Colours of Lisbon
Words: Tous Mag | Image Credits: © Ren•Vois |
Tous Mag spoke with Ren•Vois the ceramic design studio of Tina Huang, located in California. Together with her husband Eric, Ren•Vois aims to bring a lifestyle brand of distinctive ceramic designs with sophisticated spontaneity. Predominantly working with porcelain clay, which has no sand or grog in the clay body, Tina hand-dyes each pound of clay before throwing it on the pottery wheel and the porcelain allows for brighter, more saturated colours. The effect is simply beautiful. Read the full interview, below!
Tous Mag: Where are you based?
Tina Huang: My studio is located at City of Industry, CA which is 10 miles east of Downtown Los Angeles. I love that I was able to find a raw space to renovate and configure specifically to my studio needs. I was inspired by a trip to Marrakech a few years ago and painted the studio walls in the same shade of blush pink that runs throughout the Medina in Marrakesh. My studio is also a 2 minute drive from one of the largest clay suppliers in the U.S.
Tous Mag: Would you say there’s a strong scene for makers in LA?
Tina Huang: Los Angeles has so many subcultures and the creative scene here inevitably reflects the diversity of the city. There’s been an exponential growth of LA art spaces in the past five years and there is definitely a sense of community, especially amongst ceramicists. As creatives in Los Angeles, we are so lucky to be surrounded by and inspired by the different landscapes of the city.
Toug Mag: What do your collections consist of?
Tina Huang: I create everything from tableware for high end restaurants to decorative home pieces such as vases and lamps. I am currently working on a sculpture collection inspired by Jean Arp and Barbara Hepworth.
Tous Mag: Was there a significant moment that sparked your ceramic journey?
Tina Huang: I grew up in Los Angeles and moved back here after 10 years of working in the Fashion Industry in New York City. I loved the slower pace of LA and started taking a ceramics class to explore a craft where an object is solely made with your hands and not on a computer. The following year I travelled to Copenhagen and got to dine at Noma. I was so inspired by the tableware pieces that held each dish and my love for ceramics kind of took off from there.
Tous Mag: The colour palettes you use are so distinctive, how do you go about choosing them?
Tina Huang: The colour palettes that I use for my collections are all inspired by my travels. This year I am working with colours that are inspired from a trip to Lisbon last year. The city is covered in beautifully patterned tiles and I’ve been so enamoured with the bright pastel shades of the city ever since. I mainly work with porcelain clay which has no sand or grog in the clay body. I hand-dye each pound of clay before throwing it on the pottery wheel and the porcelain allows for brighter, more saturated colours.
Tous Mag: What’s your biggest ambition?
Tina Huang: I would love for Ren•Vois to become an international homeware brand. Using my experience from knitwear design, I am currently working on a line of knit throws and pillows. My goals are to have Ren•Vois objects available in every aspect of the home.
Tous Mag: What would you describe as your biggest achievement?
Tina Huang: I mostly feel a sense of achievement when I see customers at craft fairs who express that they love and appreciate my work. Because each piece is solely created my me, I am most proud when buyers consistently return to purchase pieces for their home or loved ones.
Tous Mag: Do you have any hobbies?
Tina Huang: When I am not at the pottery wheel, I am usually cooking or baking. I love trying new recipes to plate on my tableware pieces and thinking of new shapes that will compliment whatever I am cooking in the kitchen.
Tous Mag: What’s the soundtrack to your creating process?
Tina Huang: My favourite music right now is the Soul Lounge playlist on Spotify. I currently have Lucky Daye and H.E.R. albums on repeat!
