The quality of color and light observed on daily walks is the starting point for my painting. The play of shimmering light, reflected color, and cast shadows in the natural and architectural environments I see transports me to a luxurious, contemplative space. I attempt to recreate this state in my paintings.

I paint on self-constructed translucent silk surfaces that are flexible yet rigid. Folded, floated and illuminated, my sculptural approach to these paintings challenges traditional methods of display.

Subtle chromatic complexities result from multiple thin glazes of acrylic media and pigments, often painted on both the front and back of these layered surfaces. Layering and glazing allow chroma and luminosity to enter the work and radiate from within, creating an environment conducive to introspection and exploration.

Shirley Hazlett, July, 2011

Shirley Hazlett, Installation View, Diego Rivera Gallery, 2011