ART INTERVIEW 2024
luke hanson:
Art for those who need it
DEC, 9, 2024
Inspiration for us can come from any place and for a few weeks now we've been following British artist Luke Hanson work and have become impressed by the skill and passion he's put into his art. Hanson's work is vibrant, delicate, and filled with thoughtfulness and emotion that's captivating.
Hi Luke, thank you for taking the time to chat with us. How’s your December going?
Hello, I hope you’re well! My December is going quite well thank you, I have been more creative than ever since it’s been a bit quiet on the commission front.
As an artist, does this season offer you a great source of inspiration?
In terms of the season and having inspiration, sometimes I do, I like mythical creatures and the fantasy world. However this year, I haven’t found anything in particular (Christmas orientated) to create.
One of your pieces, a Christmas present for your mum, of the two of you sitting on a bench, is incredibly emotional. It’s a beautiful moment in how you’ve captured a happiness and love between a mother and a son. Because of the emotional connection you have to pieces like this, do you ever find it hard sharing such work with the public?
The Christmas present to my mum was a moment of when I first went to uni and on that day she was going back home to Manchester whilst I was starting my new life in London. My mum hated leaving me. So at Christmas I drew her the picture of us two on the bench at Hampton court palace, so that she had something to remind her of us two, whenever she felt lonely or upset.
I never really struggle with a public display of maybe vulnerable and emotional connections to my drawings, because I guess that is my job as an actor. I’m so used to being exposed vulnerably from an early age really. I used to dance, so I was always on stage, and then went to drama school where I played roles in musicals that were displaying all sorts of personalities, struggles, joys and singing abilities. Singing is quite a vulnerable thing to do, especially if you don’t rate yourself. When I went down the more screen acting avenue after graduating, I also became a writer and this enhanced my artist growth in all fields, discovering an honesty that I was so excited to share with the world and will keep sharing. I believe connecting to people and making them feel seen and understood is one of the greatest gifts I could ever give to this world and society. My art speaks to whoever needs it, in that moment, for whatever reason they need it in their life at that time.
Have you always had a passion for art?
I think I’ve always had a passion for art, it’s always been there on the sidelines. I know I would never want it to be a main focus of my career. I would like to continue earning an income from it; to keep me stable so I can focus on my acting career more. You see, I get very restless and irritated sometimes doing art. My patience can run thin and sometimes towards the end of projects I get sloppy because I want to move on. However, you will never notice this in my work because I’ve got to place from years of working so hard on my craft, you probably wouldn’t tell that that’s how I was performing at the end of my works. I have a passion for creating stories . Whether that’s in art -form , writing, acting or just chatting away with friends.
Do you recall the first piece you were commissioned to create?
The first commission I ever had to do, I think I was 15 years old and my friends Dad from Manchester wanted a painting of elephants for their living room. It was an acrylic painting.
What would you say have been the biggest changes you’ve seen in yourself as an artist since you started out?
The biggest changes that I have experienced, or have noticed about myself as an artist, is the willingness to always find my next best work. Every time I create something for myself, I look at the previous or potentially my best and try and “one up” it. Be cause my brain/soul has gone through significant changes in the last 21 years. My perception of life is constantly changing, my beliefs and morals are changing all the time. I think what I’ve discovered is that my best works are always from a reflective perspective (pardon the rhyme).
Can you take me through your creative process? What inspires your work?
My creative process varies, but if I’m creating for myself. I normally browse on Pinterest first. I usually know what sort of thing I have in mind that I want to draw. Pinterest is a rabbit hole and then I end up creating something far from the original plan. I need t he fuel before I can start the fire. So I look and then usually, if this is a portrait, I find something in someone’s face that gives me the spark that I was waiting for. Then I build a concept around that person, looking at maybe animals, belongings or themes which could tell my story of them. Or sometimes the story can be my own subconscious thoughts jumbled up. When I’m drawing, I plan meticulously, but also freely. My imagination can’t be shackled up with a specific outcome, because that’s not true to life. We have our manifestations, but one lesson I’ve learned is; if you insist on the manifestation to look how you have pictured, then you block it from coming to you at all. You truly get In your own way. What would happen if you just let go? What would happen if you allowed it to unfold how it unfolds? It normally comes out better.
You’ re based in London and Manchester; how much does place inform you r creativity as an artist?
In terms of where I’m based. I think, neither Manchester and London have had a massive influence, because I don’t really do live work or base any of my work on observing people in those respects . Both are equally diverse and spectacular in their own way.
(Nerd moment) Is there any particular pencil you prefer to work with?
My pencils that I swear by are Caran d'Ache pencils. The luminance ones are the ones I used for the one that you really like. I also use their normal coloured pencils as well.
What are the biggest differences between the work you create personally and the work you’re commissioned to do?
