Open Impressionism Artist Erin Hanson [ARTIST INTERVIEW]

For painter Erin Hanson, working as a professional artist was an easy career choice. This bioengineering UC Berkeley graduate would take the life of a painter, more than that of a doctor…any day of the week. She is considered to be the originator of painting style called “Open Impressionism. You can find inspiration from her favorite French painter Vincent van Gogh, peppered throughout her work. She says, “I would love to sit in a hay field in France and paint with van Gogh.” The market is ravenous for her contemporary impressionistic pieces and if you don’t move quick enough, you might find her gallery walls bare. Her art is being snatched up by the most “in the know” collectors and her paintings have been in museums, galleries, solo exhibitions, private collections and more. She also has two retail galleries that exclusively showcase her work, The Erin Hanson Galleries.

Erin was kind enough to grant us an interview and share some career highlights of her artistic journey. Here is the interview…

What is your medium of choice?

I work with oils on canvas and mix my colors from a limited palette. When I was younger, I worked with a variety of mediums and techniques ranging from Japanese brush art to giant murals in acrylics. My favorite painting medium has always been oils, though, and I have been working in oils since I was 8 years old. I love the rich, creamy texture and vibrant colors of oils, and the paints are naturally impasto. 

Is there a specific artist, person or place that inspires you or your work?

I get my inspiration directly from nature. Being a landscape artist has allowed me to combine my two loves: hiking and painting. My favorite thing to do is to visit a National Park and wake up before dawn, when everyone else is still sleeping, and watch the sunrise by myself, surrounded entirely by peaceful, quiet nature. Since I love color so much, my favorite times of day to paint are sunrise and sunset, the most colorful times of day. Even an ordinary tree turns hues of strawberry and magenta in the sunset. I have also been inspired by van Gogh and the other impressionists who used vibrant color to capture the scenes they loved.

Do you have a favorite piece that you have created?

I have many favorites…and all my paintings are my babies. One of my favorites is “Crystal Light,” the first painting I created where I managed to capture the prismatic effect of light radiating out through tree branches. The shadow and light effect on the grass looks like a butterfly’s wing. 

Is there a specific artistic experience that stands out to you from either transforming you as an artist, or just a special project?

When I was rock climbing every week in Red Rock Canyon, Nevada, I started creating one painting every week. My only subject matter was rocks. I believe this early period of painting a red rock landscape has informed the entire rest of my style, since I got used to using thick, textured brush strokes and flat planes of color to communicate the separate planes and cracks of the rocks. 

Now that I paint other landscapes, like California wine country, coastlines, and Northwest scenes, I still apply my early technique of thick, blocky areas of oil paint. My style of painting is sort of like placing tiles in a mosaic. I am currently working on a new collection, The Sunflower Collection. I am experimenting with applying my painting style to the curving petals of the vivacious sunflower.

If you could travel anywhere in the world to see a famous piece of art what would it be?

I want to experience the van Gogh museum in Amsterdam. It is next on my list. 

What’s your creative truth? 

1. Don’t ever seek approval or opinions about your art. Art is a personal creation and only you can decide if the painting achieved what you set out to create. 

2. Start each new painting with a clear image in mind of what you want to create. Then work to approximate that as closely as possible, and when all the paint has been laid down, put your brush down, sign the painting, and start something new. Don’t get stuck on perfection, that comes with experience, and you will learn more by starting a new painting than trying to fix and fiddle with the old painting. 

Her work in progress…

EH: I am currently working on my newest series of works entitled The Sunflower Collection. It will be released in June 2022. This is my love letter to the impressionists that came before me. I like to think that I am carrying on the tradition of impressionism in the modern world. The impressionists were not afraid to paint the world as they saw it, and I see vibrant color, even in the most ordinary of landscapes. I love how van Gogh captured the world around him. He was so passionate and brought so much beauty into this world through his paintings. 

Were you always interested in painting? 

I have always wanted to be an artist. I also believe that we are all born artists in one way or another, but most children have had that natural interest beaten out of them through “helpful” criticism and “the harsh realities of life.” I was told growing up (by many different adults) that it was too hard to make a living as an artist, and that “I was smart” so I should do something else, like “be a doctor or something.” I did in fact get my degree in bioengineering from UC Berkeley, but I can tell you for a fact: making a living as an artist is much easier than trying to become a wealthy doctor. I sold over $3 million dollars in paintings and prints last year, and frankly I can’t paint fast enough to keep up with the demand. I hear this from the artists I know – they are selling paintings too fast and can’t keep up with the demand. I believe there is a real need in society for beauty, now more than ever, and artists are the ones who can capture beauty in a form that you can hang on your wall.

What is your biggest challenge as an artist?

The art of balance. Being an artist isn’t only sitting and creating, it is SO many other “hats”. Over the years I have been everything from accountant, travel agent, delivery person, marketing, bathroom cleaner, and manager. I must understand and have my finger in so many different parts of what makes my art business tick (including 2 eponymous galleries, 10 staff and a full-blown onsite print shop). 

What is one of the most rewarding elements you take away from doing what you do? 

The thing that makes me the happiest is when others find joy in my artwork. I want them to be inspired to look at the world in a brighter light, and to focus on the beautiful things in life, instead of the dreary and mundane. 

What is one quality you feel is key to succeeding at your craft in today’s creative landscape?

I would say I have developed a thick skin against criticism, and I have learned to immediately ignore and turn away from anyone who attempts to make less of me as an artist. I have also learned to surround myself with people that truly have my back. 

What advice can you share with other artists about what you’ve learned from your journey? 

Don’t worry about making each painting a masterpiece, when you are first starting out. Painting is like learning an instrument; you need to spend thousands of hours painting before you can comfortably and confidently use your tools to create the effects you want to create on canvas. So my advice is, paint and paint and paint, and don’t look back! Always look forward to the next piece, and try to make each piece better than the last, instead of getting held up in paintings in the past that didn’t turn out the way you wanted them to. From experience I can say that an artist needs to paint about 400 paintings before they have their own style.

For someone who is new to discovering art, what would you recommend on how to explore the possibilities of what is out there?

Art is a personal thing. Obviously, you want to buy art that you love and that you can enjoy for years to come. Some people take the advice of an interior designer to decide which art to put in their home, but I think it is more fun to explore different artist websites, or browse through art galleries, or visit an art festival, and choose your own art to live with. Then you can start to develop your own tastes and decide what sort of art you like. That way the paintings that hang in your home really say something about who you are, and your home is more personal and more fun! Buying art itself becomes a journey and an experience that goes beyond just decorating your home.

What has been your biggest “WOW!” moment in your career?

A few years ago, I had a collector buy out almost every single painting in my gallery. Almost overnight I went from having full gallery walls and some inventory to having almost completely bare walls in the gallery. It was exhilarating. I did a little celebration and then had to jump right back into painting to get more work on the walls. 

Interesting fact…

I have recently taken up gardening. A couple of years ago I acquired a country estate on 40 acres, and this spring I have planted over a hundred different plants, fruit trees, and fruiting bushes. My 2-year old daughter even has a magical little spot under a weeping willow that is surrounded entirely by strawberries. I can’t wait for the Oregon weather to warm up so we can start eating everything. 

Thank you Erin for sharing your story and for beautifying the world…one sunflower and landscape at a time. To learn more about Erin’s work and exhibits visit erinhanson.com.

Images courtesy of Erin Hanson