SNUGGLE UP | HANNAH ADAMASZEK
Meet Hannah Adamaszek, one of the most exciting female artists on the UK’s urban art scene. Her muse is a strong willed woman, who is harmony with herself and the world around.
Please tell us a bit about yourself, and the journey you took to become an artist.
My name is Hannah, I’m an artist from the UK currently living in Spain. Becoming an artist for me was a long journey. I always loved to draw and paint from the first time I can remember. My parents always encouraged me to be creative.
I studied art throughout school and went on to do a foundation in Art and Design. After this I went on to study photography, but I soon fell out of love with it. I ended up changing to a fine art degree, but when I finished the course I didn’t paint or draw for nearly 7 years. It was only when I was in a 9-5 office job that I felt the need to paint again. After 6 years I decided to give painting a go full time, and I’ve been creating ever since.
What helped you to get to where you are today?
Having a job I was so unhappy in was the biggest motivation. It made me realise – if I wanted a change I was responsible for that. No amount of just dreaming was going to change my situation, but if I worked as hard as possible and put everything into it, I could change my life into something I wanted to get out of bed for every day.
What was the first piece of art that moved you? What was it about it that grabbed you?
I think at college I saw a piece by Francis Bacon and it changed the way I thought about painting. It didn’t have to be realistic, but more of an expression of a feeling. It is that which I still hold with me today. I also loved the way he used paint, it was scraped across the canvas and not conventional. This made me experiment more.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
When I am stuck on a painting, I normally put it to one side where I can’t see it, then go outside for a run or a walk. I’ve been struggling in quarantine to finish any paintings but have started so many. But the time will come when I know what to do, just being patient is good. When you aren’t thinking is when something happens.
Where do you work best from? Do you have any habits, or a routine, that help you harness your creativity?
I have a new studio this year, which is amazing. It’s so light and has plenty of space. I’ve been really bad at having a routine. I like to write goals for the day and cross them off when they are done. Then you can have a mini celebration each day
What is your current favourite piece in your own body of work? Why does it hold a special place in your heart?
"Framing Effect" is a big installation piece (about 2.25 m by 3.65 m) that slightly changes every time I show it. I love it because it is never exactly the same, like the main subject of my art - water, and because it is the first piece I made in such a large scale and also the first three dimensional piece. I will be showing even larger pieces at my upcoming solo show at the Latvian Museum of Photography this July.
What was the latest piece of art that you bought yourself? If you could choose four pieces of work from the Artsnug collection, what would they be?
The last piece I bought was by an artist called Marcelina Amelia. I love her work, the colours and the subjects are all the ones that speak to me.
If I could chose 3 pieces from Artsnug they would be Jonathan Lawes "Colour Study 5", his use of colours is amazing, a collage by Linda Bernhard and the Monstera print by Bailey Schmidt because it’s my favourite plant!
What is your current favourite piece in your own body of work? Why does it hold a special place in your heart?
One of my pieces called “Tropic Sunshine”, which is now sold out. It marked a big positive change in my life. Every time I see it, it’s a reminder that I am in control of my own future. My favourite piece with Artsnug is “Wild Honey”, it is how I feel about the world right now.
Anything else you would like to share with us?
My favourite colour is green but it’s a colour I never use in my paintings. Maybe this will be my go-to painting colour this year.
"Algae" - Marcelina Amelia