Celebrating East End Prints female artists and mums: ​HANNAH STONEY

Hannah Stoney is a self-taught British artist, fresh back in the UK after a few years in Austin, Texas. She makes 

large-scale, handmade paper-cuts as well as undertaking numerous drawing projects (botanicals and buildings 

mostly). Hannah is not only a talented artist but also a loving mum, she joined us in conversation and here are some 

of her views on her work as well as life as a full time artist and mum in London.

  

Q.How did you get interested into the graphic arts?

A.Of course, like most people who have decided to be artists, it's always been there, I have always made art. I knew I wanted to work in the arts as soon as I left university and got into the big wide world. I got a steely resolve to have a go at being a working visual artist in the last couple of years though -- after finishing quite a miserable job and being in the middle of quite a miserable time personally. It saved me in a way.

Q.Tell us a bit of what inspires you.

A.Falling in love with other people's work or getting excited about projects like learning to do botanical illustration or linocut. I also get fixated on certain moods: Last year it was all gothic grey and foresty and at the moment, I'm super into folk art.

Q.How would you define your style

A.Eclectic for sure -- I have a range of things I like to do, from large intricate paper-cuts to illustrations of buildings or flowers. I think I'm often known for detail and especially large pieces made from intricate, detailed work-- that's my passion and my ambition is to keep getting smaller and bigger at the same time if I can.

Q.How has life as an artist has changed for you since becoming a mom.

A.It is much more compartmentalised because you have to try to find a way to switch gear and be present for your kids. It can be tricky and sometimes agonising to put down what you're doing when you're deeply in it but the good side is that it doesn't half make you focused: When I have time to work, I work my little socks off.

I read a brilliant piece of advice from a writer/mother who said that she always left her desk knowing exactly what she was going to work on the next time that she got to it. You don't have the luxury anymore of wending your way into things, you just have to show up for work and get on with it.

Q.Have you got any advice for people entering the freelance world in London. Any advice for young artists out there?

A. After moving here from Austin I still feel like I'm entering it myself but I will say that I think it helped to have my work in multiple on-line places. People have found me via Pinterest and I have made sales and got commissions from both Instagram and my public facebook page.

And as for young artists, work hard and keep at it if you know you love it. So much of it is about showing up for work -- if you draw every day for a year; you're going to get better at drawing; you're going to know your tools and you're going to start to understand your own style more.  

Check out Hanna's work HERE.