With creativity abounding in the community around us, The Concord Insider, in collaboration with Concord Arts Market, highlights local artists on a regular basis.

This week’s spotlight focuses on visual artist Jackie Hanson, who lives in Belmont. She broadly describes her work as “Nature in Full Color” and often painting with acrylics, pastels, and more. Her subject matter is usually landscapes, botanicals, and animals – especially chickens. Her work can be described as painterly realism with an emphasis on vibrant use of color. Thematically, these paintings explore the idea of humanity and nature as both interdependent and opposed forces, neither ever really free of the other. She’s also a printmaker, making tiny carved relief prints using pink erasers rather than linoleum.

Hanson received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New England College in 2022 and has since balanced growing her art business with a full-time job at her alma mater’s Danforth Library. When she’s not making art, attending art markets, or working, she’s practicing yoga, spending time with her cats, and exploring the local environment.

Q: What does art mean to you?

A: Art, or creative expression of any kind, is a key part of what makes us human. It has existed in every culture on the planet since our earliest ancestors, so it must be part of our biology. For me, art is something I’ve dedicated my life to, but I think it’s important that everyone has a creative outlet, whether that’s painting, writing, singing, cooking, or anything else that scratches the creative itch. Before it was a source of income, making art was a process I enjoyed, and I think everyone deserves to give themselves that.

Q: How did you first get into your craft?

A: My mom is an artist and my dad has a certificate in photography, so I grew up in a house that was very encouraging of creativity. I was allowed to try new mediums and make a mess. My middle and high school art teachers pushed me to higher levels, too, and by early high school I had settled on visual arts as my chosen path. I wouldn’t be content sticking with anything else.

Q: Where do you find your inspiration?

A: I mostly work from photographs, usually my own, and my goal in the studio is to rekindle the feelings of curiosity and excitement I feel when exploring a new place. I like to spend time outdoors here in New Hampshire and New England and take photos whenever something catches my interest. It could be anything from vast landscapes to interesting shadows, or something as small as the way sunlight hits a leaf. Later, I paint from the photos that catch me again.

I also love looking at other artists’ work to open my mind to all the possibilities that are out there. The way I would paint any given image is not the same way anyone else would – each person sees the world their own way. I curate my social media following to inspire me, and I love to look at books of artwork, visit galleries, and talk to other artists.

Q: What does your creative process look like?

A: I paint whenever I can find the time – usually in the evening after work or on days off. Acrylics have been my focus for a couple of years now. With my reference image pulled up on my iPad, I set up a reusable palette with two cups of water and mix my paint as I use it, since acrylics dry so quickly. I like to work on primed wood panels because, unlike canvas, their texture is very smooth and the surface doesn’t flex while I’m painting.

Q: What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

A; To do it! If you’re looking to build a business, the best time to start is now, because you’re not going to feel “ready” until you’re a few years in. You learn and improve as you go. If you’re looking to pursue art for personal reasons – not as a business – also do it! The worst that’ll happen is you make a bad painting, but painting is fun regardless of the result.

To learn more about her business, Jackie Hanson Art, check out jackiehansonart.com. Hanson is also on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Bluesky, and several other platforms under @jackiehansonart.