Hana Aviv

Artist Statement

All my life I wanted to be an artist. After graduation from college with a degree in Biology, I worked in New York City during the day and enrolled in drawing and watercolor classes in the evening. After moving to New Jersey, I intensified my studies by taking evening classes at the Montclair art museum (MAM). From 2007 until 2011, I took a class every fall, winter and spring, and participated in many workshops. One of the first classes was life drawing. I liked life drawing because I discovered that I liked visualizing subjects in terms of lines and shapes, and I loved to create patterns and designs based on the figure. However, once I captured the shape and movement of the figure, I was reluctant to finish the drawing. Somehow, the lines and shapes seemed fresher, and the finished drawing (shading, background, details etc.) detracted from the freshness of the sketch. The teachers at MAM taught me about composition, color, temperature and the play of shadows. Through trial and error, I found that the best way to finish my compositions was by using watercolor. Watercolor, although a challenging medium, allows me to fill the shapes with vibrant color. To improve my skills, I took several semesters of watercolor classes at the MAM, and now continue taking drawing classes at the Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick. To find my own style, I joined the New Jersey Watercolor Club and the Essex County Watercolor Club and I watch artist’s demonstrations, participate in workshops and go on plain air painting trips. At this time I focus on overall design of my work – lines, shapes, and unity of design and color. I take my inspiration from nature - my best work seems to be floral designs and landscapes. I travel and hike extensively, and find inspiration in the landscapes I encounter along the way. I often make small sketches in the field and finish my work later in the studio.