Hazel Mason
One to watch 2019
What was it like to be spotted by the judges as ‘One to Watch’ for 2018?
It was really great, I've always loved using colour and have never been shy of experimenting with it so to hear the feedback was amazing, its great to know that a big part of my practice as an illustrator is well received by people and catches their eye.
How important is colour in your work and why?
Colour is very important in my work, I use it to convey emotions and atmosphere by playing on the connotations everyone holds about certain colours and shades, I also love subverting them to, it really makes you think when the subconscious connections your brain is providing don't match up with what's really happening, it makes people take time to really think about what they are seeing.
What or who inspires you?
I take great inspiration from nature and the world around me, there are so many hidden gems and colour profiles that just appear naturally I could get lost trying to document them all the use them in work. Other than the natural world, I've always loved Charles Keeping's work ever since we studied a book in primary school that he had illustrated, and though he tended to create work in black and white the time he used colour really blew me away.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
I get up every day because I really like breakfast, I go to bed every night just because I know when I get up in the morning I can have a big bowl of cornflakes!
What would you like to achieve in the next year?
I'd like to progress and improve my practice as much as I possibly can, be it through working with clients or self-set briefs, self-improvement and growth is the best achievement I could wish for.
Tell us about someone who really made a difference to your creative journey in the past few years?
The person who has made the most impact on what I do creatively and how I view my work and my creative practice my would be my illustration lecturer Dwayne Bell at the University of Cumbria. There is no greater thing for a student to have than a lecturer who is invested in what they teach and Dwayne's enthusiasm for Illustration is kind of infectious, not to mention he's damn good at it too! Another thing about him is he's honest in his feedback, something that I value highly as I'd rather someone tell me when to scrap something and start again than let me drag it out to a sad and dead outcome. His guidance through my university course really helped shape me as an illustrator and has given me foundations that will keep me upright no matter what illustration throws at me.
What is your favourite colour?
My favourite colour is a bright turquoise, the kind of colour that whispers tropical beaches when you look at it.
