Check out Livia Hamel’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Livia Hamel.

Livia, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. When I was little, I’d draw animals at church and try to make dumb little crafts and things at home. I really got into art when I started taking lessons in 6th grade from a lady named Linda Storey-London. She changed my life, she showed me new ways to approach art and different ways to see the world. With her help I learned how to draw from photos and learned all about shading and realism. At that point though, I was still only drawing animals. It wasn’t until my 8th grade art teacher forced us to do portraits that I began drawing people. Clint Eastwood was the first portrait I did, and, while I loved him, I hated doing it. It did, however, open up a whole new realm of possibility for me. It wasn’t until Christmas of 2015 when I got my iPad Pro did, I really start improving in my portraits.

This got me going doing full portraits and nice pieces because it took so much less time to finish them. But after a while I realized I needed to do traditional art as well if I want to be able to put my work into contests and shows, so I took the skills I learned using my iPad and I applied them to colored pencil work. In 2017 I joined the Sonoran Arts League in Cave Creek, that really pushed me to create more work so that I could put my art into shows. Then I met Armando, an artist I met at first Friday downtown and he got me involved in a small art show in Buckeye called the loft and that increased my output tenfold. In January of 2018 I met Craig Pursley, an artist in the Celebration of Fine Arts in Scottsdale who took me under his wing. He pushed me to do more oil painting and got me really involved with the Celebration of Fine Arts, in which I will be working with him in this coming January, and I moved me to try and participate more, get my art out in my community, and try different mediums. All of which I am still trying to do.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I draw what I love. At this moment that’s rock stars. I paint and draw pictures of all of my favorite musicians from the 60s and 70s. I draw because it’s fun. I draw as for the people who I draw and the things they do. I draw to get the attention of others, when you draw actors and musicians you like, other people who like them want to tell their piece about what they know about them. This weekend I had a show and had a big painting of Clint Eastwood and people loved to tell me about their experience with him, one man told me about the time he met him and another told me about how much his dad looked like him. I love the little stories people have to share and I feel like I use my art to encourage people to share with me. I want people who feel the same passion for music and movies and art to feel the same passion for my art.

What do you think it takes to be successful as an artist?
Participate! Join leagues, go to shows and art tours, put your art in contests! All of these are great ways to meet fellow artists! Talk to them! Ask them about their art and their process, show interest and really look at how their art differs and take in what you can learn from them! Being a part of the art community is important and really can help you as an artist!

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
I have my art on my website, on Instagram, and on Facebook. Right now, I’m not in any shows, but I will be painting in the celebration of fine arts this January and February and I will have more art in shows in the Sonoran arts league this coming year. Any shows I have will be on my website. You can support my art by coming to shows, buying my art, or commissioning me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://liviluart.paradisevalleydesigns.com
• Phone: 6024020797
• Email: liviluartworks@gmail.com
• Instagram: @liviluart

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