Victoria Leigh Silvera describes herself as the artist/creative director and driving force behind Touch By VLS.

“I am the entrepreneur, the manager and the artist all wrapped up into a tight bundle that has the bouncing properties of rubber powered by the human elements of fear and doubt countered by hope, faith and my connection to the creative source. I’m just understanding myself and what I can do as a young artist and businesswoman. I think considering the hoops on fire, and the rivers filled with crocodiles, I’m not doing too bad. I’ve managed to actualise many of my creative visions, now I simply hope to solidify my processes and streamline my distribution. When I am not thinking about all of the variables which those two phases involve, I am formulating grand plans for land art, global installations, and even the interstellar variety. That’s the kind of electricity that keeps me going.”

Originally from Kingston, Silvera grew up at Stony Hill Hotel and used to play tea party behind the heavy drapes in her grandmother’s suite. “I loved art and ‘tea’,” she shares, “because of that wonderful place.” Her teachers in high school encouraged her to do art as a CXC subject but, she shares, “I didn’t deepen my practice until I went to college. I took a ceramics class with a political narrative artist called Kukuli Velarde. I made some really bad art at first! But I am glad I stuck with it”.

Indeed, she did and developed a passion for clay. She lists finishing her senior thesis exhibition at the List Gallery as one of the biggest highs of her life, to date. “Making things, whether beautiful or of political significance, and being able to hold them and see them, and have others do the same is supremely gratifying. Once you feel the call of art it is not something you can put down, try as you might.”

Silvera’s definition of Touch By VLS…

I consider what I do to be ceramics, although I love wood as well, so technically mixed media sculpture. Touch By VLS is a way for me to make a living in Jamaica and explore my creativity as a fine artist. I make commercial work such as the Urchin Collection, but then I get to have my creative glad bag buss with outlets such as exhibitions and collaborations. So Touch By VLS, more than a contemporary ceramics company, is a two-pronged vision, a map of how I want to live and structure my waking creative life. Touch is at the heart of that. I should get my hands insured.

On what inspires her work…

I think everything that comes from the ocean is beautiful, organic and primordial. I have always been drawn to the intricacies of nature and found myself wanting to emulate her patterns, and beautiful creatures. I went to a ceramics workshop one summer and saw an artist making miniature teapots by applying tiny balls to the clay pot. I thought I could do something similar, but with liquid clay, and in the vein of a sea urchin. I sat on that idea for maybe eight years before I tried it. From my first sea urchin teapot I designed the Urchin Collection and have built out the series to include driftwood pieces, light, and a mishmash collection of crockery with brain coral, sea fan and urchin design references.

It wasn’t a walk in the park…

I used to just play at making and selling. I think something switched for me when I was at a Devon House Fair one day. I was just a hobbyist; I had amongst my arsenal three small urchins – and 100 people tried to buy them, but they were already purchased by someone else. That’s when I understood I had a potential business. I started doing the math, worked out energy costs and clay, and decided to make the Urchin Collection. I did not sell any urchins for most of that first year, and it was disheartening. I had the good sense to check myself into the Branson Centre, and began to understand the importance of resource networks, marketing and distribution. By the time I finished with them and launched my business, I had a kiln. A year later, I received a loan and was able to purchase raw materials. Now I am researching distribution.

Lessons for others…

It’s tough because no two paths are the same. Before each goal there is a series of problems you have to solve. Like crosswords, hunker down and pull out your pen; in a government office and can’t get a permit which may make or break you — cry, talk about your problems, pray. The solutions will always come so long as you do not block your own path with self-limiting thoughts and actions. Do not just sleep on your dreams. Do! Do! Do! Don’t have enough money for something? Amend your ideas, rescale your goals, try and make strategic moves that will leverage you further each and every time — but be patient.

The other side of Victoria…

I do yoga. Without it I would hurt people, especially myself! I am also a cinephile and really enjoy watching well-made films, and even silly things like Little Britain. I like to laugh until it hurts. I am a beach/mountain/river girl and do not feel centred unless I go into nature weekly, so outings are a must.

When not creating…

I eat a lot and then try not to think about it. I especially like to argue with my father when I am not working. I like to visit my Aunt Cecile, who is an artist as well. She always has a way of giving you the very best advice at the perfect time. Two-for-one movies with my bredren is a must, and a glass of wine with the girls on the weekend.

Lessons from her mum…

My mother has always been a great cook who takes pride in everything she does. You cannot replicate her recipes because the last ingredient is always, “With love, Mum.” She could be making a cup of tea or an elaborate family meal, it is always special and heart-warming. I try to do that with my work.

How these lessons have moulded her artistic sensibilities?

I try to be as industrious and as careful and as loving as her when I am creating. She actually checks on my production line and does quality control. Heart By Margaret, Touch By VLS! She has a great eye for presentation as well, whether food or fashion. Jewellery designer Bianca Bartley from Peace Is Of Bianca told me that she had been admiring some mystery lady for years; she wore snazzy jewellery and outfits, and when Bianca was designing she always thought of her as her ideal customer. She just found out that the mystery lady was my mum. See, she inspires so many people!

On the influence of fashion, current trends and Victoria’s ceativity…

I love cutwork embroidery because of my Grandma Yvonne, who used to own a dress shop on Slipe Pen Road. A lot of my carved pieces are reminiscent of cutwork fabrics in clay. I also love loud colours because of my mother. I definitely design patterns around a certain colour I want to incorporate. Sometimes, I am drawn to unlikely colour schemes and find they are popular by the next season. I think some of my work is definitely on-trend, but a lot of it has the timelessness that one usually attributes to having impeccable style.