Statement
I love art that abstractly connects, stimulating the mind, calming the soul. Art is sensual, worldly and powerful, extending beyond the natural world, often referenced in my abstract paintings, to a spiritual realm.
Originally working in watercolor, employing similar approaches, I create paintings on stiffened silk, a unique technique I developed while completing an MFA in painting at the San Francisco Art Institute. Sculptures from found items address conceptual themes.
The process of creating art is inventive and creative. When painting, I set parameters of size and media, a thematic focus, and begin to paint, allowing the paint itself to point to a resolution of the work, engaging in a mental dialog with the materials until the final image is created. Creating sculptures from found items is influenced by objects that are found locally; a concept or theme being addressed influenced the combining, modification, and painting of items found, creating a cohesive sculpture.
I have had a lifelong love for the arts, starting at age 7 when I was the self-appointed family photographer with my beloved Brownie Starflash Kodak camera. My first found item sculpture was a hat I fabricated as a pre-teen, from toys found in my room. After 30 years as a professional educator, I completed BA degrees in Art History and Art Studio at the California State University, Sacramento, then an MFA in Painting at the San Francisco Art Institute. I enjoy working through exploration in my Sacramento studio, where I create peaceful art that engages the mind. My subject matter, whether abstract or representational, is influenced by the natural world.
My current set of six paintings at UUSS for the Spring Abstractions show are part of my peaceful art series.
Copyright 2026, Shirley Hazlett, all rights reserved