My name is Cathy Hicks and I work from my Blackbird Ceramics studio in Blackheath, on the land of the Dharug and Gundungurra people.
Ceramics Studio
BLACKHEATH
Over the past 30 years, I have developed my ceramics practice through lessons and workshops with individual potters in both Australia and overseas, as well as short courses at TAFE NSW.
My work is both functional as well as decorative, with careful attention to detail. It is important to me that each ceramic piece has a place in the owner's everyday life and invites the user to take a moment to slow down, observe, feel and touch.
Turning and decorating is as important to me as the making of the piece. For decoration, I am interested in the use of slip, underglaze, texture and glaze combinations. Most of my pieces are wheel-thrown, mainly fired in oxidation in the midfire range. The candlesticks are a relatively new direction in my ceramics practice and are handmade.
Living in the Blue Mountains, one is acutely aware of the changing light, colours and temperatures of the four seasons of the year. Over the time I’ve been practising my craft up here, I’ve developed a seasonal approach to my work:
- rich red clays and warm brown glazes reflect the autumn hues for which Blackheath is especially known;
- black clays and glazes that reflect the early dying of the light in winter, red wine and chocolates by the fire;
- spring is crisp and clear up here, and my white and pastel ranges reflect the clean mountain air that heralds new growth;
- although summers are generally cooler than at sea level, we have hot shiny days too, and the bright cheerful colours of some of my pieces reflect this aspect.
Life slows down to a peaceful pace when I’m making stuff.