ARTSPACE

Walking down Grand Avenue toward the Royalty Building on Fourth Street, there is a man looking in the window of the new location for Studio2o5. Since my previous brief encounters with Andrew (Andy) Hicks have been while conducting business at A+ Printing or casually discussing art while he is purchasing a painting at Art Crawl; I’m not sure this is who I am to meet for the interview? As I approach closer, the man turns and smiles. That smile! His expression is warm and welcoming as he recognizes me simultaneously as I do him. My excitement rises to find out more

about the graphic design artist, because I can sense there is so much more to him than just a mild-mannered man with a great smile.

Andy Hicks knew at a young age what he wanted to be and what career path he was going to follow. In grade school, his class took a field trip to learn about all the “moving parts” it takes to publish a daily newspaper. This visit to Tulsa World was a very pivotal moment in the young life of Andy. Just seeing the giant printing presses and feeling the fast-paced energy of the people bustling around him, he knew he was hooked. Standing there in that moment, he immediately fell in love with graphic design and photography instantly and equally. He decided he was going to make newspapers!

In high school he learned print making. From there Hicks got a job working at an alternative newspaper. He started out there by cleaning toilets, taking out the trash, answering phones and doing whatever tasks he could to just be there. Eventually, he started working his way up the “paper chain” by proving

himself. This is where he started to develop his design and photography styles and interview skills. This grew into him being asked to interview and photograph musicians. Andy still does this type of work as a freelancer.

“I like using my gifts to help the community,” Andy said. Throughout Hicks’ adult years, he has continuously volunteered at multiple local nonprofit organizations. Currently, he is donating his time and talents to the Ponca City Main Street organization. Andy goes on to say, “Often these groups are trying to better our towns and neighbors. Unless they are a large organization, they might not have a budget for marketing and design.” This is when Hicks steps up to offer his services to help their cause.

As a designer, Andrew believes that his versatility is the key to his success. Over the last two decades, he has had the opportunity to design everything from business cards to van wraps. The many types of artistic mediums he has mastered is what gives him the most enjoyment and allows him to be highly creative.

The one constant in his artistic career that still excites him is photography. Andy has had the opportunity to photograph musicians of all types of genres, from small local bands to big names that can fill a football stadium with fans wanting to hear their music live. When asked who his favorite band/musician was to photograph, he stated without hesitation, that it was his stepson. Known by his stage name, Yung Trucks, is the one that Hicks is most honored to have been given the chance to photograph one of his live performances in a small Tulsa venue.

“I was working for a greenhouse in Tulsa that ironically was co-owned by Ponca City native, Sue Welch. Out of a need for wanting marketing photos, I started snapping pics of flowers to use for advertisements and promo material. I guess it just kind of stuck.” Andy continues, “Over the last couple of years it has become an obsession. Flowers have complex textures hidden past the bright colors. When you get in real close you can see all the layers that make this simple looking object so fascinating.”

Hicks has recently discovered photographing flowers at night. He enthusiastically exclaimed, “Flowers don’t sleep. The colors seem so much more vibrate and moody, like a Lana Del Rey video. I think that is why I like them. I’m an artist, of course I like things moody and dramatic.” Of course! However, moody and dramatic would not be the words I would describe his food photography.

“I get to experiment with different mediums; and while the end products are varied, the process to create them, at least for me, is the same,” Andy confessed. Andrew Hicks is a true modern-day Renaissance man. He can do it all, and I am sure he will continue to add to his long list of accomplishments and mastered skills while residing in Ponca City. To learn more about Andrew (Andy) Hicks, you can visit: instagram.com andrewtheartist78

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