Milissa Beale is a ceramic artist, designer, and the owner of Beale Pottery. With more than 30 years of experience working with clay, she brings a creative and community-focused approach to the studio. Milissa specializes in hand-building techniques and surface design, and is especially known for the vibrant hand-painted patterns and nature-inspired illustrations that decorate many of Beale Pottery’s pieces.

Working closely with her husband Eric, Milissa is the driving force behind the creative direction of their small-batch pottery line. Eric often throws the foundational forms on the wheel, while Milissa develops the surface decoration - using brushes, slip trailing, and underglaze techniques to create colorful designs influenced by wildflowers, natural landscapes, and the ecosystems of the Indiana Dunes region where their family lives and works.

In addition to her studio work, Milissa manages many aspects of the Beale Pottery business and plays a key role in organizing the studio’s workshops, seasonal events, and programs -including summer camps, monthly memberships, and special community gatherings like Rhythm + Raku. She is passionate about creating welcoming creative spaces where people of all ages can explore clay, build confidence, and connect with other makers.

Milissa believes there is an artist in everyone, and she loves helping students carve out time for creativity, experimentation, and the joy of making something by hand.