On June 27 and 28, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler will welcome U.S. painter Aaron Hazel as its Artist-in-Residence. Hazel, who resides in Boise, Idaho, is known for his memorable depictions of wildlife and should find himself at home in the natural wonderland of the Sea to Sky.
Having spent nearly his whole life in the Pacific Northwest, Hazel deeply appreciates animals and what they can teach us.
“The preservation of wildlife is of utmost importance to me,” said the 38-year-old, who turns 39 on Canada Day. “There’s so many interesting things about wildlife that I really appreciate, plus they’re just beautiful beings. They’re cool shapes. I love their fur. There’s so many different things that are fun about them to paint.”
Hazel enjoys flexing his creative muscles in the process of depicting fauna. Often, he uses a palette knife to scrape on layers of paint in order to bring the textures of an animal’s fur to life. He’s also a fan of utilizing experimental colours, like pinks and greens and grays, to depict monochromatic creatures like polar bears.
The Idahoan blends his love and knowledge of the natural environment with considerable technical prowess. He graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. and has studied under prominent artists like impressionist Robert Moore. His work has garnered acclaim from various publications, galleries and even NFL players.
But why is Hazel choosing now to bring his talents to Whistler?
For starters, it’s good for business. Some of Hazel’s pieces are already on display with the Fairmont’s Mountain Galleries, and he knows how important it is for artists to spend face time with the galleries that support them whenever possible. By and large, it is more compelling for prospective customers when an artist personally shows up to an event and delivers their work rather than shipping it remotely.
Plus, Hazel spent more than a decade living in Seattle and Bellevue, and regrets not coming to Whistler during that period (he’s been to Vancouver multiple times). “I’ve always heard of the lore of Whistler, and I’ve always been super enchanted by it,” he said. “So, when [the Fairmont] reached out to me, I was super excited.”
Gridiron assist
Like many of his peers, Hazel realized that the idea of supporting himself through painting would be risky, to say the least. He worked at a restaurant for six years after graduation while he sought jobs in the advertising and marketing sectors, but in hindsight is thankful no one hired him. Slowly but surely, the Whitman College alum built his portfolio and reputation until the Seattle Seahawks began to take notice.
Hazel brushed shoulders with a number of then-Seahawks players, including strong safety Kam Chancellor and wide receiver Golden Tate, in his bartending days. That suited him just fine—the Boise native was a college basketball athlete and a diehard football fan. Hazel befriended the NFL stars as they reminisced about Chancellor and Tate’s days playing for Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, respectively.
They were impressed by his sports knowledge, but even more so by his art.
A painting that Hazel had done of outspoken All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman started making the rounds in Seahawks circles. Before long, multiple players were commissioning Hazel and promoting his material on Instagram. Chancellor, in particular, became one of his biggest fans—the four-time Pro Bowl defensive back owns at least 10 of Hazel’s works.
Hazel is used to living like an introvert, spending up to eight hours a day in studio with little human contact. Despite that, he welcomes painting live in front of people—which he will do during his brief stay at the Fairmont, challenging himself to share with others the process of crafting a masterpiece.
“It’s a nice way to get myself out there and be a little social for once,” Hazel said. “I like it when people come through and they’re watching the process. There’s definitely a vulnerability there, but it’s something to embrace, and there’s some nerves, too, but I kind of enjoy putting myself in what people would consider an uncomfortable situation.”
For more information, visit mountaingalleries.com/show/mountain-galleries-aaron-hazel---artist-in-residence-whistler.
