work hours and your contribution to the studio as an intern are really fair.

If you dedicate your time and manage wisely, you will get a lot out of your stay at her studio.”

Ireland, 2023 (Apprenticeship course)

“The two months I was staying at Laima Ceramics was one of the best experiences I’ve had.

The sense of family is so welcoming and the learning opportunities to excel in your skill is brought out there.

One of the most peaceful and beautiful places I’ve been.”

“I attended Laima’s one-week pottery course in September 2023, and I can say without exaggeration that it was life-changing for me. I knew that pottery is quite a complicated thing in comparison to other hobbies because it is expensive, very time-consuming, and requires good skills and special tools.

Being there was like living the life of my dreams for a week. The place is marvellous - there are no people around for about 3.5 km, just deer, horses, cats, and dogs. The huge studio is full of beautiful pieces - I’ve spent hours just sitting there and staring at them.

The course still seems to be a pure miracle for me. No one believed that a complete beginner like me could make a beautiful teapot on the 3rd day of the course (because it was structured so cleverly and carefully!) Laima said true mastery requires time, but she can teach everyone how to throw on the wheel in one week to inspire further development. And she did so with her kind and bright smile, guessing and showing me techniques before I knew what I needed. It’s your calling to be this rare teacher remembered for a lifetime.

During the course, I made my ceremonial tea set, set of sgraffito porcelain plates and amazing Baltik Raku pieces. All the pieces were safely packed, sent, and arrived at me in a month. “

Apprenticeship course October 2023

“The 4 weeks at Laima Ceramics honestly changed my life. Laima’s place is truly inspirational, embodying how dreams can be turned into reality.

The studio is absolutely gorgeous and a bright space to work and be in. Then you have the ever lovely Oksana, a sunshine in the room with her warm personality and contagious laughter. The Laima family includes also Dzera, the sweet sweet dog, cats and horses - who teach many lessons of their own to the ones willing to listen.

At times I felt frustrated that I did not receive more guidance, but later I learned this to be a great gift. The gift of allowing us to explore freely and make mistakes!

Thank you Laima. Not just for the extensive knowledge you shared and the confidence I gained with clay but also for the magic that happens when beautiful people come together and connect. “

Custom made 4-week course, January 2024

“We had a wonderful time at Laima's. Early January, we arrived in winter wonderland, sun reflecting off the pristine white snow. We left a month later, as an early spring began to break out, bidding farewell to our horse friends as they trudged serenely through the fresh mud. In between, we found out a great deal about clay, throwing, glazes, and overcoming frustration.

Novices on arrival, we had everything to learn. And learn we did, thanks to Laima's lessons and her wise stewardship of our journey to a full dinnerware set. While we were gradually learning the complex skill of throwing on the wheel, Laima made sure that our cupboard filled up thanks to a variety of techniques, including slab-rolling and hand-building.

We got the hang of throwing after about a week and a half, and even went as far as making teapots and throwing porcelain.

By the end, we had 118 pieces, including some made-to-order for our friends and relatives. Whenever someone said, "we could do with a..." or "I just broke my...", we could fly to the rescue.

It has been strange coming back to a world without our own workshop and losing our superpower.

Thank you once again to Laima, Krisjanis and Oksana, we hope to be back one day.”

Apprenticeship course, October 2023

"My time as an apprentice with Laima was one of the more impactful things I have done in my life.

The farm is a truly unique place with great energy. I grew as a potter, both technically and creatively.

The friends and connections I made were very deep as well. At times things were challenging, making deadlines, learning new techniques, navigating group dynamics and there were mice!

But through our journey Laima was a solid mentor and gave us a great place to express ourselves.

Latvia is a really special country, and it was a great way to learn about and experience the culture.

On many levels I recommend the experience. It's important to be self motivated and set the right expectations, and if you can do that you'll have a great time."