Written by S. Todd
So it’s going down, Lower Branch’s One Year Anniversary Blowout July 22nd at 111 Minna! There will be a host of dope artists including Zamon, Robert Bowen, Ricky Watts as well music by DJ Quest, Fist Fam, and Rec League and a ton of others will be there displaying their art and rocking the mic. I recently got the chance to sit down with one such artist, Hazel Jeans out of Martinez California to find out what we can expect from him as an artist and at the show…
LB: When did you start creating art?
Hazel: I don’t really know when. I guess I thought I could start doing art when I was maybe in high school, I said to myself “Hey I like doing this and I’m pretty good.”
LB: Now when you say “doing” art what do you mean. Were you doodling? Were you painting? What were you creating?
Hazel: Usually I would use pen and ink, maybe color pencils, because they are easy to carry around. I like to paint and do more technical stuff, but I like the portability of pen and ink and just a sheet of paper. So I would say my stuff is most illustrations.
LB: Are there any other mediums that you like to use? Are you experimenting with anything right now?
Hazel: I really like using scratch board. You know that dark film on a white surface? So you are literally drawing a white line on a black surface, rather than white paper and black ink. Scratch board gives some really nice effects, nice night effects and shadows. It has a really eerie effect to it. I also like watercolors, watercolors give great tones to illustrations.
LB: Is there any type of message that you are trying to portray in your work?
Hazel: I wouldn’t say messages, but more sensations. I like to create a world and have the view interpret their message. There might be an overwhelming “feel” to a piece, but I don’t like to have messages in my art work. I like to have the viewer see what they want to see in my work.
LB: Have you had any formal training?
Hazel: Well I go to my local JC, and they have a pretty good art program. I have taken almost every class there. I like to have my own ideas and work with those and not have assignments like copying photos or anything like that.
LB: Do you have any inspirations?
Hazel: Not so much inspiration as its competition for me. I really like have good artists around me, because it pushes me to do something new.
LB: Some healthy completion then?
Hazel: Yeah I like completion in art. That’s why this Lower Branch Anniversary party is going to be a good thing; because I can be assured there will be other talented artist there. You know I go on hikes a lot, nature has a lot to do with my themes. I have been finding these animal skulls on my hikes and painting them. I can really do some cool stuff with them. I hope to show those at the show. And lastly there is that occasional girl in my life that I will draw some inspiration from.
LB: So are you looking forward to the show?
Hazel: Absolutely! I think people will definitely notice my work.
LB: Well thank you Hazel we look forward to seeing you on July 22nd at 111 Mina for Lower Branch’s first anniversary party!
