Interview * Larissa Gray * Sculptor

I first met inspiring sculptor and fellow Countryphile Larissa Gray at the inaugural Lost Trades Fair in Kyneton earlier this year. Larissa’s small but beautiful hand-crafted clay works each tell a story that conveys the complex nuances of human emotion, existence and life’s journey. After living in the UK, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne, Larissa recently moved to Metcalfe to follow her long-held dream of living on a small parcel of land in the countryside. Nestled by the bank of the Coliban River and surrounded by undulating hills and pastoral lands, Larissa really has found a slice of paradise to call her own. A dog trainer by day and a sculptor by passion, Larissa is a woman of many talents. Work has already begun converting an old shed, which sits cheerfully alongside a chook house and quaint herb + veg garden, into an art studio … oh, and you can rest assured that her loyal golden Labrador Yaegar is never far from her side. Enjoy! {d} x

‘On fire but alive’ Larissa Gray. Pic of Larissa’s beautiful artwork taken by PHOTOS BY LOREN.

‘The evolution of me’ Larissa Gray. Pic of Larissa’s wonderful artwork taken by PHOTOS BY LOREN.

‘Stone’ Larissa Gray. Pic of Larissa’s wonderful artwork taken by PHOTOS BY LOREN.

As well as being a very talented sculptor, you are also a dog trainer. Tell us a little bit about the path that led you to where you are now?

It’s a long and windy path, but in a nutshell, growing up I needed my art as a form of expression and release as I found social interaction more difficult than the average and I would often prefer the company of dogs to the company of people, so after I graduated from the National Art School at 21 with a burning ambition to become an ‘Artist’ and found that there weren’t many jobs going for sculptors with no life experience I naturally gravitated towards my other love and ended up veterinary nursing, and it evolved from there.

After handling and training dogs in detection work for nearly ten years, I have an even greater respect and admiration for them now and the influence that this relationship has on my art is inevitable.

Tell us about ‘Larissa Gray & The Golden Dog’. What is the story behind that name? How did you come to focus your artistic skills on creating beautiful clay art?

Dogs are valued in many societies and revered in many ancient cultures because of their inherent virtues such as loyalty, perseverance and determination. The name ‘Larissa Gray and the Golden Dog’ pays homage to this relationship and, in particular, to one special golden Labrador who has given me so many experiences, taught me lessons, provided me with inspiration and in part shaped who I am today.

I focus on clay because I am drawn to it, perhaps because working with clay involves the four elements of sensory experience in matter, earth, air, fire and water and possibly the fifth element which is ‘beyond that of the material world’ in the subject matter, so in a way it fills some type of primal need. All I know is for sure is that I need to play with clay in the same way that I need to breathe.

You’ve lived in the Sydney, UK, Perth and Melbourne but recently bought a house on an acre of land by the bank of the Coliban River where you’ve started to convert a shed into your studio space. Why did you choose to move to the country? What is your vision?

I have wanted to move to the country since I was a little girl growing up in the suburbs of Sydney. Instead of reading Dolly and Cleo like a normal teenager I would get Country Living magazines and dream of my house in the countryside.

I’ve spent the past 15 years travelling around like a tumble weed from place to place, waiting for the place with the right ‘vibe’ to put roots down. When I discovered Metcalfe I knew I’d found that place, it is definitely the right place at the right time.

The ultimate vision is one of self sustainability, I want to be able to not only harvest my own food, electricity and water but also my own clay, and I want build my own kilns too. I have many big plans for the future which I am steadily working towards but I will see where life takes them, because sometimes life has other ideas.

You create superbly detailed and finished hand-crafted pieces. Tell us a little of the philosophies/ethics that are important to you/your work?

My work is continually evolving however my main motivations are constant for the most part. I like to explore ideas that are concerned with the great joy and pain of human existence, our curiosity for meaning and constant search for gratification, our longing for freedom, our sometimes questionable mortality, our ultimate alone-ness and the inevitability of death.

I am fascinated by evolution, primal needs, our connection with nature and the universe, the notion that everything is linked to everything else.

Where, who or what do your draw inspiration from?

From everywhere and everything, however nature is a great inspiration to me. I often find myself focusing on the macro, ‘the micro cosmoses’ the tracks of borer under bark, the glittery flecks within a pebble, the ripples a breeze makes on water… The patterns nature produces are repeated in everything everywhere and I want my work to reflect some of this repetitious finite detail because to me patterns repeating imply the infinite-ness of the universe.

