Hannah Pearlman
Hannah Pearlman is an illustrator, muralist, and designer based in Providence, Rhode Island. Her goal is to create artwork and products that help people bring more beauty and joy into their lives through their authentic selves. Inspired by nature, Hannah's work honors the way even the most beautiful flowers can have rough edges and missing petals. Read our interview with Hannah below:
Wrappr: Who are you and how did you start making art?
Hannah: I'm Hannah Pearlman, the artist behind Palindrome Art! I'm an illustrator, muralist, and surface pattern designer, and I work out of my home studio in Providence, Rhode Island. I've always been an artist; from a very young age, I told everybody that I wanted to be an artist when I grew up! But I was told that the only way to make a living doing something creative would be to go into architecture, and it turns out there's a lot of math involved in architecture. After university, I ended up pursuing a totally different career path in nonprofit management, and I even earned two master's degrees in that field. One day, I realized that I had another 30+ years left before retirement, and I knew that I would always wonder, "what if?" After a major career change, some more education, and a lot of support from my family, I'm now working as a full time artist.
W: Why do you make art?
H: I love the feeling of making. Even when I'm not making art, I'm crafting. I love the feeling of using my hands to bring something out of nothing. And with graphic design training, I learned how to think in visual metaphor, to express ideas visually. I find that my mind stills when I'm making something; I get into a flow-state where I could just draw or paint for what seems like forever!
W: What do you do to get into your creative zone?
H: I definitely need a good night's sleep! I find that if I can't think, then I can't make art, either. I like to put on some music and kind of just get into it. I often warm up a bit with something silly or fun, and then once I'm in the zone, I just keep on going!
W: What is your inspiration? Or how has your personal experience influenced your creativity?
H: I take a lot of inspiration from the natural world. Have you ever noticed that plants are somehow perfect and imperfect all at once? They follow these intricate fractal structures, but there are all sorts of rough edges and missing petals and holes. I find it really inspiring and beautiful.
W: What is your most important artists’ tool, the one thing you couldn’t imagine creating without?
H: My glasses and my hands!
W: How has your practice changed over the past 2 years?
H: When I first started out, I used to just jump in and go with the first idea that came to me. I've really developed a more exploratory process, where I start to think laterally. I find that my initial idea is often pretty obvious, but if I keep thinking about it, I'll end up with something unique and interesting. I also have really developed my sketching process, and refine a lot before fully executing.
W: What is your dream creative project or dream team collaboration?
H: My main goal is to be able to share my work. It brings me such joy and fulfillment to know that something I made is out there in the universe and that other people might see it and enjoy it. This collaboration with Wrappr has been absolutely amazing.
W: Who are your biggest influences (art, music, film, art, etc)?
H: I'm not actually sure how to answer this question! I consume so much media. I read constantly, which fuels my creative brain. I interact with other artists online, and have spent countless hours enjoying fine art. I love looking at old type reference books, too.
W: What is the role of an artist in society?
H: I think the role of artists in society is especially important today, particularly with the proliferation of AI: to show that art is a human process, that it is unique and not just about creating the perfect outputs. Artists push us to think and consider the world differently, and help us imagine the impossible.
W: Do you have any tips or practices to share with people who are making the lifestyle shift towards zero-waste and sustainable practices?
H: Take small, manageable steps! It's better to start with changes that you can make and stick to than to go all in but quit later on.
W: What is the highlight of collaborating with Wrappr for you?
H: I love Wrappr's commitments to the planet and how art can be an essential part of that. It's truly a dream to work with such an amazing and ethical company.
W: What is your favorite way to use a furoshiki wrap or fabric gift bag?
H: As a scarf! It adds a beautiful pop of color and art to any outfit. Such a fun accessory.
