BEFORE THIS INTERVIEW, I HAD SEEN TIFFANY THOMAS around
Downtown Florence. Something about her intrigued me; her style was
different, and she walked with such confidence as she eased down the
street. After viewing her beautiful work, I looked forward to getting to know
the eclectic artist. She was everything I thought she would be – passionate,
colorful, and charming. Her enthusiasm for life shined bright within her.
But, Tiffany didn’t always have that confidence she exuded on those
days when I’d see her walk past our office. There were many times when
she was unsure as to where she fit into the world. “When I was in middle
school, I was bullied for not being “black enough”, and when I transferred
tiffany
thomas
to a private high school, I was bullied for being black. I had so many in-
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securities when I started college. But, it was the awesome art faculty at
Of course, throwing on the pottery wheel does take time and practice, but
Francis Marion University and art itself that helped me gain confidence in
the end result is so rewarding. The ceramics professor at FMU, Doug Gray,
myself. I don’t regret being bullied; it has shaped me to be who I am and
was so patient and kind. I constantly asked questions and experimented
has transformed me to be sensitive to others. Turning negative energy and
with glaze calculation and different types of clay. The art faculty at FMU
experiences into something positive is a creative way to live.”
was so wonderful.”
Growing up on a farm with five siblings was quite interesting for Tiffany.
The first ceramic piece she created was a pinch pot. “During my
Of course, it was lots of fun, too! “We had chickens, pigs, dogs, an d cats.
senior show, I created over one hundred small pinch pots and placed
We would play outside all day, making mud pies and climbing trees. My
them on the ground as an installation. I called them Sin Pots; each pot
mother planted a huge garden in the spring that would tide us over for
represented.
the summer and fall.” It is these memories that impact her artwork today.
Tiffany is inspired not only by life on the farm but also by her
“Nature has always been a huge part of my art because we were so im-
boyfriend, Symon Gibson. “He’s so fascinating. We are both artists, so
mersed in it. For me, God constantly shows his love for us by providing
our relationship is never boring! I painted different portraits of him
the resources of the earth. It’s why I etch the mountains and trees on my
on recycled wood; some happy, some sad.” She also places large and
ceramic pieces and use scrap wood to create my portraits. My dad is a
small pieces of wood on canvas to represent the weight of emotions.
contractor. I used to screw wood pieces to a board for my paintings. The
Currently, Tiffany is focusing her talents on abstract and nature.
wood is from discarded pieces used at his job site or from around the farm.”
“I love how strong and resilient trees are. I also love driving in the
Once she began taking ceramic classes at FMU, Tiffany fell in love. “It’s
mountains. Mountains have always fascinated me; their size is so over-
so peaceful and relaxing. Clay is so wonderful. The texture and plasticity
whelming. It makes me feel so small, but not in a negative way. I feel
of clay is so interesting! I love the way it feels when I throw on the pot-
God’s overwhelming love when I’m in their presence. It’s His artwork.”
tery wheel. I also love how porcelain clay shows its translucency when
A self-proclaimed “sucker” for art theory, Tiffany is currently partici-
fired to a high temperature. I was immediately drawn to clay because I’ve
pating in a color theory challenge on her Instagram page. “I’ve always
been a dreamer my whole life. I wasn’t good at going to class or focusing
loved painting abstracts, so I decided to try painting one a day. I post
during lectures. I think just the process of creating pieces, glazing, and
it to Instagram to hold myself accountable. Of course, I like some more
firing can be so complex and fascinating that it’s hard to lose interest.
than others. But, that’s the beauty of art.” CONTINUED...
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