What does a typical day in the life of the ‘Larissa Gray the Sculptor’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

There is no typical day in the life of Larissa Gray. If I’m not having to go to work I am making the most of every second either pottering around the house or garden doing something or other, making art, drinking coffee and eating at a cafe catching up with friends, going for a drive or a walk, visiting a museum or gallery, trying to find time to go to Yoga or for a swim… I hope I get time to read books and do nothing again one day.

Many of us dream of having our own studio in the country with an inspiring view where we can create amazing things. In pursuit of your dream, what have you learnt along the way? What advice might you give others who are still at the dreaming stage?

I believe, to a certain degree, we have power to shape our own destiny; essentially if you want something enough to actually take steps to make it happen, then you are more likely to get it than if you do nothing. So my advice would be to take action to make what you want happen and be patient, it will happen when the timing is right.

Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?

Well I do love ‘country life’, so I must be, because it makes me feel ‘happy’

What aspect of country life do you love MOST at the moment?

Feeling connected to nature by seeing and experiencing the seasons, even the worst weather is gorgeous out here.
I can get very melancholy if my surroundings are dull, I am visual and I like to be surrounded by aesthetic beauty. Being able to look out of the window at night and see the luminescent moon glowing, the trees in silhouette and the starts twinkling over the river, it’s so uplifting. And every day and night is a different but equally as beautiful aspect. I’ll never get bored here.

What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life?

Sometimes the isolation can be a challenge, but that is also what I love about living here. Doing hard manual things can be challenging but I find when there is a will there is always a way. I’m always amazed at what I am physically capable of for the sake of art, design or landscaping.
Having traveled around Australia for a year I know it can sometimes be a challenge getting a good coffee in the country and don’t even mention soy milk, but I definitely do not have that problem living here.

Do you prefer Coffee or Tea? Your favourite country café and why?

I love both. And it’s another reason why I love Metcalfe – beauty, isolation but only 10mins to Kyneton, 20 mins to Castlemaine, 30mins to either Bendigo or Woodend, 40 mins to Daylesford or Sunbury and 1hr and a half to Melbourne. Not so isolated really, and I have so many awesome cafes in abundance close by it’s hard to pick a favourite.

If I’m in Castlemaine ‘Run Rabbit Run’ is my go-to for great coffee and free Wi-Fi, and ‘Mr Carsisi’ if I’m in Kyneton. I am a creature of habit in many ways but on my days off I love to go for a drive and explore, looking for new cafes, I always end up back where I know it’s good though.

What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

Dhaba in Kyneton, great Indian food and Naam Pla Thai Kitchen in Castlemaine, beautiful Thai food, I’m a regular at both. But again I’m so lucky because there are many great restaurants to choose from in this region.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

So much I crave routine, but if I had it I’d probably find it boring. There is no typical day in my life, if I’m not at work I might go and find an art or farmer’s market to visit, I like the Wesley market at Chewton. Or maybe Yoga, if I get up in time!

Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?

Sure, but it’s not for everyone; if you like your own company, can be your own best friend and amuse yourself, then yes! The trick is, knowing what it is you want and need, having the guts to take a risk and the drive to go after it.

Is making the Tree Change all it’s cracked up to be? What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of doing it?

Well it is for me, but everything is what you make of it. My advice would be to do what your heart and gut tells you, take risks, life’s too short not to. I’d rather not go through life wondering ‘what if’.

What can we expect NEXT from you/Larissa Gray & The Golden Dog in the future?

Expect to see me exhibiting again; I might also do a residency somewhere. I am creating more work slowly, putting things out there and seeing what comes back to me. Watch this space; I have lots of plans and ideas.

What are you looking FORWARD to and why?

The future and all the infinite possibilities it holds.

What would be your dream project?

I’m not sure I have a ‘dream project’ as such but I have ‘dreams’. My ultimate dream which I suppose I’ve had since ever since I left school to study art is to be a prolific, successful, thriving artist who creates works of art that are experimental, innovative and meaningful.
I want to be recognised and respected by my peers and fellow artists for the theory behind my work as well as my technical ability. I strive to one day have my work exhibited and held in major museums and galleries around the world.
Or I could die trying and that would be fine too because it’s all just something to work towards, something to motivate me. The main thing is that I am able to make art, everything else is a bonus.

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?

Ironically, I probably go into the city more now that I live so far away from it than I ever did when I was living closer. And probably for that very reason, to get a ‘dose’ of city life – to feel the liveliness of the people and the energetic vibe and to be inspired by it all, to go to the city galleries and feel like I’m part of something.
But a ‘dose’ is always enough, after I’ve had my fill I usually feel exhausted, a little bit overwhelmed and filled with the need to get back home to my peace and quiet; to paradise.

Larissa Gray
Larissa Gray & The Golden Dog