Macomb Artist Has Watercolors In Her Blood

In Shirl Hathaway’s world, things are never black and white.

A realistic and contemporary artist whose career has spanned nearly four decades, Hathaway, 71, revels in the expression and emotion that varying shades of color bring to her life and art.

“The reason I paint like I do is that you can take a lot of liberties with color,” the Macomb Township artist said. “When you paint a landscape, etc., you are limited to color. With my work, I can get away with a lot of different colors.”

Now working primarily with watercolors, Hathaway said she draws inspiration from the sea.

“Most of my work is based on sailing–water and sky movements–because I am a sailor,” Hathaway said. “My work is atmospherical, emotional, so when you see it, I hope to evoke some inner feelings in the viewer.”

Unlike many of her earlier works, which portrayed realistic images of structures and landscapes, Hathaway’s most recent paintings are done in an abstract, contemporary style.

“You can like music whether or not there are any words to it, so why do you have to have subject matter to art?” she said. “Why can’t you enjoy pure form of art as it flows?”

To enhance the movement in her works, Hathaway uses calligraphy and textures, sometimes adding up to 200 glazes on a single piece to achieve the desired look.  

“I have colors in mind and allow them to flow together, then put wax paper or cellophane to add texture and let it dry,” she said. “Then after it dries, I look at it to get a feeling from it. I like to start and almost finish, so sometimes I will stay up for two days to finish a painting.”

The exceptions to this rule are those works inspired by her travels abroad. Whether she is traveling to Japan, Egypt or Jamaica, Hathaway is sure to have her art supplies on hand and camera ready, so while she can start such works abroad, photographs enable her to complete the pieces upon returning to her basement studio.

“I capture what I can, and then start to extend lines and abstract it a bit later,” she said. “I keep the overall feel of the area, yet abstract it.”

Now retired, after 13 years as an art teacher in the Chippewa Valley school system, Hathaway plans to continue traveling and showing her art, but to a lesser extent.

“I was working to support my painting habit, but now I’m not working, so I won’t be doing outdoor shows, or at least not as many as I have been,” she said. Instead, she’ll be saving for a return trip to Italy, where, if finances allow, she plans to rent a villa and immerse herself in the "rolling hills and ancient buildings" with which she fell in love.

However, regardless of where she finds herself in a year’s time, Hathaway said she is sure to be working on her art.

“(Art) is in your blood,” Hathaway said. “I’ll be painting forever.”

Hathaway's work could be seen most recently at the Her last show of the year will be Sept. 17-18 at Veterans Memorial Park in St. Clair Shores.

To view more of Hathaway's works, visit her website, Shirl Hathaway, Watercolors.

1:1 With Shirl Hathaway

Patch: Who is your favorite artist?

Hathaway: I would have to say Monet is my favorite. I love his later works and his water lilies. His works are breathtaking.

Patch: What do you hope viewers take away from your art?

Hathaway: I would love to have someone stand in front of my painting and say, "Wow," to get that emotional connection.

Patch: As an art teacher, what do you try to instill in your students?

Hathaway: I try to instill in my students the composition, to show what color does, so they don’t even have to draw, they can express themselves with color.

Patch: What other art do you do?

Hathaway: I've worked in oils, sculpture, designing my own clothing, jewelry, floral arrangements ... with my fine arts degree, I've taken dozens of art classes.