If there’s one thing you can expect from Perth/Boorloo-based maker Anya Sonechko, it’s to come away from her creations with a big ol’ smile plastered across your face. The rad creative hand-paints ceramic bits that scream with happiness and delight – as well feature her iconic booted geese. We chat to Anya about her creative process and how moving to Perth from Ukraine has shaped her art practice.

Tell us about you and your creative practice. I’m an artist from Ukraine, building my ceramics business from scratch here in Perth. It started a little more than a year ago, when a work desk suddenly appeared in the spare room – not long after, a kiln took over the garage. Today I create hand-painted ceramic mugs, plates and everyday objects designed to bring a little comfort and colour into daily life. For me, my work is a kind of manifesto: a reminder that no matter how difficult life can be, there should always be room for beauty and those small, everyday joys.

How long have you been making your ceramic creations for? More than ten years ago, my husband gave me a little plate with a tiny hand-painted black and white illustration in the corner. I loved it so much that, eventually, I wanted to create my own. It felt like a way to bring my illustrations into a new form – at the time, I was working as a book illustrator.

My journey with ceramics, however, was far from easy. In Ukraine, I simply couldn’t access the materials I needed. I spent years experimenting, even making my own paints, but they were never quite what I was looking for. It was often incredibly frustrating. But now, I have access to such wonderful materials, and I’m incredibly grateful for that. I feel like I can finally bring the things I’ve imagined for years into reality.Why are the geese wearing boots? Birds in boots have been appearing in my illustrations for as long as I can remember, although I honestly don’t remember how it started. I grew up on Ukrainian children’s books, which were always filled with incredible, colourful illustrations, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where my motifs came from.

When our family had just arrived in Australia, I started painting plain terracotta pots with acrylics, mostly featuring local flora. For a Christmas market, I decided to add a bit of playfulness to the pots – geese in hats and red boots. Every time people at the market saw one of these geese, they’d exclaim, “Oh, goose in boots!” So when I started working with ceramics, I decided to make the geese honorary characters.

Where do you look for inspiration for what to paint onto your ceramics? Honestly, I rarely think too hard about what exactly to paint. Most of the time new motifs and characters simply appear while I’m in the flow of working – one thing pulling the next along with it. And sometimes it’s only once a piece is finished that I suddenly realise what it reminds me of. Recently, for example, I made a green mug and decorated it with tiny white dots – simply because I’d got some interesting new materials and couldn’t wait to try them. It was only afterwards that I noticed those dots on the green background reminded me of cherry blossoms scattered over thick grass, or a scattering of tiny spring flowers. Realisations like that fill me with warmth.

What I mean is, when we allow ourselves to pause for a moment – to admire something beautiful or savour a taste – it inevitably settles somewhere in the subconscious, and later shows up in your creative work. That’s why it’s so important to look for small joys in everyday life.How do you get over a creative block? There’s really only one way I know: just start doing something, taking small steps, even if it’s only a little. For me, it starts with taking care of my basic needs. Then I take a pen and a notebook and start writing down my goals, wishes, plans, or sketching out ideas. I think there comes a point when you realise that, ultimately, you are responsible for creating the life you want. You don’t have to change everything at once – sometimes it simply starts with taking one small step and seeing where it leads.

What does a day in the life look like for you when you’re making art? Usually it’s just half a day haha. A few times a week, my husband takes our son out for a long walk, and I head to my studio. I pour a cup of fragrant coffee into one of my hand-painted mugs, look through my notebook, and then disappear into an uninterrupted flow of painting. I can spend hours like that without taking a break. Then I’ll pop back into the studio a few more times throughout the day, just to admire the results for a moment and soak up a bit of inspiration for next time.

Where can we see more of your work? Come visit me on Instagram – you’re always welcome. @anya.sonechko

After more creative chats? Spy our chinwag with illustrator Alice Oehr or get a load of our chat with musician Matahara. Plus, sign up to our newsletter for more goodness.