Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Stayton.
Hannah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m sure most of us can say that we grew up drawing but I really never stopped. There really wasn’t a single surface in our house that I wouldn’t attempt to draw or paint on as my mother loves to remind me. For many years I didn’t think that this would be my chosen profession; painting and drawing, making beautiful, cute, and even funny images to share with other people. I mean, everyone who aspires to be creative is told at least once that you can’t make a living as an artist so pick something more sensible. Lucky for me, I forgot somewhere along the way what I was told and went for it anyways. It wasn’t so much fighting for my place in the world as it was a calm and even persistence to make my life and the lives around me more beautiful.
I am a Christian, a person of faith, so I believe that this is a gift granted to me and that I need to nurture it and strive to cultivate it into something I could give back tenfold to the Lord and to others. I enjoy giving so much, and to make someone’s day with a brightly painted bluebird or to bring them peace and comfort with a memorial painting of their pet, it brings me such joy in return.
Everyone has ups and downs in their personal lives and in their careers, and I can’t say that I haven’t had my share, but if I ever get discouraged or contemplate giving it all up, someone always comes along to remind me why I do this and why I love it so, so much. It has only been since my mid-twenties that I began pursuing art as a career and I’ve seen it grow from a little corner space in an art gallery to a thriving online following and in-person connections with people that I would have never met had it not been for art.
Nowadays, I do much of my work from home in my own art studio, where I gather inspiration from the nature that surrounds me but I also travel around the state to various conventions and art shows to sell my creations and to meet new people and make connections. I can not imagine my life without art, it is a part of me and I share that part of me with the world.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Life and careers are never without their ups and downs. I have chronic health issues that prevent me from giving a full day’s work at times and even make me contemplate giving up but really, it is the art itself that makes me keep going. I’ve had failed attempts at joining galleries and pushback from other artists even who don’t think I belong or “fit in” but that just makes me more determined to do my own thing. I don’t hold any regrets or remorse for rejection because it that very rejection that made me grow and become more confident in myself.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I was always told that I needed to stick to one thing in order to be recognized and successful. I have always struggled to do that and in the long run have found that it is that very diversity in interest that makes me unique. I do everything from traditional acrylic paintings on canvas to digital art to animation.
I suppose the real “claim to fame” I can boast of is my pet portraits. I have done so many pet portraits over the years, and I enjoy them so much. Seeing photos of people’s pets is always the fun part but what makes me enjoy the process and find it so fulfilling is giving them personality and expression and seeing the reactions from my customers when they receive the piece. I’ve even had some of my customers break down in tears, happy tears. It means so much to me that I get to bring that kind of joy to others.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
I’ve certainly learned how to be flexible with the types of art I create. Before Covid-19, people had a lot more disposable income and would be able to afford a large original painting but during the crisis and even after, money seems to be tighter and people are having to prioritize where they spend their money. I’ve expanded the kinds of art that I offer since then so that people can afford to get a little cheer and brightness without “breaking the bank.” I paint a lot of miniatures, even so, small as one-inch portraits, so that cost for my customers stays low. I also began offering more original designs in my collections of stickers and prints and I even do custom designs of those as well so people can still buy themselves something cheerful and not have to worry about being able to afford rent or groceries afterwards.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/hannahstaytonart
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannah_stayton_art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahstaytonart
- Other: https://linktr.ee/HannahStaytonArt
