April 26th, 2009
Q&A With Illustrator and Designer Samantha Hahn
DM
Recently we sat down to do another Q & A – this time with surface designer and illustrator Samantha Hahn out of Brooklyn NY. Her work has been featured in publications such as Glamour and in Hallmark card designs. In talking with her we were able to get insight into her work, inspiration, thoughts on design, art, and color trends.
Some of our readers may not be familiar with your work. Could you give us some insight into both your work and your background?
"I am an illustrator, surface pattern designer, blogger, and art teacher. All of those jobs feed off of each other. I studied illustration in college and art education in graduate school. My mom was an illustrator so I grew up around art and never once questioned if it was what I wanted to do. For a while I did oil paintings but that got arduous. I prefer working in pen and watercolor. Plus I enjoy the commercial art world so much."
You do both fine art and commercial art projects. What do you feel are the major differences in how you approach these two types of projects?
"In doing both I use a similar process but with commercial art I'm working to meet the needs of the art director/client thus I work within size, time, and color parameters. When I'm working on my own, I set my own parameters."
What is the source of the inspiration behind your work?
"I'm in love with portraying the female form. I usually try to imbue her with energy and vivacity. I am obsessed with color and pattern as well. I often turn drawings and illustrations into repeating patterns. That is one of the main things my surface pattern clients come to me for, my hand-drawn illustrative style."
Your hand drawn pieces and surface patterns contain a lot of very rich, vibrant colors. What colors do you see as the new trend in the world of interior design over the next couple of years?
"I don't really follow color trend sites so I don't have a definitive answer. I personally love sorbet colors like creamsicle orange and peach for spring and summer, and rich plums and crimsons for fall and winter. I think about following trend sites sometimes but seem to get nice feedback for following my own color barometer."
You have done a lot of work for publications such as Glamour Magazine. Could you tell us about some of that work?
"I loved working for Glamour. For 5 months I did 4 illustrations an issue on the "Glamour List" page. It was so much fun coming up with illustrations to accompany text. When I get jobs like that I'm so grateful to be an artist. I almost feel like I should be paying them! I've also done work for Craft Magazine and a lot of indie magazines. The magazine world is quickly changing. Very few publications use illustration and if they do it's not as much as they used to. The print world is really changing overall. So many magazines I love have gone under like Domino and Craft. That's why I do work for online publications, teeshirts, magnets, stationary and cards, fashion, and home decor. I figure if I spread myself thin I will always find someplace to land. Plus I really love applying my artwork to other things besides the printed page."
Do you have any immediate plans to carry over your designs into other applications?
"I have a number of teeshirt designs out with 2k By Gingham, I have wall graphics out with Loxii graphics, magnets out with ipop, I will have a journal out with Barnes & Noble, cards with Hallmark, plates with Freddy & Ma, a scarf print with Chikara...lots of fun things. You can check my shop link on www.samanthahahn.com/blog for updates."
Lastly (and most importantly) what are some of your favorite rugs here at Domestic Modern?
"I really love Domestic Modern. I'm especially drawn to the Thomas Paul Rugs. I adore the bold designs and rich colors. If I could pick one for my home it would be the Gray and Yellow Parasols Rug. What a lovely color combination."