We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hanna Jaeun a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Hanna, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Overall, I’m happy as an artist. Sure, I do think about what it would be like to have a regular job. Having security and stability would be great. But sometimes, a regular job isn’t for everyone. Like anything else, there are ups and downs. When things are up, they’re really up, but when they’re down, they’re really down. During those down times, I sometimes wish I had the stability of a regular job. However, as they say, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.

Hanna, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an artist, more specifically a painter. My work is often categorized as dark art or lowbrow art. I mainly work with acrylic paint on wood panel. I love the smoothness of wood which allows for greater detail. Drawing inspiration from the macabre, childhood memories, and my love of animals, my work explores themes of alienation, vulnerability, and the yearning to belong. I feel honored to have had the opportunity to exhibit internationally and across the US, including Beyond Eden Art fair, SCOPE art fair at Miami Basel, the L.A. Art Show and various galleries.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Non-creatives may struggle to understand why we feel the need to create during our free time, constantly working on creative projects and why we often choose not to follow the conventional path.
Open to new experiences and question when we stray from the traditional expectations.
Despite all this, I believe we need both types of people in this world. While creative bring flair and innovation, there’s value in having non-creatives who keep things grounded and steady, too. It’s the mix of both that keeps things going.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I really wish I could’ve connected with a mentor. Having the support of an experienced artist who could’ve provided guidance and advice would have been great. It would’ve also been beneficial to learn about the business side of things, like marketing and selling my art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hannajaeun.com
• Instagram: @hannajaeun
• Facebook: hannajaeunart

Image Credits

Taylor Ballantyne