cloud collecting #18: Nevia Pavletic
cycles of birth + death, working best in silence + collecting pieces of the natural world
cloud collecting features three-question interviews with women and gender-expansive artists, exploring their creative processes. I recently had the honor of connecting with Nevia Pavletic, a Croatian visual artist based in Maryland. Her art has deeply resonated with me since I first encountered it, and I'm thrilled to share our conversation. I'm also excited to highlight her artwork that became the cover of my debut album ‘idyll’, and to explore the inspiration behind it.
Nevia’s bio in her own words:
Art for me is the way I connect with the unseen realms. It is a meditative practice.
My creative process is influenced by summers spent by the Adriatic seaside, and my lifelong explorations into what Carl Jung called “the numinous”—the sublime, holy, and mysterious aspects of our Being. When I create, the boundaries between me and everything else dissolve. I become one with the cosmos; past and future collapse into the present moment.
Through the pursuit of beauty, I feel that I have connected with something sacred. I hope that my art brings joy to others, and that it sparks a sense of connection to something deeply primordial—reminding us of the interconnectedness of everything.
Born in Zagreb, Croatia (1987), I currently live and work in Rockville, Maryland. My work is held in private collections around the United States, Australia, and various European countries. I have maintained an active drawing practice since 2015.
1. I will always hold the cover of my debut album, idyll (2021, Stereoscenic), close to my heart because of your beautiful artwork. I remember the excitement I felt when you agreed to let me license the piece; it captures the album's spring theme perfectly. I’d love to learn more about your creative process for this piece and what inspired you while making it.
The title of that drawing is “Gestation,” which I think also works so well with the spring theme of your album! When I was making that drawing, I remember being guided by themes of creation, growth, and the cycles of birth and death that are found all over the natural world—from the changing of seasons to the birth of an infant. The drawing process itself was very intuitive. I don’t remember planning out much beforehand; I just spontaneously began drawing these lines and orb-like forms that evoked a sense of expansion and growth. Looking back, the forms themselves feel very primordial and symbolic even though it was not intentional.
2. What’s your current studio or workspace like? And do you usually listen to music while you work? If so, what are some of your recent favorites?
I live in a small one-bedroom flat that I share with my husband. We have a beautiful view of the sunrise, forest, and a lush park below us full of wildlife and spectacular scenery. Natural light is so important for my creative process, and living on the 15th floor ensures that we always have plenty of it! I draw in our living room, usually on the floor, as my drawings can be quite large these days. As I don’t have a separate studio, my art has found its way into every corner of our home. There isn’t a corner of our space that doesn’t have something art related—whether it’s my old drawings, sketchbooks, tools, photographs, or little natural objects that I’ve collected from my travels for inspiration. I rarely listen to any music when I create, as I find that I work best in silence.
3. How do you cloud collect (connect to childlike wonder) in your creativity?
Much of my creative time is spent “playing” with colors, shapes, textures, and forms. For example, I have an entire box filled with different types of colored yarns that I have collected over the years—I have no clue what I will do with them (I do not know how to weave), but the colors and textures are just so pleasing to me that sometimes I just literally play with them. I also collect stones, rocks, and other natural objects like pinecones and seashells. I will spend time arranging them into interesting compositions, and then disassembling them again— they are like little temporary art "installations," if you will. I also have a film camera that I alway take on my travels and I use it to experiment with light and composition. Most recently, I enrolled in a beginners ceramics course, which has completely made me feel like a child again that is learning about the world for the first time! It has been both humbling and exciting to explore this new medium.
Best online place where people can find Nevia:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nevia.drawings/
Website: https://www.neviapavletic.com/
Love the gentle joyful palettes and patterns
As always, I love your cloud collecting interviews. Thank you for encouraging creative conversations and ideas.