In preparation for our next show with artist Hannah Stouffer, we took a visit to her studio to get a sneak peek of what she’s been working. We were able to sit down and speak with her to find out more about this mystical body of work. “Internal Energy” will open at the gallery this Friday April 4th from 7-10PM. Enjoy.
Who are you and what do you do?
Hannah Stouffer, Los Angeles based illustrator. I’ve always liked the term illustrator, though I guess I’m an artist / designer / curator / something. I have a dog named Taki and I share a studio with 3 close friends (Esao, Johnny Vampotna and Ali Gallagher) where we gather to share our ridiculous escapades and drink cheap beer. I’m a writer and the illustration and erotica editor for Juxtapoz Magazine and Juxtapoz Books and have been for the past 3 years. I enjoy the finer things in life, like smooth rnb, dirty rap lyrics, chilled champagne, and metaphysical beingness. Haven’t we met somewhere before??
What is your art background?
I grew up in the mountains of Colorado, though I’ve been on the West Coast for the past 12 years or so. I know that my upbringing (and its contrast with my current lifestyle) has heavily influenced my creative output. I always knew I was going to be an artist. I was in those ‘special’ art classes during my formative years, and moved on to a varietal education in the arts, though was never formally trained in what I do. It’s all I’ve ever known.
What is your chosen medium?
Watercolor and acrylic inks. Heavily pigmented neon gouache and airbrush inks (though not necessarily used in the right way). I love the thickest hot pressed watercolor paper you can find and a good Uniball Micron Exact pen – black.
What inspires you to create art?
It’s not really an option at this point – it’s like one of those things that if I don’t do it, then we have a problem. But visually?? Anything really – I notice a lot. From those patterns you get when you press on your eyelids in the morning to some advertising billboard I don’t understand... the night sky, the sound of footsteps, human emotion, love, change, the unknown, glittery piñata scraps in the park, an old encyclopedia, staring into the sun, the sound of my dog eating chips...
It seems like you are always in the process of jumbling multiple projects. What are you currently working on?
It’s endless, isn’t it? Well, since I just wrapped this show, ‘Internal Energy’ and my installation at The Standard, Hollywood entitled ‘Framework, Repetition’, I’ll be getting ready for the official release of the Juxtapoz Psychedelic book that I completed earlier this year. Cover to cover, written, curated and edited by myself, with the help of all of nearly 30 gorgeous artists involved. It’s set for April 26th at The Well in downtown LA. I’ll also begin a couple new series for projects and shows later this year, plan some travel, and I just signed with a new commercial illustration agent, so a lot of new surprises with that. I’m really excited to get back into black and white pen work.
How has your practice changed over time?
It’s always changing. I’ve changed mediums a lot, I change the content, subject matter, color, composition, everything really based on where I’m at in my life. I like for something to feel foreign until it gets familiar. I very much let what I’m going through delegate my output – and this varies from being either super tight illustration work, to loose watercolor, to digitally compiled works to product design, curating, art direction, whatever... I certainly didn’t start out this way, and few things have stayed the same.
What is your dream art project?
Tell The Dream to call me. Seriously. <3
