I am a self-taught artist and I usually work under the artistic name Hazel Nut. Since I was a child, I was always interested in art, literature, films, music, photography and fashion. I have considered to study fashion and art, but in the end, I’ve decided to study English language and literature.

I’ve started painting again in 2015, after I’ve got an invitation to have a solo exhibition. However, I didn’t have enough art works, so I created them in about a month. In the next few days - after my first exhibition - I’ve accidentally found out about a call for a thematic contest for amateur artists and I’ve applied. I have created my art work within 3 days and it got into the finalists for the regional and national exhibition. That gave me more motivation, so I’ve applied again the next time, and got among the finalists for the next regional thematic exhibition. After that, I’ve been also contacted to participate at the 1st Slovenian Art Expo, and I’ve continued to work on my own.

I usually draw inspiration from the music, films, nature and different everyday objects, or even just different color combinations. I use motifs from the popular culture, a lot of times being inspired by the music I listen to during the work. I’ve started by making collages, gift cards, abstractions and portraits, using everything - from watercolors, acrylics, different ink pens, stones, glitter and lace, feathers, crystals, flowers, … experimenting by mixing them with different types of paints and materials. Sometimes, I like a certain artistic style, however I try to be innovative and I use a totally different technique and/or materials. I’m also always interested in using or developing such a technique or style, so that my art work would be unique and not being able to be fully copied even by me.

Lately, I’m more interested in the geometric patterns and the use of diverse materials, so I often create in a mixed media technique.

I have worked a lot of different jobs in my life (journalism, host and presenter at the radio station, doing interviews, co-worker union representative, PR, volunteering at culture festivals, helping with organization and coordination, working in a film and pet society, at business co-working and incubator places, hosting and presenting events, teaching, translating, …), I’ve decided that now is finally the time to pursue my artistic aspirations.

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Prof. angleščine s književnostjo in pedagogike - Filozofska univerza v Mariboru

VOLUNTEER of THE YEAR 2015