Pathways to Abstraction: Hedy Buzan

July 07, 2026

Pathways to Abstraction: Hedy Buzan

At the Sawdust Art Festival, Hedy Buzan’s work invites viewers into a space of reflection where abstraction and landscape merge into a quiet but powerful expression of lived experience, curiosity, and wonder. For Hedy, making art is telling the truth about who she is: an intuitive and playful creative individual blessed to be born in Laguna Beach.

As a child, Hedy roamed the hills of Laguna Canyon and gazed out at the ever changing sea, experiences that continue to inform her fascination with space, vistas, and the subtle nuances of the natural world. These childhood experiences informed her life as did growing up in a community that celebrated art.

Hedy’s father, Boris, a sculptor and muralist, worked out of a studio as large as their tiny canyon house, giving her early access to materials, tools, and artistic freedom. When she wasn’t swimming or hiking the hills, she was in his booth at the Festival of Arts, playing with clay, or learning art history by acting out pictures at the Pageant of the Masters.

So it was natural that Hedy studied art in college: a BFA in printmaking from UC Santa Cruz and an MFA in Design from The George Washington University. She started her artistic studies as a potter, but switched to printmaking (lithography and etching), before settling on one of a kind monotypes, drawing and painting. Her work often depicts archetypal landscapes: trees on hillsides, estuaries, and coastal bluffs. These images feel familiar without depicting specific locations.

“The painting becomes like a teenager,” she says, “demanding, stubborn, yet sometimes tender and insightful.”

Process is at the heart of Buzan’s work. Known for her subtle and complex color palettes, she delights in mixing paint and discovering unexpected relationships. Drawing, too, is deeply seductive for her: the way a tool meets paper, the sharpness of a point, the texture of a surface. These small, intuitive decisions communicate directly to the viewer, often beneath conscious awareness.

She describes the beginning of a piece as a time of joyful play with her materials. This is followed by a moment when the artwork begins to assert itself. At that point, she stops, and observes. “The painting becomes like a teenager,” she says, “demanding, stubborn, yet sometimes tender and insightful.” Her role shifts between mentor and student as she enters into a dialogue with the artwork. Little by little and on its own time, together the artist and artwork reach resolution: that recognizable moment when it is ready to enter the world.

Hedy enjoys working in series, allowing ideas to unfold organically. A recent and significant turning point in her practice was the completion of sixty-four charcoal drawings inspired by the I Ching, the ancient Chinese book of philosophy. Each drawing responded to a philosophical prompt, translating language into intuitive, abstract imagery. This approach has opened new artistic pathways. She is eager to bring her drawing experience to her painting practice.

One of the works Buzan is most excited to share is a large painting titled Coast Walk. The piece is a meditation on walking in Heisler Park. Repetition, color contrasts, and art historical references contribute to a virtual-reality experience of moving through space. Buzan considers it the most sophisticated painting she has made to date.

Beyond her studio practice, Hedy loves to share her knowledge with others. She taught drawing, printmaking, design, collage, and color theory at Saddleback Community College. She continues to lecture and teach workshops at the Sawdust Festival as well as with other local arts organizations.

Hedy is deeply engaged in the Sawdust Art Festival community. She serves on the Mentoring and Grounds committees, and especially enjoys connecting with younger artists, sharing experience, and cheering on their successes. Her advice is simple: “Experiment widely, learn your technical skills, and always remain open to learning.” Above all, she emphasizes the importance of trusting one’s intuition and inner voice over external opinions.

A life of painting, teaching, and mentoring in Laguna Beach, a wonderful life indeed!