Meet Hope Limyansky-Smith: Art Educator & Ceramicist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hope Limyansky-Smith and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hope, what principle do you value most?
As someone in a creative field, I have always had to tell myself that you can never give up. When you choose to pursue a career in the arts, the odds are stacked against you. There are so many people in the world who use the same tools as you, use the same type of clay as you, and have the same ideas as you. You have to find your own way to stand out and to be different, which can be a challenge. To find my personal voice as an artist I had to fail. A lot. I also had to get back up and try again. Some of your failures may be small, like a piece cracking in the kiln or carving through a vase. Some of your failures may feel large, like not getting into the show you thought you would get into or having a rough critique of your work. If I gave up I would never make progress. I would never get better. You have to learn how to take each failure and turn it into an opportunity to learn and to grow.
I remember one of my first times selling work at a booth where I had proudly displayed all of my newest work. Things were going well and I was feeling good about it until a gentleman approached my table. He picked up a plate, one that took me hours to make, and said “Wow, this is so heavy you could use it for self-defense.” As a new artist, I was shocked and saddened. It would have been easy to put the plate away and move on to making bowls or something else that I felt more comfortable with. Sure, I tried that but his comment really stuck with me. I began to make many, many plates. I worked hard on improving the weight and managing the clay. I never gave up.
There will always be someone who doesn’t like your work. There will always be someone who does something similar to you and perhaps does it better. Never give up. Work harder, take classes, research, talk to others, focus on your craft and never give up on yourself.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am very excited about my current body of work. It is a collection of wheel-thrown objects that I alter through a variety of carving techniques. I love the idea that the creation of a ceramic vessel is really the creation of a canvas for more detailed work. I have been exploring the relationship between form and light through minimalist and organic designs. My work is meant to appear as a flat pattern yet when the light hits you can pick up on its delicate ridges. I pull inspiration for my patterns from a variety of places but my favorite thing is hearing about what others see. The beautiful thing about being an artist is that I can create something that is a reflection of my own experiences and somehow others can relate to it and see something new.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When sone one comes to visit me in Atlanta, I get excited because there are so many great places to go. If you have time to plan a full day, I always start with some great coffee. I love recommending Dancing Goats Coffee Bar for some yummy snacks and fresh drinks. If you enjoy seeing art, finish your coffee and head over to Atlanta Contemporary. They always have new and interesting exhibitions going on. Once you have had your fill of art and coffee, I enjoy going to Ponce City Market to shop around. I love seeing the pretty flowers at JJ’s Flower Shop or getting some new house plants from The Victorian Atlanta. The great thing about Ponce City Market is you have so many options for food once lunchtime comes around. You really can not go wrong picking a restaurant there.
If you are like me, you like to wind down your day outside with your dog. One of my favorite spots in Atlanta is Fetch Park. It is not your average dog park- there are TV’s to watch the game and a bar for drinks. I really enjoy sitting outside with my dog, my husband, and some iced coffee.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to the teachers that inspired me, the friends that supported me, and the family that told me I could do it.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LimyanskyStudios

Instagram: @LimyanskyStudios