Index

Susan Hazard Fine Art  

Winter - Early Spring Update

Hello everyone! You haven’t seen a newsletter for a number of months because I have been on the move. Many changes have occurred since spring of 2005. After the majority of my life calling Santa Barbara, California home, the opportunity arose to search for a new home. I “interviewed” the west coast of the United States, from Santa Barbara to the top of Washington state. When I drove into Port Townsend, Washington I knew I’d found a place that was special. It’s a nationally registered historical Victorian seaport and town, with a thriving art community, Victorian brick buildings, harbor and ferry, and views to the numerous islands across the water. The landscape even reminds me of the west coast of Ireland! It has been a very busy year, with finding and renovating a home, and setting up a new studio, plus having a large, established garden to discover and tend, but all worthwhile. The people are great, the views and surrounding landscape inspirational, and even the change of climate and introduction to their seasons has been a treat. I finally have found out the reason for a cold winter—it’s a good excuse for going inside and doing your artwork! Lots of new images coming forth, which you can see on my updated web page. New series include Atmosphere, of skies and clouds—a lot more abstract than the gardens. Once the weather turns spring warm, it’s out in the wonderful landscapes for plein air painting—endless fields, tall mountains, dark trees, spacious old barns. I have begun showing my work at the Port Townsend Gallery. It is an artist’s cooperative gallery, and has some of the best art and crafts I have encountered in the area. In October 2005 I traveled a month in Ireland and Great Britain, visiting friends and galleries, and re-discovering Scotland. It was a journey of surprises and reflections. The painting exhibit at the Princes Arms Hotel, in Trefriw, Conwy, North Wales is installed, and although Kennys Gallery in Galway is moving out of their 800-year old building in the historic area of town in 2006, they will have an even larger exhibit area near the quays, and will continue to show my work. If you plan to be in Ireland or Great Britain this year, be sure to note the galleries and the Princes Arms Hotel exhibiting my work, and drop in to say hello!

Susan in Edinburgh 
with “William Wallace, the Pict” with his traditional kilt and kit
October 2005

Atmosphere 1
© Susan Hazard 2005

“Traveler: What kind of weather are we going to have today?
                Shepherd: The kind of weather I like.
          Traveler: How do you know it will be the kind of weather you like?
                    Shepherd: Having found out, sir, I cannot always get what I like, 
                            I have learned always to like what I get.
             So I am quite sure we will have the kind of weather I like.”
                        Anthony De Mello, S.J. in The Heart of the Enlightened

NEW TECHNIQUES

Artists often fall into an artistic rut. Many reasons are the excuse—the public identifies a particular technique or style with an artist, galleries don’t encourage experimentation (if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it!), fear of failure. Experimentation, however, keeps the creative life lively. New directions into uncharted territories can produce rewarding experiences and sometimes treasures. Even if the side trip doesn’t produce a piece of art good enough to frame and exhibit, the journey itself has opened the mind. An open mind contributes to courage, a striving for the illusive perfection of fine art. The viewing public can abandon an artist if they become confused if they don’t recognize the signature work. Galleries, exhibiting successful painting styles, may discourage an artist from veering from the course of financially successful images and techniques.  The fear of failure often inhibits an artist from trying new techniques. Ultimately, if the creative mind doesn’t stretch and wander, poke and rummage about in the world of new ideas, the artist will could grow stagnant. Creativity at its core is change. Welcome the creative change!

Palette knife painting exclusively has been my style for over twelve years. Time for a change!
Obviously, the climate in the Pacific Northwest is much more damp than Southern California. I knew that when I moved here. But what I didn’t anticipate was my impasto (very thick) oil paint surfaces struggling to dry in a timely manner. As within the year! (I don’t remember if I experienced the same challenge when I was painting in Ireland…but I’m sure I did!) Plus, painting plein air (outdoors) presents a challenge in transporting wet paintings from site to studio. I am returning to my watercolor technique, for a change. It’s fun to use paint brushes again! The watercolors dry quickly, and although they are a challenge, they are well suited to plein air painting. Watercolors, as many of you trying them, are a constant reminder that the artist is not in control. The medium is unpredictable, sometimes frustrating, and always rewarding...if you are ready for surprises. I am not giving up oils, especially for my current atmospheric skies, and the ongoing garden series. Watercolors are giving me an opportunity for remembering and developing different techniques. Traditional transparent watercolor technique doesn’t seem as fascinating as mixed media—using pencil, pastel and acrylics with the watercolor medium. It’s a whole new direction for technique, seeing and interpreting the local and island landscapes. Watercolors and mixed media don’t have the same physical aspects or vibrancy of color as oils, but have their own translucent, glowing presence. Look for new landscapes in watercolors and water mixed media soon.

Change is good. I keep telling myself that particular mantra, because change will happen whether you desire it or not. Change is the only constant in our lives. I have heard that the three most stressful events in your life are divorce, death and moving a residence. Once my moving event was over, the opportunities to explore other changes in my life became numerous. Some of the most enjoyable changes are in my art. I have been painting in oils with palette knives since I lived in Ireland. As much as I enjoy and continue the technique, problems in creating and transporting plein air (outdoor) paintings constantly occur. So, after years of being set aside, the brushes are being taken out again. Watercolors are a much easier medium to transport and store. That doesn’t mean they are easier to use. I am beginning to refresh my working knowledge of watercolors, and “taking my show on the road” with a revisited technique. I am beginning to remember that watercolors are not for the timid. Each stroke of transparent paint is final—no scraping or covering up with more paint. It’s a frustrating challenge at times, but as I am already discovering, very rewarding. Look to my web site in the future months for the results! Also, my fascination with assemblage sculpture is growing. I am not only finding wonderful sources for “found objects” and junque, but lovely old suitcases. Yes, the gypsy soul in me is still making assemblage pieces in suitcases. I showed two pieces in a recent Small Images show at the Northwind Arts Alliance Gallery in Port Townsend, and now am involved in a series of Traveling Shrines. Look for images on my web site soon!