Meet Rosie Gale | Ceramicist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rosie Gale and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rosie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process wasn’t a particularly quick and easy one! I was a little bit lost for a while, especially during Covid, which I think lots of people felt. Turning 30 was just around the corner and I was desperately trying to figure out which work path to take. For a few years I’d be learning how to wheelthrow at a ceramics studio in Chicago. It was just a hobby and never ever once crossed my mind as something I could do to earn a living—I really wasn’t at a skill level that ever made me think that way. During the pandemic, between interning and applying for jobs, I was at my wheel making as much as I could. I began to realize that I had something at my fingertips I loved to do so much and I could see how much I was improving, that I started to think about the idea of selling some pieces. And so I did! I signed up for a booth at a local farmers market and that very day, everything just seemed to click into place. The people in the community were just so supportive and selling that morning went better than I ever could have imagined. I’m honestly so grateful every day for how they came out for me. It was thanks to them that I started thinking about the possibility of starting my own business. I knew it would be incredibly difficult but at the same time it was like all the pressure of finding a career and the lost feeling I had, just sort of lifted off my shoulders. I realized I had to make the most of the opportunity right in front of me—creating and doing something so hands-on, being involved with the community, were all of the things I was looking for in a career. In hindsight, I can’t believe what a blessing in disguise my pottery hobby really was and I feel extremely lucky that certain moments and the people around me, helped me to realize this, and take the steps towards starting my ceramics business.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Having a career in a craft is a really fun and exciting but it also means giving it everything 24/7. Running a business, earning a living, making with your hands, keeping up with orders—it’s constant and it’s hard work. It already feels like a lot, and it’s just the beginning, so I think maintaining the right balance as my business continues to grow is and will continue to be one the biggest challenges. With pottery, you’ll never stop learning, and I love that. My technical skill has improved a lot, particularly over the last year, but as an artist and craftsman working with my hands, there’s so much room for growth. When I started wheelthrowing, I found it really, really hard. It’s taken hours and hours of hard work and a lot of failing, and to be honest, it still takes that on a near daily basis! But when people connect to a finished piece I’ve made, and use it over and over again as part of their day-to-day life, that means so much to me. The reward of making something with your own hands is so worth it, and I have to say, to anyone contemplating trying something creative and hands-on like pottery, even just as a hobby, just go for it! It’s so uplifting and really can be a life-changer. This is actually why I decided to start teaching workshops in wheelthrowing—I really want to create a space where people can experience this. And that’s the beautiful thing about ceramics, it can create these shared experiences, bring people together, and build a sense of community. Just in the last year, it’s enabled me to meet other artists, vendors, local residents, business owners, and schools and I’m so excited to keep growing like this. I’m super grateful that now my husband, Ramsey, has jumped on board to help me manage and grow my business even more—we’ve got so many exciting things coming in the year ahead with slipcasting production, pottery pop-ups, wheelthrowing workshops, and other events, and I’m just really honored to share this journey with as many people as possible.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are lots of fun spots in Springfield. The Saturday farmers market is awesome! It brings together lots of local businesses, musicians, artists, and vendors, and draws a big crowd to the downtown area. There are some great breweries and bars including The Wakery, Buzz Bomb, Obeds, Anvil and Forge, Ad Adstra, and Floyds. During the warmer months, there are lots of music and food festivals and other events including Levitt Amp Music Series, Route 66, Blues and BBQ Fest, and more. There’s a lot to experience in the art community—exhibitions and events at the Springfield Art Association, The Pharmacy Gallery, DIM Art House, Old Capitol Art Fair, and more. You can catch a movie outside at the Route 66 drive-in theatre. Get delicious local coffee from Grab a Java, Custom Cup, Arrowroot Coffee, Yellowbird, and others. Try the best cakes and lunch at Incredibly Delicious. Shop vintage or boutique at Springfield Vintage and Wildly Rooted. Get tattooed at Good Heart. Album hunt and catch a show at Dumb Records. There’s so much to check out!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that deserve a shoutout… I’m extremely lucky to have such a large and loving family, they’re a huge part of me and everything I do, so any and all of my achievements in life I dedicate to them. All of my friends for supporting me. My husband Ramsey—for being my best friend and now my pottery making partner too—I couldn’t do any of this without him. And my last shoutout has to go to Lincoln Square Pottery Studio for being such an awesome place and welcoming me into the world of clay!

Website: www.ceramicsmadebyrosie.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ceramicsmadebyrosie/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ceramicsmadebyrosie/