The biggest difference between the work I create for myself, and commissioned work is the joy element. I don’t really enjoy being told what to do. And you are allowed to laugh at that. But I mean this only applies for my artwork which is strange. I’m very good at being directed and told what to do as an actor and enjoy that here because there’s a vision. But I think with my art, that stems back from when my grandad used to hover over my work. He taught me all the tricks of the trade. But I found my grandad would almost stop me from expressing myself, because he was so technical and always delving into the mechanics.
On the contrary, there was me: a young free child with an imagination that just ran faster than all the horses at the derby race. I am grateful for what he taught me; however it then made me hate being limited to certain things. I find commissioned work limiting.
Do the commission pieces add additional pressure on you?
Sometimes commissioned pieces can add pressure. Although, I usually find that in the end I always will deliver, I will never send off any work if the customer isn’t happy, so in a way, that takes away the pressure. Deadlines can affect the pressure.
I recently asked another artist this question: How much do these emotions that you feel for your subjects allow you to creatively explore it in your work?
This is probably going to sound strange, however when I’m drawing, I don’t feel any emotions, at all. I mean, sometimes I can get a flicker of joy. I almost find it meditative. I think if anything, I’m usually clearing my thoughts and allowing the concentration of the art of mind to pen to paper eventually take over to achieve a state of mental freedom.
What does your art say about you?
What does my art say about me? I’m going to have to write a thesis on this. My art says so much about my subconscious thoughts. I think with my work, especially now more than anything; my work touches on so many concepts that maybe appear to have no correlation to the viewer and most people will just say “that’s a beautiful image” but will not understand the actual concept of story behind it. But I think that’s the whole point, some people will appreciate the visual aspect, but them some will delve into the depths of what I was going through in that moment.
And to those people, hats off to you. There’s a lot to decode. My art has this bittersweet touch to it, most of the themes I explore, are actually quite dark or from a period of darkness, however my work completely contradicts that with my use of colour and my vibrant flare. It’s a bit like when you may find people talking about their depression or grief and they’ll laugh about it, and say dark and twisted jokes about it, but inside there’s an underpinning pain or emotion that is compartmentalised to deal with……..for never. My work is the smile underneath periods of pain and growth. Additionally, it is also representative of my reflective nature. I’ll attach a piece that I had submitted for an art competition (I didn’t win it sadly) but at that time, it was a milestone of the person I am today. The title of the competition was embracing our difference s. I thought very hard about how I am different to everyone. I remembered that maybe the things I had been through as a child or growing up and even from two years ago; had made me different. So I created this piece, and it was a self portrait, at fir st, I liked it, but in the end, I hated it. I hated the blue background; I should have just left it as it was.
Although I wasn’t happy with the outcome, what was more important was the acknowledgment of not being in a victim mentality anymore and having the creative freedom to truly express that and always to refer back to that when I’m slipping back into old identities. I will attach this Image too. An abbreviated version of my answer is, my art is basically a visual representation of my experiences of life, being spun in my brain washing machine and coming out clean but a different colour.
"The statue is a symbol of the old version of myself, confused and maybe zoned out from the world."
Is there one piece that you’re especially connected to?
The one piece that I’m really connected to is the painting called “55”. The number is an angel number meaning change. I see this number all the time and it’s so true. My life has significantly changed in the space of two to three years. I drew it during counselling to reconnect with my old creative self. I created something that looks like a bunch of birds on a statue in heaven, but it means so much more than that. The statue is symbolic of the old version of myself, confused and maybe zoned out from the world. He is slowly breaking off and then there’s new growth of ivy is growing on him. This was to show that I’m changing and learning. The birds around the head are a symbol of liberating the mind from all the burdens I was carrying. I will attach this too.
Who have been some of your inspirations?
My inspirations haven’t necessarily been followed through. It’s more like I’ll see a specific piece of work from an artist just online and then use it. I’m a bit bad though, I never really research who the artwork belongs to.
What would you say has been the most valuable lesson you’ve taken from your art?
The most valuable lesson I’ve taken from my art is that, I didn’t appreciate how gifted I was until I didn’t want to sell original works. There are some pieces I have done, and I go “I am a fucking genius, how did I do that?” And I never let go of them. The value of celebrating your expression in a picture is a hard lesson to learn, because we’re taught to be humble and not say things like “I’m amazing I know” because people don’t like that. So you undersell yourself. And you shyly look away from a compliment and feel uncomfortable. And then you do that and people say “you need to believe in yourself more”. You can probably see where I’m going with this. Ultimately, if you think that you are worth celebrating, then at some point in your life, you’re going to get a big ass party and a lot of singing and dancing for your work or for just being you. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about you or your work, because true art, is about self expression and not wanting a need to be validated by others. Sure, we put it out there for others to see, yet the creation behind it, isn’t really for what you think your audience wants to see, it’s what you want your audience to see.
And finally, what would you like people to take away from your work?
What I would like people to take away from my art is; you’re taking away a piece of my soul. That is precious. I’m willingly selling or giving you something that I went Though, felt or desire. I want you to feel connected somehow, even if it’s just because a turtle is your favourite animal.