Check out Deana Hicks Pottery by Deana Hicks’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deana Hicks Pottery by Deana Hicks.

Deana Hicks, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Before becoming a full-time artist I spent many years in the Interior Design business and was a Real Estate agent and Staging Professional for 14+ years in El Paso, TX. During this time, I started doing pottery with a group of ladies as a hobby. We met on Fridays, played in the mud for about 3 hours, then enjoyed a glass of wine, (or two)! We were self-taught through trial and error (mostly error, lol)! It took about a year before I finally had a successful piece that did not crack or break! With hand building you do not use a wheel. You roll the clay like dough, then stamp, sculpt, and form it by hand. The clay has to be just right, not too wet, or not too dry. It dries for a week, then you fire it in a kiln. It is then painted with ceramic glazes and fired again. I have created a unique technique that requires glazes to be layered, and fired several times to achieve the desired depth, texture, and color.

For the last 5 years, I taught acrylic, and glass painting parties, as well as hand building pottery classes in my home studio. I participated in several local art gallery shows and El Paso Artist Studio Tour. All of this experience was training for what I love doing most. Creating functional, custom, pottery art! I am mostly known for my pet art, (crosses, and plaques) inspired by pictures of your pet and free form bowls. When I moved to Phoenix this year, I narrowed my artistic focus to building a pottery business. Back problems have made it impossible to haul stuff around doing art shows, so I opened an online Etsy shop to sell my work. My home studio is open by appointment as well.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My hand-built pottery is somewhat Southwest Bohemian style! I am influenced by the southwest desert landscape, cultures, and spirituality where I live and grew up.

I enjoy creating functional art. I use food safe glazes where you can have your art and eat with it too!

Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
The art business is like any other business. It is always changing and evolving. It is a constant learning game, and you need to try it all: Galleries, shows, and Social Media, then do what works for you! My advice is to make what you like, not what you think others will like!

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I sell my work through Etsy and by appointment at my home studio. Etsy is a big online shop, so I need all the help I can get to help build my new business. Please “like”, “comment” and “share” my work in my Etsy shop, Instagram, and Facebook.

Contact Info:

• Address: North Phoenix, Arizona
• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/PotterybyDeanaHicks
• Phone: 9152418808
• Email: deanahicks02@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/potterybydeanahicks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/potterybydeanahicks/

Image Credit:
The 1.personal photo is courtesy of El Paso Times, El Paso Artists Studio Tour 2015. I have permission to share if credit of source is given. 2. Collaborated project with Trish Wade. She did torn canvas acrylic painting, I did the pottery frame. 3.Instagram Sunflower dishes new in Etsy Shop, displayed in my house. Painting in the picture is by Trish Wade 4. Cactus Menorah for sale in Etsy shop. 5. Pet Memorial Cross. Custom order. “Jake” was Canadian, Don’t ya know! 6. “Caliente Kahlo” Pottery sculpture on woodscape, won “Best of Show” and 7. “Caliente Catrina”, pottery sculpture on Chile Metal sculpture, won Honorable Mention award in juried 2016 Art from the Heart, Hospice El Paso’s 34th Annual Fundraiser Auction.

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