October Artist Spotlight
Meet Hannah Nersasian
Hannah Nersasian creates playful acrylic paintings of animals, birds and bugs, using vintage papers or reclaimed boards as her canvases. Originally from Somerset, England, Hannah moved to the USA in 2010. She now lives in Framingham MA with her husband, 9yo son and 5yo daughter.
Tell us a little about your background as an artist…
Art and painting have been a refuge for me since childhood. In highschool I’d camp out in the art room as a survival tactic. I studied Art up until A-level but decided English Literature was a safer degree choice – a decision I now seriously question!
I ended up working in the non profit sector but would always find a way to steer my work back towards creating – be it decorating a dolls’ house for a family shelter playroom or organizing mural painting for corporate volunteers. When my son Wylder was born I stopped work and threw myself head first into motherhood. I found it all consuming and overwhelming and soon started painting regularly during his nap time as a way to reclaim my sense of self.
What do you paint?
I almost always paint animals, birds or bugs – they just spark my interest more – and I use fun backgrounds as a way to say something about the subject. When I first started selling my work I tried to paint what I thought would sell rather than what I found most appealing. Unsurprisingly, I’m not the biggest fan of this earlier work! It wasn’t until I started painting things that delighted and amused me that I really found a style that felt true to me. I often paint pieces designed to interact with each other – a fox staring at a squirrel, an owl hovering above a tiny mouse.
What is your process?
I love to find interesting backgrounds and reclaimed things (record sleeves, chopping boards, sheet music or maps) and to use that as a jumping off point for the subject. A map of North America sparks the migration of Monarch Butterflies or the musical direction “Lento” might inspire a snail painting.
Once I have the background and an idea for a subject, I’ll search for a reference photo. Where possible I take my own photographs, but often use Pixabay, Unsplash or buy stock photos. Then I decide on the placement of the image and when it’s sketched out I’ll start laying down paint. A painting will take many different layers of color and texture before it has the depth I’m happy with. And for a bird or animal with feathers / fur, it can take ages to build up those layers. I tend to paint as much detail as a can and I use tiny brushes.
Why do you paint?
I’m an introvert living in a house of noisy extroverts and I have a very busy mind that can teeter into anxiety at times. Painting is the closest I get to meditation. When I’m immersed in painting, I concentrate fully and time zooms past at an unbelievable rate (not that that’s necessarily a good thing!). I also see it as a way of putting my whole quirky self out there for the world to know – and I like to highlight nature and all the tiny incredible things around us that are so often overlooked.
What are your painting goals for the next year?
My daughter started Kindergarten this September and I’ve found myself with more time and quiet than I’ve ever had. I’m hoping that this year I’ll form relationships with more shops and galleries, join additional local Artist groups, answer Calls for Art and really try to sell my work consistently. First up is the fall show “FRESH” at Gallery Twist in Lexington, where I have a number of pieces. I’m also trying to grow my instagram account in a meaningful way – forming connections with other artists and nature/art lovers rather than just follower numbers. My Instagram handle is @wyld_woodland
