Welcome! I’m Larissa Burak, the founder of Apothecary Studios. From a young age I’ve been captivated by the unseen world, and drawn to the fields of art, psychology, and spirituality. As a child these passions were encouraged by my parents, especially my father, who provided me with resources and conversations on everything from lucid dreaming to meditation and out of body experiences!

I continued to cultivate my interest in art through photography - receiving a BFA from SUNY Oneonta in 2009 - followed by an internship at the Center for Photography at Woodstock. These experiences helped me to refine my niche - focusing on the photographic processes developed in the 19th century, where I felt attracted to the magic and alchemy of the darkroom. This journey led me down many interesting paths, such as learning wetplate photography with John Coffer while living off his land in a teepee for a week, and traveling to a medieval villa in Benabbio, Tuscany, to learn hand coloring and book making techniques. You can visit my personal photography website here.

During this time, I also studied meditation and yoga more seriously, and earned my 200 hour Teacher Training certification from Happy Buddha Yoga in Goshen, NY.

The Studios

In 2021 my partner Damon and our family moved to the village of Newbury, Vermont, to a rambling folk Victorian built in the mid-1800’s by an entrepreneur named Thomas C. Keyes. The residence was subsequently used as a country doctor’s office through multiple owners. We both felt a deep connection to the healing energy of the property and surrounding valley nestled between the Green and White Mountains. Plus, there was ample space to accommodate studios for both of our creative endeavors. The darkroom is planned to be built in the old apothecary, which is the inspiration for the name of this venture.

The Vision

The great goal for Apothecary Studios is to create a space for community to come together to learn from experts in all of these fields, and from one another, on our unique paths toward self discovery. There are seasonal events to honor time worn traditions with community, workshops in art and photography, and offerings in the realms of consciousness and metaphysics taught by experienced practitioners. We hope you find something here that speaks to you and your personal growth!