Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabrielle Hakes.
Gabrielle, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I fell in love with ceramics in high school, to the point that I built my college degree around it. I completed a BFA in Studio Art with a focus in Ceramics and Photography in 2017, and then worked in Real Estate for a few years before starting an apprenticeship with Master Potter Tony Holman in 2021. I learned so much from him about what it takes to build a business around a ceramic practice, and it inspired me to pursue my dream of doing the same. I moved to Houston in 2023 and decided it was time to dive in and build my own practice. The first few years were focused on finding my voice as a maker and refining my skills, and now that I’m confident in what I have to share, I’ve been making an effort to get my work out into the world!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but honestly most of the bumps have been self imposed! I have been determined to build my business while avoiding loans as long as possible. I wanted to make sure that what I’m doing is self sustaining and that I’m not digging a debt pit to fall into later. However that has created obstacles that otherwise wouldn’t exist, like studio instability and delays in being able to afford much needed equipment and materials.
I’ve worked out of home studios since 2022, and I’ve lived in three different places in that time. Three full studio moves, hiring electricians to wire in kilns each time, and one of the moves included a complete home renovation that stopped my ability to work for about a year. Which honestly was devastating personally but luckily seems not to have put too much of a damper on my business. If I’d been in a commercial space or a shared studio, I would’ve been able to work through the renovation project and I would probably be farther along, but that’s not what happened and that’s ok!
Pottery is an equipment heavy endeavor, and my path would’ve undoubtedly been smoothed by taking out a loan to purchase all of the equipment and materials that I need. Like any other manufacturing business, the bigger and better your equipment is the more you can make and get done! It’s like hitting fast forward on your business growth. However I’m grateful that I haven’t hit fast forward yet, as it’s given me time to experiment, play and find my voice in a way that jumping straight into production wouldn’t have. Now that I have a catalogue of items I love to make, I have the ability to upgrade the studio piece by piece and that’s been super rewarding.
What are obstacles and challenges if not just opportunities to prove yourself, you know? We love a fun little hurdle every once in awhile!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a Potter and Ceramic Artist, specializing in functional ware and home decor! Functional ware are things like herb strippers, citrus juicers, mugs, paper towel holders, planters, etc. Pottery that has a job! The home decor I create are seasonal sculptural pieces, like gnomes, pumpkins, ghosts, and other cute little guys to brighten up your day. My most popular pieces have been paper towel holders and planter pots with hidden catch trays. These are also the designs I’m most proud of! I love creating a clever little thing that solves an annoying issue.
How do you define success?
I feel successful when I’m getting better at the thing that I set out to do. Forward movement, even if it’s not BIG milestones or awards, is still a success in my book. Every day that you practice the thing you set out to do, you get a little better, things get a little easier, you’ve come a little farther than you were before and that’s such a big win to me. Day to day it might not look like much but your progress over months and years? That’s incredible!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hakesandco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabriellehakes
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hakesandco
