Ocean Grove’s Alicia McVilly shares how she is combining her two loves of creating simple and beautiful ceramics while also studying midwifery
Prestigious Potteries firm Emma Bridgewater has unveiled its commemorative collection to mark the coronation of the King. The range, featuring the firm’s traditional hand-decorated mugs and plates, is on sale from this week ahead of the royal occasion on May 6. Emma Bridgewater’s royal pedigree includes marking historic events and hosting visits by the King himself and the Princess of Wales.
And it has absolutely nothing to do with being a ceramic artist.
Instead she tunes into Australian Birth Stories, a podcast where women share the often unpredictable adventure of pregnancy and their unique birth experiences.
Alicia McVilly is a ceramic artist based in Ocean Grove. Photo: Ginger + Mint
While ceramics and birth stories don’t have anything in common, in Alicia’s case they do.
The talented ceramic artist, who is based in Ocean Grove, is also studying to become a midwife.
Ceramics has been her full-time job for the past three years, but now she is looking forward to combining the two.
Alicia’s ceramic creations feature neutral colours and fluid shapes combining to form functional pieces that will look at home immediately in any abode.
She has always been drawn to making things that can be used and her first foray into the world of ceramics was when she was travelling in India in 2017.
“I did some lessons in India and when I returned to Australia I found some more classes.”
This quickly turned into a hobby for Alicia, who grew up on a farm around Point Campbell.
She was able to learn the art of it by doing a work trade with an artist in Warrnambool who she helped when needed in exchange for use of their studio and kiln.
“It was amazing to learn the old school way, including lighting the gas kiln with a bit of newspaper,” she recalls fondly.
Her own home is filled with her own creations. Photo: Ginger + Mint
Alicia is glad she made the move to the coast. Photo: Ginger + Mint
In February 2020, Alicia moved to Melbourne into a five-girl sharehouse in Fitzroy.
What she didn’t know was that the world would go into lockdown a month later due to a global pandemic. But Covid didn’t stand in the way of pursuing her hobby.
“It was actually really good, everyone got along really well and I was still able to go to the studio and work. It was challenging but so nice as well,” she says.
And she decided to make it her full-time job.
“It was a big push, but three years later I’m still going,” she smiles.
Alicia relocated to Ocean Grove at the start of this year and is hoping to get a wheel set up in her garage, while she is keeping her kiln in Fitzroy for the time being.
Her work has evolved over the years in terms of how it looks.
“It is a lot different to what I was making at the start, it is more refined and pared back. Simple and not too loud,” she explains.
“There is lots of white, cream and neutral. You can’t go wrong with that.”
Alicia has kept her studio in Melbourne as that is where her kiln is. Photo: Instagram
She likes to make functional pieces. Photo: Instagram
While Alicia’s hobby became her career she is also in her first year of studying midwifery.
“I’ve wanted to do it since I was in high school, it has sat in the back of my mind and I’m finally doing it,” she smiles.
“I’ve got a really great combination at the moment, studying something I’ve always wanted to do and focusing on hosting ceramic workshops, which I really enjoy.”
Her ‘Clay, Coffee and Croissant’ workshops are a hit since starting a year ago and she hosts them in Geelong and Melbourne.
And she has discovered she loves teaching.
“They always attract people I find interesting or get along with really well, I love hearing their stories and I love seeing what people create, it’s always so different which is so interesting,” she says.
Alicia had been teaching more technical wheel throwing classes but she says they were very serious and she wanted a more “chill and fun” event.
Alicia is hosting workshops in Geelong. Photo: Orbit Studio
She says lots of people go with a friend and socialise or some go by themselves and make friends and swap numbers at the end.
Another reason Alicia was drawn to workshops was to give people the whole experience; not only do they get to make something but they get to have their coffee out of one of Alicia’s mugs and eat off the platters she makes.
“It is so satisfying using my own pieces when entertaining,” she smiles.
Now that Alicia is studying she finds it really cathartic getting back on the wheel.
“It is like a breath of fresh air, brings me back and gives me a chance to be creative,” she says.
“It’s nice to take a break from studying and come back to it, it reminds me why I like it.”
Follow @aliciamcvillyceramics on Instagram and shop via aliciamcvillyceramics.com. Her next ‘Clay, Coffee and Croissant’ hand-building workshops will be held at The KO on June 17 and July 29. Book via her website.