This is a chat with London-based artist Hannah Adamaszek. It’s been awhile since I’ve done any artist features and I hope to do many more in the near future. Hannah reached out to me on social media and I’m so glad that she did. Hannah works with a variety of mediums and her work is as bohemian as they come. See below for a full interview below.
Hannah, how did you find your way into the art world?
I’m an urban artist currently based in London, UK but have lived in Austria, Switzerland and Australia in the past. I studied art at university in the UK about 8 years ago, and fell out of love with some of the contemporary art scene, so swapped painting for travelling and skiing for about 4 years.
I first got into art and painting when I was very young. My Dad was a painter, and a huge influence on my work today. I always had a love for drawing from an early age, I remember entering competitions at primary school and it was a real passion then. Then I started studying at College, I did the foundation course which was a brilliant way for me to try as many mediums as I could.
I was drawn towards painting, photography and design. I then went on to do a degree in photography in Bournemouth, but it wasn’t really the right course for me. After that I changed to Fine Art, but soon fell out of love with painting. After studying I stopped painting for about 6 years. I think it helps to know what you want to do as a career before you start a uni course. At the time I didn’t know I wanted to be an artist. It was only after having some time away from painting that I knew it was what I wanted to be doing.
Where are you from? Has your hometown and/or travel influenced your work?
I’m originally from Kent in UK, its a lovely peaceful place with plenty of green around, I was really lucky to grow up there. I got to travel shortly after leaving uni, to work the Ski seasons, and ended up living in Austria, Switzerland and Australia for a little while. Each place was unique and hold special memories for me. It was impossible to not be influenced by these places. I try and paint emotions, and my memories are part of that process. I’ve also taken colours and shapes from photos I took whilst travelling. There are so many places I still want to visit.
What is the inspiration behind many of your pieces?
I love the outside, when I’m not painting I’m often found out running or biking in the forests. A lot of my influences come from the great outdoors, nature is the greatest artist, so I try to use shapes or patterns the I gather – whether it be feathers or animals or plants. I attempt to capture the feeling of being in my paintings, a state of mind where the beauty and timelessness of the world come into sharp focus.
Can you explain your choices in mediums and materials?
I start by doing a pencil drawing, so I can work out already what does and doesn’t work. I then make this into a stencil and get going on the background. Once I have spayed the stencil up I work into it with acrylics and spray paint, adding and deleting parts as I go along. Sometimes I make some extra stencils for more details like the eyes and some patterns in the clothes. I use charcoal too to add a bit more definition which makes a huge mess wherever I paint. I painted a few pieces on vintage tiles and furniture last year and want to do more of the same this year. Part of the fun is finding the pieces to paint on.
Is the girl featured in many of these paintings and drawings you or does she represent anyone with a bohemian spirit?
The emotion and spirit in the painting come from me, but the outward appearance of each girl is a mixture of different features I’ve found of different people, so its not a ‘real’ person. The great thing about art is it talks to people in different ways. I love hearing why someone has decided to buy a certain artwork, often their story is quite moving, and they have connected with the character in a way that can only mean something to them.
What is your favorite travel quote?
“There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” – Jack Kerouac
What is your favorite destination and why?
I love anywhere with mountains, my favourite so far has been Austria. Seeing how bleak some places can be reminds me of how insignificant we are and how our own battles can be the most rewarding. Having recently seen some pictures of Mauritius, its somewhere I want to go next.
What are your three favorite places in London?
Shoreditch in London is great for some Street Art and some independent cafes, and not far or that you can get to the south downs, which has some amazing scenery to escape in. My favourite restaurant in the town I live in is the Gigglign Squid, I’m a huge fan of Thai food and the food they serve there is amazing.
GIVEAWAY: Hannah will be giving away the Aztec print on the bottom left. To enter, tweet @BohemianTrails what bohemian travel means to you. Make sure to use #BohoTrails so we can track all the entries. The winner will be announced October 1st!
Megan Eileen McDonough is writer, blogger and social media specialist based in New York City. She also runs Bohemian Trails, a lifestyle blog designed for the savvy and stylish traveler. Bohemian Trails aims to feature must-see places around the world, covering everything from revamped neighborhoods and vibrant street art to innovative tech hubs and everything in between. Her cultural escapades have taken her to Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
Megan is also a freelance writer and social media specialist based in New York City. She contributes to various online and print publications in the travel and fashion industries and is an international correspondent for both Jetsetter and Northstar Travel Media.
