Local artist Katelyn Hanson paints the little moments of time that make you stop and see the present for what it really is: a gift. Whether it be an embrace, a glance, or an ambiance, she seeks to capture these distinctive yet fleeting exchanges that pause time, if just for a moment. Come and see If Just for a Moment in the East Gallery of the Orem Library during regular library hours until December 31, 2022.
Art Interview with Katelyn Hanson
When did you decide to become an artist? What struggles did you encounter along the way?
I decided I wanted to be an artist very early in elementary school. I think the biggest struggle I encountered was the fear of not being able to “make it” as an artist. There is a stereotype around what an artist should be and do, but the best thing for me has been to try to just be true to myself.
Tell us about a piece that is especially important to you.
My favorite piece in the show is Our Refuge. It’s essentially a love letter to the people in my life that create my safe space of existence.
Which artists are you inspired by?
I am inspired by Colby Sanford. I love the push and pull between areas of detail and flatness in his work, as well as the imagery he paints. I also really love Australian artist CJ Hendry. Her work, which consists of hyper realistic drawings, have found a space in contemporary art in a way that hyper realistic work often cannot.
Tell us a little about your process for creating a work of art.
I start with a moment or feeling that really speaks to me, and often snap a picture and paint from that. Whether it’s a landscape or figurative work, it’s always tied to a memory where in the moment I’m realizing how beautiful life is. Painting is a way of trying to preserve that moment for me.
What questions do you hope people ask themselves as they look at your art?
I’d like the viewers to find a place for themselves inside the pieces. I don’t want to script their experience for them, but I do hope they can be reminded of beautiful moments in their day-to-day lives.
What’s your advice for how to interact with and appreciate art?
There are no rules, but when you find something hard to understand or appreciate, try giving it more time. I had a professor once say that a viewer’s gift to an artist is their time.
What advice do you have for people who are just getting started as artists?
Trust the process and know that everyone has to start somewhere, and don’t give up! Push through the doubt. Being an artist is being vulnerable and that’s ok.
