Hazel Money
Do you concentrate on one medium, or do you work in several?
I tend to work in acrylic paints as they are so versatile for both sketching or finished works. Back in the studio I sometimes use oil, which allows a longer drying time for blending softer edges, also with thicker more opaque paint on the whole, but my style remains the same. When on the move I carry sketchbook and use pen and wash which is much more transportable, these are often worked up into finished paintings later. Occasionally though I take a “holiday” and use pastels or graphite for a change, it’s refreshing to ditch the brushes once in a while and get your hands dirty.
Tell us about your workspace.
I am very lucky to enjoy a large studio at home (back bedroom, north facing) where I can leave work half-finished or amass copious source material to inspire me. There are several desks, easels and a lot of shelves for all my materials, and spacious walls where I can hang works I’m not quite sure about. I mustn’t take it for granted though so try to make the most of it while I can.
What inspires you?
I try to walk every day, whether near my home or on trips around the UK, and most of my inspiration comes from places I have been, be it a dramatic windy hillside or just small corner with an interesting or quirky detail I might be able to use. Autumn is my favourite time of year for painting as the low sunlight colours tree bark a wonderful series of greens, and gives me the opportunity to use my favourite colour combination of orange against blue - leaves against sky. I also love looking at the work of other artists, both contemporary and historical. Galleries, books, magazines and instagram are all good places to absorb ideas and I always make time to see as much art as I can.
Do you have a favourite piece in your Little Gallery exhibition?
My favourite painting is simply the most recent I have completed, because each new work is a fresh creation and often I am surprised by how they turn out. The paintings you see are the “keepers”. At least two in three are scrapped or re-worked so chances are there will be a few different layers beneath each work. I am only happy when a painting starts to have a “soul” of its own, as all my works are very individual. I know when it has worked when I’d feel happy to hang it on my own wall, and often struggle to part with my favourites when they sell.
How did you start doing what you do?
My artistic practice started very slowly, over twenty years ago, and I’m still not “there” by a long way. I’ve always drawn and painted but realised it was what I did best while working full-time in an office in the late 1990’s. By 2005 I had enrolled myself on a fine art degree at University, but the journey afterwards was far from smooth and it took a lot of time and determination to shape myself a career from my art.
Do you work on your creative business full time, or do you have another job as well?
I am very proud to say that although it may have taken twenty or so years longer than I’d have liked, I now earn my living entirely from art, giving workshops, tuition and running projects, like this small display. I’m entirely freelance and live alone, and have neither husband or family to support me, just my paint brushes, hard work and buckets of optimism! I left an achingly dull full-time administration role very gradually over about ten years, finally making a complete leap in January 2020 just in time to get locked down, which wasn’t the most promising start. However my background in admin, sales and marketing has given me an organisational streak which gives me the edge when it comes to getting work done - I can often be heard in my studio giving myself a jolly good talking to!
If you have spare time, what do you do with it
I do remember free time, vaguely! In the rare moments this occurs I am usually at rather a loss as to how to spend my time wisely, and can actually start to panic - I am sure this is quite common for the self-employed. I love experimental cooking which gets me away from the computer screen and usually results in a tasty outcome. Other than that a good book, a country walk, and though it sometimes becomes work related, I enjoy a some direct observation with pencil and sketchbook, which I find very calming. I don’t waste time on television but instead play sax in a soul band which is great fun. As an artist I spend a lot of time alone so playing gigs and music is a good way to socialise and a complete change to focussing on visual culture.
What’s next for you
Incredibly, for about twenty years now I have been using the same mix of colours for my landscapes, (yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna and white) and have just about exhausted every possibly combination they can provide. Hilariously, I’m quite excited to be looking forward to trying out a new mix (maybe I should get out more). At this stage I am not quite sure what they will be, but over the next few months will be trying lots of experiment.. Purple, magenta and turquoise blue are colours you don’t necessary find in the landscape, but it might be fun to try them out… watch this space!
