What material(s) do you use in your sculptures?
“I use clay, stones, glass, leather, and rope.“
What is your primary forming method?
“Hand building with clay is what excites I construct my pieces using slab and coil techniques.“
What is your favorite surface treatment?
“My favorite surface treatment involves the juxtaposition of smooth unglazed clay, so that you can see the clay body, contrasting with a heavily textured surface. My surfaces are matte – I use a heavily applied black underglaze, wiped off the textured surface to leave dark in the crevasses.”
What are your favorite Tools?
“I love my fettling knife, it’s my favorite tool. I have a thing for paintbrushes as well.”
Describe your studio environment.
“I work in a coop studio in a private space, I’m glad to have quiet, so that I can think, however there are times when I ask my peers for a second I like working with other likeminded artists, there is a spirit of nurturing each other, I can pick and choose their input. I find that although I may not “get” what they are trying to relate to me, their answers ,none the less ,send me into a different mindset and my answers are found. World music also sets the scene.”
How/Where do you market and sell your artwork?
“My pieces are not functional ceramics, my artwork is in the middle between ceramics and My work has been described as “high end”. I’ve had success at art fairs, art competitions, ATX pottery studio gallery. West, Big Medium, that show has also been good.”
What sparks your creativity? What drives you to create?
“Major inspiration for me is African Art, particularly the basket weaving art of Ghana. Other significant influencers are Constantine Brancusi, Henry Moore, and surprise, M.W. Turner. The way each of these artists broke forms into “essence”. Astounding!! My most creative time is early morning laying in bed, also driving to the studio.”
Did you come to sculpture from a different career? Tell us about your journey to becoming a sculptor.
“I was fortunate to have an art related business for over 40 years. I owned Arrowhead Custom Framing in Austin. Designing frames with clients, archival preservation of their treasures were truly a gift for me. I heard their stories and loved that I inspired creative license to frame their artwork. Picture framing was a world that was always exciting to me. Many of my clients became lifelong friends. My son and daughter took over after covid and I am very proud of this legacy, and I love the astounding work they are producing”
How have you have taken your experience as a well-established maker in the field and passed that knowledge along to other artists?
“The clay environment is a very shared community. It is amazing in that way. I work closely with a granddaughter that amazes me with her creativity, every holiday and birthday are gifts to her of art She has taught me many things. She is 10, we are very simpatico, speak the same language. We bounce ideas together.”
What’s the best advice you’ve been given by a fellow maker, mentor, or teacher?
“Best advice was from a fortune cookie… “do not fear ” Perfectionism is not part of my vocabulary, clay should show your “hands”, accidents form art if you welcome it. I feel free to fail, many of my pieces do not get fired, many do.”
TSOS Member Profile: Candy Chick-Nichols
Website: http://www.mudalchemy.com/
Bio:
After receiving an M.F.A. in fine art from Pratt Institute I married a creatively minded Texas cowboy and began a family.
In 1978 I opened Arrowhead Custom Framing , Austin, and for 40 plus years I worked designing and building archival custom picture framing. My client base included the L.B.J. Library, Briscoe Center, designers, galleries, and a long list of notables, [I won’t name drop, but ask me sometime].
I am influenced by the woven Bolga baskets of Ghana. My sculptures are slab and coil construction, contemporary in feel, neutral in color, earthy, and organic. I love to see the evidence of my hands in the clay.