Taste, feel, sight, hearing, and smell–the five senses are often taken for granted by the average person. Yet, in her artist-centered mindset and creative demeanor, Tina Huang utilizes each of her senses to create unique pieces of pottery with undiscovered techniques and a true love for ceramics.

“I find myself drawn to the feel of the clay, the bright colors of the pigments, and the smell of the food that sits on a finished product,” Huang said.

Huang is a ceramic artist based in City of Industry and owner of Ren Vois, who, in contrast with the ordinary potter, dyes porcelain to create contrasting colors instead of the typical dull shades that come from glazed pieces of gritty, stone-infused clay. She combines her love of food with the art, commissioning pieces for well-established restaurants around Southern California.

However, Huang’s journey with the five senses and with clay was developed over time, a plethora of trials and experiences shaping the way she angled her hands, used her sight, and built off of her love for the taste of fine dining.

“The path to me falling in love with ceramics was a long one,” Huang said. “I loved all things art for much of my life, but really finding something I was passionate about required me to use all my abilities in ways I wasn’t used to.”

The first sense Huang needed to harness to realize her purpose was to feel. As a fashion designer in New York who thought working with reputable brands like Calvin Klein and Target would fulfill her desires, Huang quickly realized the only thing she was feeling each day from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. was a dingy computer. Instead of touching soft, silky fabrics or using a cold, silver needle to create intricate designs, Huang would spend hours on end in front of a screen, taking measurements for a piece of clothing that would be mass-produced overseas.

“All of a sudden, I realized I needed to do something more tangible and more interactive with my own hands,” said Huang.

So, after ten years in the fashion industry, Huang began touring countries like Spain, Portugal, England, and Japan, where she realized her appreciation for the delicate taste and heart-warming smell of fine dining. Soon, her fondness transferred to a deep interest in observing the intricate pieces of pottery on which world-class meals were served.

“I absolutely love fine dining. It makes me happy, and when I saw the ceramics under the food, I suddenly realized what I had to do,” Huang said.

After a few ceramic classes, Huang began experimenting with wheel spinning. However, the feel of the rough stone in ordinary clay on her hands and the look of washed-out colors from glazing led Huang to experiment with other techniques. She decided to make pieces that would satisfy people like herself–food lovers.

Huang discovered mason stain, a powder used to pigment cement, and she got her hands on porcelain, a smooth, supple clay that felt like butter on her skin. Satisfying her senses, she took years to perfect a technique that would speak to the hands, eyes, mouth, nose, and even the ears.

“The hardest part of the process was finding that middle ground where I could spin a plate or bowl that not only spoke to my standards but my clients as well,” Huang said.

With a few years of ceramics under her belt, in 2016, Huang opened her business, Ren Vois, a name inspired by an inside joke with Huang’s husband, showing a more humorous side to the artist.

Huang’s business boomed, Michelin star restaurants like Night Shade, Auburn, Kali, and Kato commissioning Ren Vois to make smooth, yet colorful plates, bowls, cups, and jugs.

“I’ve worked with many restaurants which means a lot because it allows me to create art for food, two of my favorite things,” Huang said.

Although the artist had found her passion, her journey with the five senses was far from over. Each day was another trial, and Huang’s sense of sight still needed to be molded. Creating that perfect Pantone-matching color using mason stain required precise measurements, incredible concentration, and the ability to see the most minuscule difference between two shades.

“When I first started Ren Vois, I only had about a few perfected colors on my board,” Huang said. “Now, I have fifty.”

Huang spent two years executing her unique color-making process, which was inspired by Tortoise, a ceramist who mixes different glazes to produce extraordinary colors. With her powders, Huang satisfies the eyes with baby blues, bright yellows, deep greens, and muddy browns.

Nonetheless, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Huang found herself in a dilemma–many of her clients’ restaurants went out of business due to restrictions on in-person dining.

“The pandemic hit hard, not only for me but for so many of my chef friends. It was a difficult time,” Huang said.

Fortunately, by 2025, Ren Vois, with its unique creations, found a way out of the dark hole. Contrary to most pottery business owners, Huang credits each of her five senses to her success. Inspired by the taste of finely crafted meals, motivated by the feel of the buttery porcelain clay on her hands, excited when she sees a perfect color, captivated by the sound of the wheel spinning, and satisfied when the smell of food on the finished product, is what makes Huang who she is–a ceramic pioneer.

“I’m just incredibly grateful to be doing what I’m doing,” Huang said. “I love it.”

But, perhaps the most important sense for Huang is emotion. Despite initial disapproval of her art, the struggle of running a business, and the strenuous nature of throwing, trimming, and firing clay, Huang has a passion for her craft.

“For anyone unsure of what they want to do, just do what you want and what brings you comfort,” said Huang.