Shelley Lazarus’ main goal as an artist is to bring a sense of movement and a sense of emotion to her paintings through the use of color. Her landscapes are done mostly on location, where she can feel the power of the atmosphere around her and through the use of color, composition and the movement of space, capture the subtle nuances that reflect in the light.
Each new painting whether it be a plein-air landscape, a still life created in the comfort of her studio or working from models, is an exciting journey into a world that she can create and alter to express her own visions and self. As a daughter, mother and grandmother, she is constantly aware of the connection of one generation to the next, the impact they leave and the need to appreciate what has come before and what we can leave as our mark to both our biological heirs and our spiritual ones. With the joy that is felt, she will try to search out and touch people through the medium of paper compositions.
Shelley was born and educated in New York, where as a teenager she began her art studies at Pratt College while still attending Lincoln High School. She later was a student at Syracuse University and Parsons School of Design. In 1973 she relocated to the Los Angeles area with her husband and their three sons. Although her art career was interrupted for a time, in 1981 she became involved with the Brentwood Art Center.
Since then she has been actively pursuing her art career. Her works have been shown annually in both local and national shows. These works have received numerous awards including a Diptych and a Triptych that were in the International Art Competition for the Olympics in 1984, first place from the San Fernando Valley Art Club for a watercolor in the Santa Monica Mountain Celebration, and the recent Oklahoma National Watercolor investment award. She is a member of the Watercolor Honor Society and a signature member of the Oklahoma National Watercolor Society.
Her paintings are in the collections of both private, corporate and public sectors here and abroad including the library at Los Angeles County Museum of Art.. She is an active participant in Women Painters West, Valley Watercolor Society, Gallery 825 and Valley Institute of Visual Arts (VIVA).
Shelley has taught art to both children and adults. At the present time she is teaching advance watercolor painting studies to adults at the Brentwood Art Center. She also teaches plein-air painting during the summer months and has given private lessons to those in the entertainment industry as well as to royalty.
In 1993 she became involved in the formation of TAG Gallery a co-op gallery located in the Miracle Mile Museum Row district on Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. In 2000 she served as TAG President and has been on their board almost since its inception.
5458 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036