Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah South.
Hi hannah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My artistic practice started really during 2020 during the pandemic. I was taking online ceramic courses working with clay on the floor of my bedroom. During lockdown art really helped me through the pandemic and also helped me discover my newfound love for creating and working with my hands. Going back to reality, my senior year of high school at McCallum a fine arts high school. I took as many art courses that I could and had some amazing instructors and got inspired to move to New York leaving my hometown of Texas with the vocal support from my parents. I moved to New York all on my own financially and attended SUNY Purchase. I attended SUNY purchase for two years until finances got really tight. I mainly focused on printmaking and sculpture at SUNY. I met some of the most amazing professors. Professors that told me I had it, and wanted me to work for them which really gave me the encouragement that I can do this. Specifically professor Nancy Bowen and Alina Tenser really helped me see the light within myself. I could no longer afford being in New York, so I came back home to Texas and am now attending Texas State University, continuing my art practice and hoping to graduate within the next two years.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has definitely been up and down, lots of challenges lots of doubts, but inevitably persisting through. Finances and just funding my art has definitely been the biggest struggle of trying to get myself out there and continue being a creative in this economy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
In my artistic practice, I really see myself all over the place, in ceramics, printmaking, painting, photography, video art performance art, sculpture and metal work. I love it all. I wanna learn it all. I wanna be taught every artistic practice ever and I want to conquer it and perfect it. I love being around artist and the artist community. Right now at Texas State I’m focusing on printmaking and oil painting, painting from life has been a new challenge for me that excites me beyond words. I’ve had two shows in New York and have been featured in several magazines in New York and Texas. I think those are things I’m most proud of. Having a community across the country from New York to Texas is so inspiring and beautiful to me. I think what sets me apart from others is the way I see the world in the way that I’m open to the challenge that is put in front of me. I think a big contributing part of this is having parents so young. My parents had me in high school and they are my biggest inspiration, my biggest push in my life. They’ve always been extremely real with me. They taught me that the world is not easy. Just seeing how hard they have worked to give me a life that is stable. They are my biggest inspirations.
What matters most to you? Why?
I think what matters most to me is how important art is. Especially in a time period like today… documenting emotions, feelings, opinions, and ideas is so important. It has always been important throughout history. Artists have always been the documentaries for the times.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/hannahsouth-artist-page/home
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crankieyes?igsh=MTJocmptMHh5NWd3dg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
