I was born and raised in Utah, but I knew my whole life I wanted to be a marine biologist. For the last 12 years I have lived and worked as a biologist and scuba dive instructor all over the world, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Germany, Australia, Hawaii, and Miami. 

After dives, I would want to re-live all the moments I had underwater and remember the amazing fish I had seen, so I began watercoloring. What started off just as a fun activity to do on slow nights around the dive camp, has turned into this incredible love of recreating ocean and travel memories and sharing them with others. I love meeting fellow ocean lovers, and people sharing their favorite moments and memories about the ocean and marine life with me. 

I also am so inspired by the amazing people I met all over the planet - their strength, beauty, energy, and differences. I wanted to create art that everyone would feel seen and represented in, whether they came from a little fishing village in Indonesia, or the Upper West Side in New York. I began painting a series of Soul Portraits, which are portraits based on what people feel like, and the energy they radiate versus what they look like, so that everyone can see themselves in fine art. Representation in art is so important to me, and what better way to represent humanity than through their souls. 

 

Every single piece is hand embellished with Gold, Silver, or Copper leaf. THey are all one of a kind, as I never use the same pattern or style of embellishment twice. Every one of my prints is one of a kind due to the gold leaf I've added, making them both prints and originals! I believe that we all deserve to own original art, regardless of budget. This is my way of bridging the gap between fine art, and affordability. 

 

I hope you enjoy my work, and that you find what you are looking for within it. 

Hannah