Hanna Mancini is a Melbourne based illustrator, crafter, procrastinator whose art practices span the exploration of multiple mediums.
Her own creative label ‘Hannakin’ encompasses a wide range of things she makes and does, including archival quality prints of her whimsical watercolour and collage illustrations, and textile/soft sculpture works.
In both her illustration and textile works she incorporates found and recycled materials; old notes, book pages, vintage embroidered doilies and fabrics, which supply inspiration and are used to give her pieces a sense of nostalgia, memory and history. Thematically, Hanna’s works tend to be narrative or character based, creating worlds full of whimsy and wonder and characters within them for audiences to connect with.
Colour Box Studio are excited to have Hannkin illustrations on display as part of the Members and Volunteer Program -from the 28th Oct – 6th Nov and a range of her work available during the Summer Pop Up Shop from the 9th Nov – 21st Dec.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and what you do?
My name’s Hanna, and I’m a 20-something creative working as a freelance illustrator and also running my own creative label ‘Hannakin’.
Describe your art form.
My art form is predominantly illustration, often incorporating different characters and creatures brought to life with watercolour, collage and sometimes digital elements. I also do a fair bit of textile/soft sculpture work, which involves sewing little characters out of wool felt, vintage fabrics and other bits and bobs.
How did you come to it?
I come from a pretty creative family, and I have been drawing and making things all my life! I got a bit more focused and my work developed a lot after studying Visual Arts in 2008/9, and I started selling prints and cards as ‘Hannakin‘ in 2010.
Tell us a about your past projects and what has been your most treasured creation?
Creative pursuits have lead me to a number of different projects, including collaborating with an animator on a small commercial, illustrating book covers and personal commission works.
In 2009 I made a little textile bunny named Binky, and started taking photos of him in silly placed to turn into a little photographic comic ( http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs24/f/2008/001/c/7/Binky_by_Hannakin.jpg ). One day on one of our adventures I lost Binky, and I haven’t seen him since. Binky was highly treasured, but I like to think he’s off travelling the world and having adventures of his own.
Where did you grow up and has it influenced what you create?
I grew up in Hepburn Springs, a town in rural Victoria. We had a big property that backed onto a gorge with a creek, and me and my brother would go on all sorts of adventures. I think that definitely influenced me, but more than that I was/am influenced by my family. My dad is an illustrator and graphic designer, and my mum is incredibly creative over a variety of different mediums. Me and my brother grew up drawing and making stuff together, and he now works as a concept artist for a computer game company. I couldn’t imagine not pursuing a creative path!
Where do you feel most creative?
I feel most creative and inspired when I surround myself with other creative people. I have a lot of creative friends and we like to get together just to draw and work on whatever projects we have going at the time, it’s a great resource to have other creative people to bounce ideas off. That being said, I love having alone time at my desk with music and a cup of tea, and the freedom to just explore and tinker with ideas.
What will you be working on next?
There is no simple answer to that question, as I always seem to have a million things going at once! I have a few commissions and illustration projects to work on, and I have to work on sewing and making a lot of stock for the busy Christmas Market period. There is never enough time in the day!
What can visitors to expect to see when they come to the Throw Up Your Art Launch?
There will be some archival art prints of my original, whimsical illustrations, as well as some framed original pieces.
Where can we see more of your work?
I will also have work at the Colour Box Studio Summer Pop Up shop, and you can catch me pretty regularly on a weekend at the Rose St Artists’ Market ( http://www.rosestmarket.com.au/ ), and online at www.etsy.com/shop/hannakin .