I'm Anissa Craig, the hands and heart behind Clay Stories Ceramic Studio—a creative space where curiosity, story, and craft come together through clay.
My path to pottery hasn’t been a straight one, but every chapter has added depth to my work. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies with a double minor in Business and Sociology, as well as a professional certificate in Graphic Design. Early in life, I developed a deep curiosity for people, places, and how we tell our stories—whether through design, daily rituals, or handmade objects.
That same curiosity led me to explore and travel all over the United States. I’ve always been drawn to the textures of the outdoors, the quiet magic of landscapes, and the cultures that give meaning to place. In 2015, I took my first pottery class at Austin Community College and fell completely in love with clay—it felt like a language that had been waiting for me all along.
At the age of 42, I joined the U.S. Army—not out of necessity, but because I wanted to serve my country and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience that would challenge me and shape me. I trained and worked as an X-ray technologist after graduating from the Army Medical School in San Antonio, Texas. That chapter taught me patience, precision, and resilience—skills I now bring into the studio every day.
My pottery style is rooted in storytelling and inspired by nature. I work primarily with hand-building techniques, creating earthy, expressive forms that feel both rustic and intimate. I love using speckled clay, muted coastal tones, and surface decoration techniques like sgraffito, carving, and impression. Many of my designs are drawn directly from my time outdoors or my travel photography—capturing things like winding rivers, fallen leaves, wildflowers, and weathered textures.
For me, clay is a way of slowing down and honoring experience. Every piece I make holds a little piece of a journey—whether that’s across a landscape or simply across the table.
Clay Stories isn’t just a name—it’s a way of life. It’s about making things with meaning, grounded in the beauty of the natural world, and shaped by the stories that connect us all.
