HOLLY HAZEL
Being an artist is a twofold joy.
I create as a way to communicate feelings, contemplate concepts about life and be with the wonder - the spirit of expression. Sharing it with others, the joy expands.
My interests lie in emotions, relationships between people, stories, shapes, color, patterns, symbols and finding beauty and meaning, inspired by the many intriguing things around us.
Inspiration is everywhere - folk art, history, artists, people I meet, authors I read, traveling to new places, music and walks in nature.
Making marks is my instinct and seeing where it leads is exciting and satisfying. Creating, for me, is a balance of loosening and control. I gain perspective about my self and learn with everything I make. It’s a meditation and a celebration. Art is therapy.
I earned a BFA in illustration with the goal of creating children’s book illustrations that would make a positive impression on young kids, just as I enjoyed that magic pairing of words and art in a book.
After college, I was one of many illustrators who created visuals that went along with stories told by residents of a nursing home which was published as a graphic novel called Duplex Planet. Shortly after that brief start at illustrating professionally, I created two lovely humans and my time was spent more on reading the books to my children rather than illustrating books.
Making my positive impression on young kids ended up manifesting in the form of being a teacher, mother and volunteer. I was able to pass on the skills of drawing and other handicrafts, giving kids the tools to access that magic place themselves and at the same time elevating their confidence and developing other skills necessary as an artist - respect, communication, patience, taking risks, making mistakes and perseverance.
Presently, I draw for my own pleasure, release and escape. Many of my drawings are like seeds which have potential to grow into paintings.
Beauty is everywhere. It is a spiritual practice for me to capture interesting things I discover along my path.
I find light, shadow, shapes, textures and colors that please me, taking me to a place of gratitude. Taking photographs is a reminder to myself that there are signs, symbols, poetry and unexpected beauty even in the simplest, normally overlooked things in everyday life. Like life ... light and dark, together, are essential elements that shape everything.
Always, looking for light.
Artistic Projects & Achievements:
• Illustrator - www.amazon.com/dp/0996685391?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
• Commissioned Artist - Alternatives for Girls, Mercy Education Project
• Logo & Administrator of Social Media - St. Michael's Episcopal Church
• Painted Portraits - Private Collections
• Artist Mentor - Teen Art Program, Grosse Pointe Art Association
• Exhibitor/Designer - Pewabic
• Designer - Metal-Smithed Jewelry - ETSY
• Photographer/Designer - Grosse Pointe Library Foundation
• Art Series Leader - Grosse Pointe Library Foundation
Early 2000's
• Private Art Tutor
• Book Cover Illustrator - Jerome, by Jim Gerardi
• Photographer - Vagabond Jewelry Collections
• Photographer - Individual & Family Portraits
• Exhibitor - The Scarab Club, Detroit
• Exhibitor - The Grosse Pointe Art Association
• Art & Handicraft Instructor - Kerby Elementary School
• T-shirt Designer - CafePress
• Designer - Private Collection Wine Label
• Logo - The Knotted Needle, Grosse Pointe
• Logo - The Grosse Pointe Mom's Club, MI
• Murals - All Fired Up Ceramic Studio
• Murals - Drayton Avenue Presbyterian Church
1990's
• K-8 Art Teacher - Immaculate Heart of Mary School, Detroit
• Glazing Assistant - Ceramic Artist, Laurie Eisenhardt, Royal Oak
• Mural - Oakland University
• Mural - Charlie's L' etoile Verte Restaurant, Hilton Head
• Murals/Painted Furniture - Eggs n'tricities shoppe, Savannah
• Exhibitor - Savannah College of Art and Design Art Gallery
• Comic Artist - SCAD Newspaper
• Illustrator - The Duplex Planet, Graphic Novel
Education
BFA in Illustration
The Savannah College of Art and Design, GA
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL
