Five Minutes With: Hazel Schlesinger

Published 4:58 am Thursday, March 6, 2014

Born in Seaside and raised outside of Cannon Beach and Seaside in Hamlet Route, this artist graduated from Seaside High School with an art scholarship. After college, Schlesinger returned to the coast to teach several years at Cannon Beach Elementary School. Now living in Lake Oswego, Schlesinger maintains a family beach home on the North Coast to keep her roots planted.

Is there anything you are currently working on or have recently finished?

I have just completed two paintings for the Savor Cannon Beach food and wine event. The paintings Wine Views and Out of the Blue can be seen at Northwest by Northwest Gallery, 232 N. Spruce St. in the heart of Cannon Beach.

There will be a reception from 2:30 to 4:30 Friday, March 7. Wine juror Patrick McElligott, of Sineann Winery, will be there. Noted guitarist Bobcat Bob will perform jazz and blues classics and originals, and chef Lee Vance of Manzanitas new restaurant Black Bird will create savory bites. A donation will be asked for the local food pantry of those who are not participating in the Savor Cannon Beach Passport program. For more information, call 503-436-0741 or email info@nwbynwgallery.com

How did you get involved in art? Involved in selling your art?

I had wonderful encouraging teachers in the Seaside School District, starting with Sally Steidel of Cannon Beach, Linda Campbell and Carla Babby of Seaside, who sparked the desire of painting that still motivates me today.

Years ago I was approached by a gallery in Portland to do a show and have been selling paintings since.

What art mediums do you work in and where do you show? Would you consider yourself a full-time artist?

Oil is my favorite medium, and I am also enjoying acrylics. My work is shown at Northwest by Northwest Gallery in Cannon Beach, the Portland Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery, Gallery H in Tubac, Ariz., and AUM Gallery in Denver Colo. As an artist I should say I work full time and a half! When not with brush in hand, I am photographing or doing something related directly to art and always learning or studying something new from or with other artists.

What subjects or themes do you focus on in your artwork?

I enjoy painting Oregons landscapes, vistas, coastlines and vineyards along with boats, fishermen, clam diggers and people enjoying what they love to do.

What inspires you in life and art?

I believe we are born with a personal template that for artists includes the love of the visual world, which we create or cultivate in ourselves. There are so many inspirations in each and every day from light to shadows, weather, clouds, water, people as well as the earths beauty. So much to paint and so little time.

If you could meet one artist, alive or dead, who would it be and what would you want to know?

There are so many wonderful artists, but I simply cannot limit myself to just one. So here are my top three: Vincent van Gogh for his bold, powerful use of color and emotional honesty; John Singer Sergeant for his figures, fabric brushwork and light; and Joquin Sorella y Bastida a master of mood and light for his active moving figures involved in beach and boat scenes. I would want to know it all: the stories, the lessons, the struggles and the victories.

What is your favorite thing to do on the North Coast?

I am a coastie, so clamming and fishing are favorites, but, naturally just being on the beach tops the list. Often I hike with my painting gear in my backpack so I can set up any moment to do a plein air painting. Speaking of which, I am happy to participate once again in this years fifth annual Cannon Beach Plein Air event in June as a Northwest by Northwest Gallery artist.

If you could go back in time and give your younger self some advice, what would it be?

Follow your instincts or inner voice and paint from direct sunlight in plein air. Enjoy life!