Sometimes the art calls you. Rose learned her craft from her mom and grandfather after taking a brave leap of faith to transform her life. She’s been honing her craft and expanding her business ever since moving back to Arizona.
Here’s our full interview with Rose in her own words:
How did you get started creating your pieces?
I am a third-generation ceramicist. I never in my life thought that I would become a potter because honestly growing up I hated it.
I didn't want anything to do with it but after completely moving away from my family and coming here (Arizona) I worked a cubical medical billing job and I felt like it was the biggest drain and waste of life so after a complete mental breakdown and calling my mom in Montana - I left. I took my daughter who was 6 at that time and we moved back to Montana and lived with my mom for an entire year - Making no money and just trying to learn as much as I possibly could for an entire year.
This was the hardest choice I have ever made because I also had to leave my significant other in Arizona because at the time he was going to ASU. So I split up our family for a year to do something that I had no idea if it would work or not.
With all that being said, I spent my year in Montana learning as much as I could from my mom and grandfather and took my new knowledge and brought it back home with me. I created my own studio here and since then have built my business from the ground up!
What’s the favorite part of your work/what you make?
I love throwing pots! Sitting at a pottery wheel and creating a piece of art from a piece of clay is a magical process.
How do you express your creativity through your work?
I love texture. So adding fun little creative textured designs in my work or adding something as simple as a thumb rest on a mug can really be a game changer.
I love adding little things to my pots to make them feel better in your hand or just spark a little extra feeling of happiness when you grab your pot out of the cabinet.
What brings you joy?
Bringing a piece of work from beginning to end. I get so excited when I finally have a finished piece - opening up a kiln really is like Christmas morning and seeing all your new presents come to life.
What challenge(s) have you overcome?
Glazing - I create all my own colors. So everything that you see in my work is completely (start to finish) made by me. Making your own colors is a very challenging process and I have had a lot of challenges in the process of getting the colors that I have today.
Also learning how to start a business has been a very challenging process. I'm in year three now and it is going great but starting up and than having Covid hit just as I was getting the ball rolling was a huge game changer. We are learning to roll with the punches and just keep moving forward.
Anything exciting in the works/coming up for you?
I am in the process of partnering up with my mom and opening up a studio here in Arizona so we can teach pottery classes! We're so excited to be able to open up our store front.
We are rebranding and it will be called The Potters' Peak LLC. We will be selling Cartel Coffee and have an entire coffee area to relax and chill while also running a full studio where we can teach classes in the back!
What do you wish for the world?
Oh, this is such a loaded question because honestly there is so much to wish for, but in reality I just wish for everyone to be happy.
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
One of my favorite quotes from the Book The 4 hour work week by Tim Ferris: “To enjoy life, you don’t need fancy nonsense, but you do need to control your time and realize that most things just aren’t as serious as you make them out to be.”