We were lucky to catch up with Hannah Elliott recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hannah, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?

A lot of my design work and poetry is based off of my identity as a woman. I’ve seen firsthand the unfair treatment and injustices women face socially and politically. I want my work to not only inform the public about what women go though, whether it’s the pink tax, menstruation/pregnancy, or even just being treated like less than in our fields, and try to make a change one small action at a time. I want to be remembered as someone who genuinely cares about others and wants to make the world a better place. In today’s world, it can sometimes feel like the cool thing to do is not care, but I so desperately want the world to be kinder to the next generation of women than it has to me and the women who came before me.

Hannah, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been creating all types of art since I was able to hold a crayon. My dad is a tattoo artist, and both of my parents have always encouraged my brother and I to chase after our dreams, no matter what it was. Their support is the reason why I felt that I was capable of pursuing art. I focus mainly in graphic design, but I have a background in fine art and photography as well.

I create a lot of zines, which are mini magazines, because it combines my love of layout and creative writing. I write mostly poetry (and am a published poet!) and creative nonfiction. The combination of images and words helps me express my thoughts and feelings better than anything else I’ve tried. My own beliefs drive much of my work, which I think makes my work stand out compared to other artists who may create what they think consumers want to see.

As for clients, my favorite things to create are Logos, CD covers, and Book covers. These are all very recognizable objects, so it is so important to capture the correct essence while also helping the client stand out. I am always looking to try new techniques based on the client’s needs.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I used to take criticism *very* personally. As someone who studied art and writing, workshops and critiques we happening very often, which stressed me out in the beginning. I used to think that when my peers were giving me constructive feedback, it meant that they didn’t like what I was working on and that my art style wasn’t working. I quickly learned that these people I was around on the daily genuinely wanted to see me succeed and were giving me more pathways in which to do so. It is actually when no one wanted to give any feedback that they weren’t big fans of the work being produced (which luckily never happened to me!)

I remember at my first drawing critique, I was being very hard on myself when talking about my process and the outcome. I’m pretty sure it was just a still life, but to me it felt like I was supposed to have drawn something to become the modern Mona Lisa. It wasn’t until after class was over and a fellow student that I had never really spoken to came up to me and told me they thought my drawing was one of the best in the class. That comment totally changed the way I felt about the class and my own abilities and shifted my perspective of the comments my peers were making. They wanted to give me comments that would help take my art out of my comfort zone and help me improve all around. I’m forever grateful for the critiques and workshops I went through in college.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I absolutely love when people want to have conversations about the art that I m creating. Whether it’s about the process or the subject matter, seeing someone connect with the art I am producing makes me feel like I am doing something right. Art for me is never just about myself, it’s about making connections and inspiring others. Helping others feel seen through my zines about feminism and having productive conversations is hands down the most rewarding part about creating. Sometimes when I feel burned out, it feels like there is no point in creating and that no one cares if I’m making art or not, but those connections are what keep me going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elliotthannahlee.wixsite.com/banditandthebee
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/banditandthebee