– Tell us about yourself. What do you like to do when you are not creating or teaching?
– I am an artist, art teacher, and restorer. Although I graduated in sculpture restoration, I am fascinated by more than just that. The synthesis of photography and art, and various arts in general, is what interests me! I especially enjoy photographing with old cameras, large format cameras, and using analog techniques to produce images. I even have my own project called “Juostajuosta” – with it, I participate in festivals, such as the “Juodkrantė Resort Days” and private events. I mostly use the inversion technique, where portraits develop directly on photo paper immediately. I believe that if a photographer is talented, their works are comparable to the paintings of true old masters.
Recently, a new hobby has also taken up a lot of my time – sailing. There is definitely a lot of romance in this field that captivated me. The fateful moment that brought me together with sails happened three years ago in Nida, when I first sailed on the old kurėnas “Kuršis” with Aurelijus and Sofija Armonavičiai. After that, I started sailing more often and humming the words of H. Radauskas: “And happiness – it has not yet come, – and the ship’s sail, full of wind…”. And happiness really smiled on me because I had the chance to participate with the Sea Museum team in one of the largest maritime events in the world, “SAIL Amsterdam 2025,” which took place in the capital of the Netherlands. We sailed among a thousand ships and presented the traditional maritime heritage of Lithuania’s coastal region, and the Lithuanian Sea Museum’s kurėnas “SüD.1” surprised many participants of this event and united the Lithuanian community in the Netherlands.
– How did art come into your life? Do you remember when you realized that creativity would become an important part of your life?
– Art came into my life while growing up in Plateliai. There is not only a wonderful landscape but also many creative people living there. Of course, the Plateliai Art School and youth camps, where famous local artists participated, also influenced me. There I realized that I wanted to be in the company of such cheerful and open people.
– You grew up in an artistic family. Did your family shape your attitude towards creativity and art?
– Without a doubt, my family influenced me. My father is both an entrepreneur and a poet, Paulius Kuliešius. Since childhood, I have been accompanied by my father’s unconventional approach and ambitions. Perhaps that is why I am also bold and not afraid to bring new colors into my life. After all, my father himself exchanged a successful business career for an adventure – living in the countryside, beekeeping, the smell of hay, and caring for meadows and livestock.
My mother’s kindness and sincerity have surrounded us four children from a very young age until now. Her skills in handicrafts and creating a cozy home inspire me even today.
– Were there teachers who inspired you to choose a creative path?
– The very first teachers at Plateliai Art School always come to mind. I especially want to thank Vytautas and Vaida Blistrubiai and Lina Ruginienė, who repeatedly prepared me for participation in exhibitions and competitions. The freedom to create given by the teachers led me to increasingly turn towards the arts.
From them, I learned that the most important thing is a positive emotional microclimate, sincere communication, not results. Only relaxed and happy children can strive for higher goals. This is what I try to pass on to my students.
While educating us, the teachers often relied on Lithuanian folk art and instilled respect for it. I am only now beginning to understand its power more maturely – even true academics and scientists find it a source of inspiration and discovery.
– Why did you decide to become a teacher?
– I decided to become a teacher to be closer to young people. After all, when you communicate with youth, you feel younger yourself, right?
But seriously, I want to share the knowledge and experience I have accumulated studying in bachelor’s and master’s programs, participating in art projects, and working as an educator in various museums.
– What makes the Art and Design studio where you work stand out from other clubs? What can a child discover here, even if they think they “can’t draw” or do other artistic things?
The Art and Design studio is unique because children can try many different things here: drawing, painting, sculpting, graphics, old photographic processes, basics of design, or even graffiti techniques. I try not to restrict children with boundaries and consider their individual needs. We participate in competitions and exhibitions.
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I believe every child can find a place here for their creative expression and understand which techniques, art genres, or fields attract them and where they succeed best. And those who think they cannot draw realistically should not be discouraged because that is not a decisive indicator of a successful creative path. After all, even academic drawing, like many other things in life, can be learned.
– What kind of children choose your studio? Do you notice how creativity helps them grow, become braver, and find themselves?
– Mostly younger children attend the studio – from preschoolers to fifth graders. I notice that after just half a year of learning, they are no longer afraid to experiment, and their attraction to favorite art techniques becomes evident. Over time, children themselves begin to independently choose ways to complete works for various themes and competitions.
Of course, a large part is also communication and building interpersonal connections. Children find new friends in the club, learn to solve various cooperation situations, play games, have fun, and celebrate birthdays.
– Working at the Klaipėda Queen Louise Youth Center. What is it like?
– I feel great working at the Queen Louise Youth Center. I hear the echo of creativity in every corridor of this historic building. This atmosphere is truly special, and there are plenty of opportunities to express oneself here.
For example, at the traditional Potters’ Street festival organized by the institution, we held cyanotype postcard workshops with students, and next year we will make clay whistles. I think this will be a great historical connection with the craftsmen of this street and an opportunity to convey the subtleties of traditional ceramic craft.
Moreover, this academic year, together with colleagues, we participated in the national art teachers’ conference in Kretinga, various trainings, exhibitions, and their judging panels. The art teachers’ team was also greatly strengthened by the joint decoration of a huge Easter egg. Our painted, crown-adorned royal egg decorated the northern mole of Klaipėda city in spring and delighted the residents.
– What is the most important thing you would like to pass on to every child who comes to your studio?
– I would like students not to be afraid to make mistakes. Although it seems that most have enough curiosity and enthusiasm, older children are often held back by fear, especially when they start comparing themselves to each other. Each of us is unique, and that is what makes this world charming – and in creativity, that is a true value.
– Have there been funny or unexpected stories in your work?
Once, before lessons, I was very hungry – I couldn’t wait and ordered a pizza through the “Wolt” app, thinking I would eat it quietly in the teachers’ room. But the children started leaving earlier, and when they saw the pizza box in my hands and heard their enthusiastic shouts, I realized I would have to share the pizza (laughs).
– If a child considering whether to come to the Art and Design studio listened to you today, what would you say to them?
– Come in – we will draw, play, listen to music, and discover the world of art.
– What do you dream about yourself?
– Right now, I dream of finishing the reed sculpture in Juodkrantė as soon as possible and successfully launching it into the Amber Bay. I also have a dream to fix up my small sailboat – a sloop. I keep thinking about how great it would be to sail it on a sunny day in the clear waters of Plateliai, where time stands still, and the wind sings about Zifrina and Gervazas…
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