Lake Nona area resident Hannah B. Rupp shares her creative journey on following her calling to create and becoming a professional artist in the mix(ing) of the paint.
NHN: What drove you to become an artist? When did you realize creating art was your passion?
Hannah B. Rupp: I’ve always felt called to create, but it wasn’t until my first studio art class in undergrad in college that I found a passion for art. Appreciating beauty and creating beautiful things is a huge driver for my life. It’s taken me awhile to become in touch with myself as an artist, but I realized within the last few years that God has definitely wired me to be an artist. I am fortunate that I am also married to an artist. Being able to see another artist follow his creative path has been inspiring to my journey. It made me feel encouraged that I could pursue my own career as an artist.
NHN: How long have you been an artist?
HBR: I started creating acrylic paintings consistently at the end of 2016. Before then, I had dabbled in printmaking, watercolor and photography. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art in 2008, so I mark that as when I officially felt I could call myself a professional artist. Although, my philosophy is that we are all artists in one way or another, and each life is a work of art.
NHN: How often do you find yourself creating art?
HBR: I try to create every single day. I’m a big fan of creating consistently – even for just 30 minutes a day. If I were to wait until inspiration or motivation struck, I might choose to do something else in the moment. Mixing paint is very therapeutic for me, so sometimes just focusing on the color that I want to achieve is a big part of my creative process. I love showing up to my studio space, creating, and looking at the outcome. Oftentimes, I’m happily surprised with the shape the piece has taken at the end!
NHN: How long did it take you to discover yourself as an artist?
HBR: It took me awhile to gain the confidence to focus on abstract artwork. While I was studying art at Rollins College in 2004, I had the opportunity to try so many different mediums, which I am forever thankful for. I found a love for printmaking and darkroom photography. However, after graduating, it wasn’t practical for me to continue these art forms. While at Rollins, I was also in a program where I completed my undergraduate education in three years instead of four because, during my fourth year, I started my MBA curriculum at the Crummer Graduate School of Business. Art was put on the back burner while I pursued a career in marketing.
I started to research how I could combine my art degree and my MBA, and I decided to attend Savannah College of Art & Design’s (SCAD) Design Management program and went on to graduate with an M.F.A. It was at SCAD that I knew that I wanted to work in a creative field and with creative people. In 2013, I incorporated my own business, Hanbphoto & Strategy, LLC, where I started to create my own notecards, prints, [and] photographs for sale while also being able to pick up marketing projects for nonprofits, small and large companies. I enjoy being able to make my own artwork and create pieces for people that they treasure for a lifetime. I also love color and found painting to be the perfect medium for me because it doesn’t erase the hand of the artist and brings me so much joy.
NHN: Which of your artwork would you consider to be your favorites?
HBR: It’s hard to pick just one because there are so many I’ve enjoyed creating for both myself and others. I love 1950s Hollywood because it is the largest acrylic painting that I’ve completed to date and I love the colors that are reminiscent of vintage Hollywood. Teal Waters is also a favorite of mine and was chosen to be exhibited as part of The Museum of Modern Art’s “In the Studio: Postwar Abstract Painting” online learning community exhibition in New York. That was a really cool experience!
NHN: Which of your projects were the most time-consuming or challenging and why?
HBR: I feel so fortunate that over the last couple of years I’ve been able to work with clients who have commissioned me to do paintings for their home or office. I love it so much! It can definitely be a challenge because when I start a painting, I know the palette, size of canvas, what style of framing, etc., that will be included, but there have been times where, midway through the process, I know I need to change the result. As I keep working, it’s amazing to see the outcome at the end. The most time-consuming project I’ve worked on is one of my favorites called Blue Series. It’s a triptych of three large 24×48-inch paintings. I spent hours and hours building texture with my palette knife and brushes. It was such a challenge to make the three paintings complete on their own, yet also work together as a whole. After I shipped the paintings to the client, it was such a thrill to hear her response when they arrived to her home in Texas. It’s a constant reminder to me that bringing joy to others and creating beauty is always worth the hard work and investment.
NHN: What are some of your dream projects?
HBR: I would love to be able to create large paintings for office spaces or homes because it is a joyful challenge for me as an artist and will allow an opportunity to showcase my experience in size and scope.
NHN: What serves as your inspiration on a day-to-day basis?
HBR: Nature is a huge inspiration for me in my day-to-day. The texture of leaves, the colors of a sunrise or sunset, and the way that light reflects are aspects I desire to incorporate into my paintings. When I can travel, I am inspired by new cultures and environments. I visit art museums and galleries as well to stay in touch with art history and continue to learn from a diverse range of art forms and artists.
NHN: Future goals/plans?
HBR: To become more involved in the local artist community in Central Florida and to continue to produce more work this year. I am also really excited about forming more partnerships with people and doing more home design work. I hope to showcase more projects on social media and perhaps even start a blog to stay connected to current and future clients. I will definitely be creating, so be sure to stay in touch!
You can connect with and find more work from Hannah at www.hannahrupp.com, on Instagram @hanbphoto and on Facebook @Hanbphoto & Strategy.
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We are looking for interesting artists who live in the Nonahood to be featured. If you or someone you know should be nominated to be a Nonahood News Featured Artist, send your nomination to http://nonahood.to/artist.
