NICOLA HART
Music by Mozart - Clarinet Concerto in A major, K. 622 - III. Rondo, Allegro - Interpreted by William McColl - Via Musopen
NICOLA HART
ARTIST
Sydney, NSW, Australia
I have loved reconnecting with people I photographed and filmed over the years, thanks to my 30-day-30-interview challenge. So much so that I have decided to keep posting a new Journal article every Monday. It will be interviews, travel logs, films behind the scenes and much more. Let’s start with a very talented artist who wears her name on her sleeve: Nicola Hart. Read More
A few screen captures from the film above…
Nicola creates the most delicate porcelain and clay pieces as well as still life paintings. The day I came to visit her studio in the north of Sydney, at the back of a lush garden, we focused (mind the pun!) on the ceramic side of her practice. She builds her pieces by hand, starting with a piece of clay she cuts like a French cheesemonger: with extreme precision and celerity. It’s then flattened on her works bench with a rolling pin not dissimilar to mu kitchen one. She moulds the pastry looking porcelain or clay into plates, cups, bowls, vases you want to buy for your dream tea-party. With the tip of her fingers, she smooths the edges and shapes them into petal thin borders giving them a fragile, organic aspect inspired from nature.
Plates with ruffled edges are my favourite. There is a very feminine, delicate, and fun look but also feel to them that gives my heart a little squeeze every time I pull one out of my plate drawer. I bought my first Nicola Hart plates at Glenmore House, in the treasure trove that is Mickey Robertson’s store (don’t miss her fantastic interview HERE).
I was so pleased to be invited to Nicola’s studio and observe her process. What a treat it was. I hope you enjoy the short film I made in 2019. It’s really a slow observation of her work. Gosh I would do things differently now, I would have loved to have interviewed Nicola then, and added her voice to the work. I would have liked to respect the pace and sound of her gestures more, but I didn’t know how to at the time. Hopefully I’ll be able to go back and do a different type of film. To fill up the gaps I’ve asked Nicola to answer my interview below. Learning more about her was a real pleasure. Let me share it with you.
Connect with Nicola
INTERVIEW
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My mum picked the name Nicola because she thought it was pretty, and my middle name is Joy, after my grandmother. My father has always called me Nicole as long as I can remember.
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I was born in Wellington, New Zealand, but grew up mostly in Auckland. I have lived in Sydney for the last 33 years.
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I’m sad to say I can only speak English, but would love to speak French and Italian if I could.
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I make hand built ceramics from porcelain and stoneware clays. I am also a figurative painter, mostly in oil paint.
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That’s a really hard question, and I can only narrow it down to artists! Paul Gaugin had a big impact on me, as well as Chaim Soutine and Elmer Bischoff.
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When I was young I wanted to be a vet because I love animals, but soon realised that you had to see mostly sick animals, not just cute kittens and puppies! I was also into a lot of sport, particularly gymnastics. Drawing and making were always there, something I did constantly and loved. I had a wonderful art teacher at high school who really encouraged me to pursue art.
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Probably buying myself a one way ticket to Sydney without realising I would never move back to New Zealand.
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Honestly, when I am painting and making in the studio, time just disappears. It is my happy place, where I feel calm and most in tune with my thoughts.
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When I first began making ceramics I stumbled into a wonderful little shop called the Lost & Found Department, owned by Silvia Noble. She was so supportive of my work and asked me to make some pieces for her store. They all sold so I made more, and through her contacts with stylists many of my ceramics were featured in magazines. I was amazed that people were interested in what I was doing, and it really propelled my work to the next level.
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I am mostly self taught in both ceramics and painting, and I think the most difficult thing has been teaching myself about the technicalities of both. Learning to operate a kiln and the processes involved to get the results I wanted was mostly trial and error.
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I think my favourite word is Mum, because it means so much to me to be a Mum and I am very grateful that I was able to do that in my life. Watching my 3 boys grow up and become wonderful people is one of my greatest joys.
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Honesty, respect and compassion.
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Before I started making ceramics I used to collect vintage china, particularly tea cups. I still have a big collection but I have stopped buying them! Probably the other thing I love is art books, each one offers the possibility of new things to learn.
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Really it is my family, they mean more to me than anything. But for material possessions, my wedding rings and my kiln.
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I love crepes, pancakes and pastry, but as I am gluten free I don’t really get to eat those things.
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The book I keep going back to at the moment is ‘Bay Area Figurative Art’ by Caroline A. Jones, so many wonderful painters to learn from.
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“All the Light you cannot see” on Netflix, loved it and couldn’t stop watching.
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I recently rewatched Julie and Julia, and it still makes me laugh and cry. Meryl Streep is always wonderful.
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In the studio I love a bit of R&B, it gives me energy and keeps me moving!
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Painter
Cronulla, NSW, Australia