I first mentioned Hannah Betzel's work on my blog when I highlighted some of my favorite "100 Day Projects". Hers was "100 Days of Abandon". Hannah really pushed herself to run wild and experiment. The creative energy and urgency is tangible in her work, and you can see the growth in explosions of color and shape. From an outsider, it looks like this project helped her to get out of her head, and make a significant amount of abstract pieces. What I enjoy equally about her projects, is that she used this project as a teaching tool to show her sons how important it is to commit and follow through.
Thank you so much, Hannah! It was my pleasure to showcase your work and words. And congratulations on completing your project! I'm so excited to see what the future brings for you.
Tell us about yourself. How old are your children? Where can we find you?
My name is Hannah Betzel. I'm an abstract painter, seamstress, wife, and mama. I have two little boys. The oldest is 5 and the youngest will be 3 in October. I'm lucky enough to have a supportive husband who gives me the opportunity to work 3 days a week on my art. The other 4 days are committed to family, home duties, and I try to squeeze in non-painting tasks related to my work (photographing for prints, blogging, editing, etc.).You can find me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and I'm most active on Instagram!
- Website / Blog / Shop: www.hannahbetzel.com
- Instagram @hannahbetzelfineart
- Pinterest @hannahbetzel
- Twitter @hannahbetzel
- Facebook Hannah Betzel Fine Art
Has your approach to painting, your processes, medium, or your inspiration changed since having children?
I'd say I'm more inspired! Art is a fantastic teaching tool for kids, so I use the opportunity to find fun creative ways to connect with them. My boys couldn't be any more different from one another, so the way they each react to various mediums is really inspiring me to try things I wouldn't normally gravitate towards.
Is it easy or difficult for you to find/make time to create? Did you have to give anything up? Do you have advice on what works for you?
As I mentioned, my husband is super supportive and gives me the time to paint uninterrupted. That said, sometimes we have sick days, the babysitter calls in, or the car needs maintenance. Some weeks are more productive in the studio than others, and reminding myself to be flexible helps me focus on the positive. There is always something to do. If I'm not able to get into the studio, I can work on the blog, edit photos, pick up art supplies, focus on the family. I've found a place that does car washes and oil changes and they have wifi. Having maintenance done takes about an hour, and a lot can be done in that hour!
My biggest help is establishing a routine though - especially a night time routine. Writing out top priorities for the next day, going over my schedule, setting clothes out for the next day for the kids and me...all that sets me up for a smoother morning and a smoother day overall.
How does being an artist make you a better mother to your children? What do you hope they take away from seeing you as an artist doing something that fulfills you? The early years of motherhood made it impossible for me to focus on anything more than family then. There were times when I felt overwhelmed, but mostly I really was fine with the responsibility of being full time stay at home mama. I wanted to give my boys all of me that they needed at the time. My kids are old enough now where I'm starting to catch some breaks, figure out a good babysitter schedule, and see the importance of getting some time for myself back. It's important for me to be fulfilled outside the role of motherhood because I'm giving them the best of me when I'm able to do what makes me feel like my creative self. I have more to contribute to my family if I'm involved in the art world, have friends of my own, maintain a healthy body, and make time for husband and wife dates. My confidence is boosted tremendously when l'm creating and I think a confident mama has direct positive impact on the confidence of her children.
Where do you paint or create? What are your favorite things about your workspace and what would you improve? Do you ever create art with your kids?
I paint in my home studio, which works great for me! It's nice to be able to work at a moment's notice if I get time away or to work late a night when the kids are in bed. At some point, I'll outgrow the space (we built our house with my studio in mind) and we'll use the studio as a guest room. Right now, it's perfect because there is sufficient space and I can leave my things out and come back to them without having to reset everything back up. We have an unfinished basement where I seal paintings and hang them on the studs to dry, away from curious little hands.
Do you have any tips to streamline/delegate/outsource household and childcare activities so that you can focus more time on your art? Has your lifestyle changed in any major ways?
Having a babysitter a few days a week in our home has been a major help and my oldest son just started preK, so the house is quieter with one kiddo around throughout the day. I think laundry will forever be something I'm figuring out when to fit it in. One week I get it all done in a day and the next week it feels never ending. It is what it is! Some chores aren't fun but they have to be done. Meal planning is a huge help the times I do it. It takes a lot of time on the front end, but it helps at 5pm when I don't have to think about what's for dinner during the week. By that time, I want to make as few decisions as possible and start winding things down.
Do you have any big goals or dreams for your art that you’d like to share? What would be your dream project?
I would love to work with teens at some point as a mentor in the arts. I feel like I need to get to know my own creativity more before jumping into that, but I remember what a difference some of the supportive adults made in nurturing my artistic abilities as a teenager (especially vital in a school with no art program!), and I'd love to be that person for another young artist.
P.S. Hannah, I think you have already accomplished more of your big dream than you realized, by painting the amazing Hilman's Mural: Kinetic Energy on Concrete.