Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Leadley.
Hannah, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I grew up in Southern California but always loved traveling. My travels from Ecuador, Portland, Yosemite, and LA have impacted how I create, but Chicago has inspired me the most thus far in my creative and personal life. My husband and I fell in love with this city’s hospitality and creative culture and moved here in 2016 on a whim. I had a part time job lined up at Anthropologie and quickly became full time working with the home visuals and display. I would paint on the side but would hide any of my work when friends came over, which my husband would always bring out to show off. Never did I think that I would be a full-time artist (let alone even call myself an artist) but over time I had more and more people asking for my work. Eventually, I decided to pursue my passion for painting full time. I then partnered with an amazing company, Drop It Modern, that has created fabric, wallpaper and drapes out of my work. Since living in Chicago I have had many opportunities to explore my artistic passions, and I feel most alive when I am producing works to create beautiful spaces for friends and strangers alike.
I am inspired by water, and the adaptable energy it brings to life. Finding and fabricating the delicate balance of fluidity and structure is the focus of my work. Having lived in cities that share space with great bodies of water, I see vast beauty in merging the natural and manmade world. I believe in the power of joining art and nature. Throughout the process of becoming an artist I also started painting how I saw the world, emotions, and situations in my head. My brain views all of these things through texture and color. Through creating work that allowed me to spew out what I see in my brain made me feel alive, over time I found out that I have synesthesia, which I now view as a great gift rather than isolating.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Many of my pieces are commission, I love to work with my clients to create something that is perfect for them, their space, and something that evokes joy even through harsh seasons. I want to help find the balance of balance and fluidity and how that corresponds to our everyday life.
I also have a wallpaper, fabric, and wall drapes line at Drop It Modern that has been such an amazing experience. I’ve always loved interior design and I see this as such a fun new venture to have my work created into items of all different texture.
My work as a whole is a picture of the process, of the highs and lows of life and being able to tailor exactly what that means for an individual. My hope is that when any of my clients walk into their home and see my paintings on the wall that they are reminded of the good and bad and how this balance allows for beauty to evolve in such an unexpected way.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
I feel like Chicago has such a dynamic and supportive artist community, making it easy to make friends and network! The biggest challenge would probably be finding a unique platform to explain and show your work as an artist.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
Much of my work is up on my website! www.hannahellenart.com or you can check out my work at www.dropitmodern.com.
I have a few paintings available and would love to see them go into a home that cares and appreciates the process of creating and meaning of each piece. I’m currently trying to paint all of Chicago by painting murals, so if you see a wall that needs some love, send it my way! Getting emails, messages, and comments that are encouraging are some of the things that bring me the most joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hannahellenart.com
- Phone: 9513035376
- Email: hannahellenart@gmail.com
- Instagram: Hannah_ellen_
Image Credit:
Cassie Anna Photography
Drop It Modern
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