Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Phoebe Hatch. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Phoebe, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I realized I wanted to pursue art in high school, maybe around age 16 or 17. I was trying to decide what I wanted to do with my future after high school, as we all were. Earlier in high school I was thinking of going to a liberal arts college but the more I created the more I realized there was no way that this was something I could let go of. When covid hit I locked myself in my bedroom and transformed it into my painting studio, which was probably hazardous to be painting the same room I slept in. In the boredom of quarantine I really found my bliss and used that free time to slow down and do what I loved. I would say this was a transitional time for me. Once the world started opening back up again I submitted work to local exhibits and opportunities and found success in that. Not only was I accepted into these exhibits but also receiving a handful of awards. It always feels great to have an artwork that I created hang up for others to see and experience as well. My high school art teacher fueled my practice with her enthusiasm and passion for the arts. She encouraged me to continue creating, and my parents were so supportive of my calling for art and helped me research and apply to art schools. Choosing to pursue art was really the only option. Anything else I would have chosen to do after high school would have left me wondering where art could have brought me instead. So I applied to the Rhode Island School of Design, got accepted and attended a couple months after graduation. I am now a junior studying painting and have learned more than I could have imagined. My knowledge of art has completely evolved and grown within my time here and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Phoebe, 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’m a painter and current student at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). My journey with painting started back in high school, where I focused a lot on oil painting. I was really interested in capturing the everyday routines of life — things like schoolwork, chores, and repetitive tasks. I’d paint overlapping figures on one canvas to show the repetition and how time feels like it blends together during those everyday moments.

When I got to RISD in 2022, my work started to shift and grow. My professors have been challenging me to try new techniques and materials I haven’t used before. It’s like I am building a whole new “art toolbox” for myself. I have started experimenting with natural materials like dirt, sand, and natural dyes, which was inspired by some of the other classes I’m taking. At RISD, I’m concentrating in nature, culture, and sustainability studies, so I’m learning a lot about ecology and environmental science. All of that has found its way into my painting process. I also work at the RISD Nature Lab, which has given me more opportunities to study the natural world up close, and that definitely shows up in my art.

One of the most exciting things I’ve done so far was being selected as one of the five emerging artists for the 2024 Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver, Colorado. I had a bunch of work at home that I wanted to show, so I figured, “Why not apply?” A couple of months later, I got an email saying I was selected, which was surreal. The festival was such a great experience — I got to connect with other artists, meet people from the community, and even sell my work. Plus, they gave us a grant that helped me keep creating after the festival ended. I’m so grateful for everything that opportunity gave me.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is turning ideas into something real and tangible. There’s a magic in creating something that didn’t exist before, each piece feeling one of a kind. It’s not always a smooth process, but seeing it all come together makes it worth it. Art transforms thoughts into reality, and being part of that process is deeply fulfilling.
Another part I love is how being an artist changes the way I see the world. For example, lately, I’ve been painting trees, and now I notice them everywhere I go. I’m always paying attention to how the bark sits on the trunk, how the branches stretch into space, and how the tree interacts with its surroundings. It’s like I’m constantly observing and figuring out how I would paint it. That shift in perspective is something I never get tired of — it’s like living with a constant sense of wonder.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I’ve had to unlearn is letting go of perfectionism. For a long time, I felt like everything I made had to be “just right” before I could even start, which often left me stuck in my own head. But through my time at RISD and my creative practice, I’ve realized that waiting for perfection only holds me back. I’ve learned to trust the process and allow things to evolve naturally. Some of my best work has come from mistakes or unexpected outcomes. Now, I focus on showing up, starting, and letting the work guide me, rather than trying to control every detail from the beginning.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://phoebehatch.com
• Instagram: ph0ebe.art
• Linkedin: Phoebe Hatch