Gallery 'N' Gifts May guest artist, Haylee M. Shoop

TVAA Gallery n' Gifts presents Haylee M. Shoop as our May guest artist.

Haylee is a Los Angeles based fine artist.  Classically trained as a dancer, after a career dancing for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Haylee had her "A-Ha!" moment. While sitting on the couch drawing she said (to her now husband), "If I could do anything in the world, it would be to draw!"

That was the end of 2015. Since starting her art business in 2016, the two have travelled to over 20 states across the U.S. showing her pieces at the top fine art shows in the country. 

Her subject matter tends to lean toward animal drawings. Haylee believes everyone has an animal they can relate to or gives them strength, one that reminds them of a loved one, a certain time in their life, or an animal that just plain makes them happy!  Although she does take some of her ideas from patron requests, the majority of her work is selected from whatever makes her happiest at the time! 

Everything she does is freehand.  She never uses rulers, compasses, magnifying glasses or computers.  Haylee works in watercolor and ink.  Her goal is to make the two mediums complement each other.  She loves the loose, almost messy watercolor, mixed with the intricate details hand drawn over the top.  Her pieces are typically 18x24 inches, and take her between 80-100 hours to complete.

Haylee and her husband travel the country in a large decommissioned Ambulance Van, sharing her art with all types of people, with all types of budgets.

"I love that my 'job' now is to draw, travel to the country's best art shows and meet amazing people. I get to make people happy with something that I've created by hand", said Haylee.   

Most recently, Haylee is honored to have been awarded:

• 2022 Las Cruces Art Festival "Best In Show"

• 2022 Tubac Arts Festival "3rd Place Overall"

• 2019 Ann Arbor Art Festival "Best In Drawing"

• 2019 Crested Butte Arts Festival "Featured Artist"

If you aren't able to meet Haylee during the May First Friday event at Gallery 'N' Gifts on May 6 from 4 to 7 p.m., make sure to visit her collection "Hand Drawn Art You Will Get Lost In..." on display throughout the month of May.

Please follow her on Instagram, @HMdesignStudios, to see her newest pieces.  Or visit her website at http://www.HMdesignStudios.com to learn more fun facts!

Gallery 'N' Gifts is located at 100 W. Tehachapi Blvd. and is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.