Ceramics is an ancient process that is often taken for granted today. There are techniques created to modernize and mass-produce pottery, but it’s people like Tiffany Lowery who help keep the tradition alive and push it forward. Tiffany is the owner and founder of The Nature’s Clay, a local pottery studio in Moss Bluff, Louisiana. She creates pieces that are as practical as they are captivating.
Tiffany reminisces about how her passion for clay began. She was attending McNeese State University when her childhood best friend, Christa Daigle, insisted she take Introduction to Clay. Tiffany remembers staying after class to work on projects until midnight, or until the security guards escorted them out, whichever came first. “I was horrible at it [wheel throwing], so that’s why I had to stay so long,” Tiffany said. “I couldn’t make things as fast as everybody else, but somehow, I couldn’t stop thinking about it all the time.”
When times got tough, Tiffany turned to pottery as a therapeutic process. “I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I was scared to graduate, scared to choose a major, and scared I might fail in life! And [pottery] was a really good outlet for me.” She still notes today that her craft helps her get through hard times. Even finding herself lost in her own work at times, “I was so engrossed in the vase I was making in class that I forgot everyone around me was there,” Tiffany continued, “I’ve never experienced that before.” But it wasn’t overnight, or in just one semester, that she mastered her new found passion. Seeing her own growth fueled her ambition to push forward. She started selling her creations to friends and family during the early stages of her pottery career, but it wasn’t until after she graduated from McNeese in 2021 that she began selling her work to the public. Thus, The Nature’s Clay was born!
When asked about the business side of The Nature’s Clay, Tiffany said, “I only thought of it as a business when I first started. I feel like that’s what helped me the most at first.” By approaching her craft as a business, Tiffany was able to move past her tendency to obsess over the details. She focused on creating and pricing her pieces as soon as they were ready, without getting caught up in the imperfections that only she could see. On the other hand, becoming a salesperson for The Nature’s Clay wasn’t second nature. Tiffany explains that, just like her journey in clay, keeping consistent and tracking progress helped her develop her sales skills. “I really struggled at first because I wanted everything to be perfect. It has gotten easier with doing more [art] markets because you get more comfortable.”
Tiffany’s story is more than just “artist turned small businesswoman.” She has a passion that fuels her profession, allowing her to push her own boundaries and create meaningful pieces. For Tiffany, pottery is not just a skill, it’s a lifelong journey that continues to shape both her art and her life.
If you’re interested in meeting this wonderful SWLA business, The Nature’s Clay hosts private and public classes! You can also see her at a handful of local markets in SWLA. Check out her website and follow the studio on social media to keep up with everything she’s doing!
Thank you for letting me join you in your workshop, Tiffany! It’s was great hearing your success story!
This month’s song is Dripping Sun by Kikagaku Moyo. After sitting down with Tiffany in her studio, I left feeling with a since of peace and calm. Her studio is a great space and it naturally sparks creativity, much like the feeling I get when I listen to any Kikagaku Moyo. Give them a listen!
Resourcefulness and creativity are one and the same here in Southwest Louisiana, and it shows in every aspect of our culture! Follow along as we sit down with some of our favorite local artists and business owners to find out why they love what they do. Thank you for reading!
Written By: Grant Kelly
Edited By: Eloise Kelly
Grant Kelly 
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