NeoL

ーーCould you tell us what made you want to start your creations?


LIV & DOM : We wanted to convert our love of making into a way of making an income. Creating objects for the home was the obvious way to make our work accessible and saleable. It was that simple really!


ーーWhy did you stick with the materials (Ceramic and Clay)that you use currently for your works?


LIV & DOM : A big part of our work is making something that could just be a sculpture into something useful for the home. We found that ceramics is the easiest way to make this happen.


ーーFrom ideation to when it is released as well as the ceramics, could you take us through the whole creation process, start to finish?


LIV & DOM : Usually an idea will come from us just sitting down and having a talk about potential new work. Then the idea might be drawn out, or made directly in clay. Dom particularly likes to just work straight in the clay, I have a much more full sketchbook. We’ll figure out what glazes and clays to try on some sample pieces, and then choose our favourite to photograph, promote and sell.

Our ceramics process from start to finish works like this; make the object in clay, leave to dry, use a wet sponge to smooth piece, add fine ‘underglaze’ details, first ‘bisque’ firing, apply glaze, glaze firing.

ーーWhat was the most difficult part of it?


LIV & DOM : I think sometimes what’s difficult is getting an idea down on paper to show each other clearly what is in each of our heads! Working together means we have to mostly agree on the products we’ll make together so sometimes things aren’t as harmonious as we’d like.

ーーHow did you acquire the knowledge and the craft that is needed to create the ceramics?


LIV & DOM : We did a course at a ceramics studio (Dom did 12 lessons, I did 6). We got the basics there, and then we worked once a week at Chris Bramble and Freya Bramble-Carters fantastic studio where they fired our work but also gave us a lot of advice and technical support. It was also a lot of figuring things out ourselves and trial and error though!


ーーYou got a degree in illustration. How did you get into 3D works?


LIV & DOM : We were actually doing a lot of 3D work at university. Our illustration course was very open, not just 2D or books or editorial. For our final year we could make our own project, so we chose to start making functional art objects as ‘Liv and Dom’ then.


ーーIs your knowledge and skills of illustration useful to the ceramic works?


LIV & DOM : I think because we do have those illustration skills it means that even the most basic ceramic forms can be transformed into something more exciting so it gives us a lot of creative freedom.


ーーWhat was one of the first things you made? Looking back, what kind of advice would you give yourself?


LIV & DOM : One of our first things as ‘Liv and Dom’ a brand was an incense holder, it was a little man, rather than a woman actually. Our advice to ourselves at 21 would probably be don’t undervalue your work!





ーーHow do you personally express your core/personality/values through your work?


LIV & DOM : I guess one thing could be our relaxed nature. We like to think we’re quite chilled out people and we don’t take life too seriously. We hope this comes across in the way we present and talk about our work, we don’t get overly complicated or sentimental. We like people to make their own minds up about what the work is saying.


ーーCould you take us through the process you underwent to build that core/personality/value ?


LIV & DOM : I think having a fairly relaxed upbringing with just us and our very cool and calm Mum has built this up in us. Not taking personal setbacks too much to heart and powering through. I think having each other to live and work with provides a security that helps us be more relaxed.


ーーThe titles and forms are all related to female. Could you tell us why?


LIV & DOM : This wasn’t actually intentional to begin with. We had work with penises, the first incense holder was a more masculine piece. We just had a lot of interest in the work with the female nudes we were doing so after a while we phased out the other work and just ran with the female nude angle.





ーーWhere do you get your inspiration from?


LIV & DOM : All the clichés! Nature, the ceramics of Picasso, drawings of Matisse. We live down the road from a place called Charleston farmhouse where a group of creatives lived at the beginning of the 20th century. Their style and the way they made every inch of their house a work of art inspires us a lot.


ーーWhat kind of sculpture would you like to create for the next one?


LIV & DOM : We’re actually working on releasing more painting and print work. We also want to explore working on larger pieces, big vases in particular.


ーーTo a person just starting out, what kind of advice would you give them, skills wise and regarding mentality?


LIV & DOM : Be patient, don’t feel like you have to have your ‘brand’ all figured out at the start, let it grow organically and react to feedback. Also don’t underestimate how important social media is.


ーーIf you have any online shops/makers that sell or provide materials and tools that you would recommend, please share them.

LIV & DOM : We get our ceramics supplies from Scarva and Bath Potters in the UK. Our favourite paint brushes are Rosemary & Co, they’re the best we’ve ever used.





ーーHow has the spread of coronavirus effect your lifestyle and creative activities?


LIV & DOM : The UK is basically the worst hit country in Europe now, so the lockdown is looking like it will be here for a while. It’s sad to miss out on the summer and social activities, but it has meant that we are putting our all into our work and creative pursuits. It’s quite intense but has been really good for productivity.


ーーDo you have anything you want to challenge yourself on?


LIV & DOM : Moving the business side forward, we’re still young but we want to make something that is going to really sustain us both financially as we get older.


ーーAfter the coronavirus converges and the situation gets better, what would you like to do?


LIV & DOM : Maybe a solo exhibition at some point!


ーーAny news or something up and coming that you would like to share with us?


LIV & DOM : We have a jewellery collaboration coming up with Wolf and Moon jewellery that we’re very exited about!

LIV & DOM
IG : livanddom
https://www.livanddom.com