Cj Hassall

I’ve always been drawn to art with bold, vibrant colors. I’m fascinated by the fluidity of watercolor—how it blends and shifts on the page—producing unexpected effects that often reflect both the natural world’s rhythms and inherent unpredictability. My work to date focuses on watercolor and watercolor with ink, typically in 8x10 and 9x12-inch sizes, and I’ve recently started experimenting with larger formats.

My process is both deliberate and spontaneous: I enjoy experimenting, often beginning with layered translucent washes to create depth, then adding ink for definition. I let the paint’s movement and properties guide me as much as my own ideas or hand. I find inspiration in the world around me—misty horizons, rolling hills, sunlight and shadows, the changing seasons—and in the medium itself, which feels dynamic, transforming as it dries. Drawing and painting changes how I see my surroundings; I notice shapes, shadows, negative space, tones, and hues.

For me, painting is a meditative practice that connects me back to nature.