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About the artist
Hi there! I’m Gina Spence, owner and creator of Wild Thistle Pottery! I’m thankful you’re taking the time to check out my work.
If I’m being honest, I kind of fell into the ceramics world by accident. In 2021, a good friend recommended a wheel throwing class at the Columbia Art Center and I thought it sounded like a fun way to spend a few weeks, so my husband and I signed up right away! Little did I know, this one class would spark a fierce passion and interest in pottery and ceramic arts.
Since then, I’ve taken many more classes and workshops, joined Midlands Clay Arts Society, participated in several ceramic sales, and created my very own backyard studio. Throughout this time, I have learned so much and love that there is infinitely more to explore.
Clay can be a tough teacher. It teaches me to exercise more patience, to be more present, to show up emotionally centered, and to develop an eye for detail in the small things. These are often not lessons easily learned, but then again, I’m not known for learning things the easy way anyway.
Thanks for being on this journey with me - whether this is the first time you’ve become familiar with my work or you’ve been with me from the very beginning!
Why "Wild Thistle"?
My husband and I have been avid hikers for some time, having attended college at Appalachian State University, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. After college, we made it a goal to visit a National Park every year or so to see and experience the natural beauty of the U.S. and Canada.
Badlands National Park in South Dakota, is one of our favorite parks with its other-worldly landscapes and stunning buttes. While on one of our favorite trails (Medicine Root Loop), I noticed some strangely beautiful plants blowing in the wind - they were wild, and bushy, and thorny, but they held aloft these incredible purple blossoms that looked like pom-poms dancing in the wind.
I learned later the plants we observed were wild thistle. While the particular variety (bull and Canada thistle) we observed on this trip is invasive to South Dakota, there are many other varieties of thistle native to the U.S. and are wonderful partners to critical pollinators due to their high production of nectar. Thistledown is also enjoyed by American goldfinches and blue-gray gnatcatchers as a nesting material.
In short, I think thistle gets a bad rap. Sure, it’s a little prickly here and there, but can’t we all be from time to time? I admire this beautiful plant, with its punchy colors, resilience, and bit of attitude. It felt to me the perfect image to build my pottery brand from - unique, fun, and a little wild.
About the mini backyard studio
Here is where the magic happens in my sweet little backyard studio, born October 2023. I knew a large ceramic studio was not going to fit in my tiny backyard, so I devised a plan for a micro studio that would allow me to have a dedicated ceramic workspace.
I chose a Tuff Shed for the customizable options and opted for an 8 ft by 10 ft studio space with outswinging, glass french doors and an additional window on the right-hand side to provide plenty of natural light. I can’t tell you how much time I poured into home improvement threads, YouTube videos, and DIY forums to help make this space my own! After having electricity installed, my husband and I got to work on insulation and installing a moisture barrier. We were so incredibly thankful to have a sweet friend, David, help us install the drywall. We could not have done this without his expertise and positive energy! With the drywall installed, we added the finishing touches of paint, LVP floors, cabinets, and a butcherblock countertop. She’s a small but mighty space!
It’s both easy to clean and easier to get dirty, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. When the weather is nice, I immensely enjoy throwing open the french doors, putting on a funky playlist, and getting a little muddy.
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