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

Hannah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

This may seem like questionable timing, but when I became a mother!

I decided to stay home with my children, partly because I wanted to and partly because I couldn’t figure out how to balance motherhood and a professional career. But after the newborn fog had lifted and I began to feel more like myself again, I realized I needed an intellectual outlet and some sort of project that I could call my own. I started my art business to fulfill that need while still maintaining a flexible schedule. I worked mostly during naps and after bedtime for the first few years – it’s getting easier now that they’re in school.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Hannah VanDuinen, and I am the artist and owner of Birds & Blossoms. I’m a born and bred Michigan girl – I grew up in Grand Rapids, moved to Ann Arbor for college, and I’ve now settled with my own little family in Whitmore Lake. I was never officially an art student (my degree is in English Language & Literature), but both of my parents are extremely creative. It definitely rubbed off on me! Over the years, I learned to create in many formats through observation and experimentation.

As an artist, I find my inspiration primarily in the natural world around me. As my business name would suggest, birds and various florals most commonly find their way into my pieces, although I also enjoy drawing the occasional insect or geometric pattern. Much like subject matter, I have never been able to stick to one medium, either. Instead, my style has become a blended hybrid of physical practices (including gouache painting, pen and ink illustration, and block printing) and digital design.

This adaptable, experimental approach to art has helped me build a portfolio of both fine art that can be displayed and marketed through traditional avenues as well as surface pattern designs that can be licensed for use on products. I officially launched Birds & Blossoms in June 2020, and I have been intentionally building my business in a manner that is well-suited both for retail and for partnerships with other business owners.

Having grown up with creativity being modeled to me on a daily basis, I have always recognized that art is a beautiful and unique avenue for connecting with the world. No matter what medium I’m working in or what subject matter I’m capturing, my goal is always to create a joyful, charming final piece that makes this world even a little bit brighter than it was before. I love producing art that acts as a finishing touch to a space, perhaps making an office feel warm and welcoming or a house finally feel like home.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I have relished the opportunity to dive back into academic habits as I learn how to build a functional business. I was an English major, definitely not a business major! But two online courses stand out as the most helpful resources I’ve invested in by far.

The first is Leverage Your Art, a course run by the successful and delightful Stacie Bloomfield of Gingiber. She teaches the business side of the art world in a way that is approachable, and more importantly, enjoyable. This course discusses different income streams, copyrights, budgeting, and so much more. Her main goal is to prove by example that contrary to popular opinion, it is possible to make a comfortable living with your art.

The second is Pitch Your Portfolio by Shannon McNab. This course delves into the nitty gritty details of pitching your work to companies, including how to find useful contacts, how to craft the perfect email, and how and when to follow up if you don’t get a response the first time around. It’s definitely not the most fun process involved in running an art business, but it is essential, and Shannon’s attention to detail and full honesty makes it less of a guessing game.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

This is going to sound cheesy, but it’s the truth: the connections I make. Since becoming a full time artist, I have found a community, both of fellow artists and of people who love collecting art. It feels like a privilege every single time someone chooses one of my pieces to take home, whether it’s a full-sized painting or a tea towel picked up at a craft show. I’ll never get over the rush!

Contact Info:

• Website: birdsblossoms.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/birds.blossoms
• Facebook: facebook.com/birds.blossoms
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hvanduinen/

Image Credits
Arthur Rajala