September 2011

A Thousand Ships show—Opening tonight!

All of my preparation for the show is culminating tonight at Gallery Hanahou. I’m feeling such a range of emotion. I have worked hard to create all of the 175+ show pieces during a very difficult time in my life.

Losing my dad suddenly this summer was shocking, utterly heart wrenching and  almost made me think of giving up. So tonight I will be painfully aware that my dad is not there to see the show. He was looking forward to coming. I will also be so aware of all of the friends and loved ones that will be there. Many friends from my past and newer friends will be in attendance. My mom will be there, my husband will be there and I am so looking forward to meeting some of the lovely people I’ve worked with, doing what I love, illustration. Sometimes I can’t believe I get to do art as work.

If my work can make some of these people smile or at least feel something, even a fleeting emotion than I’m happy. If they connect with one of my characters from literature or a simple watercolor burst than I’m happy. I know that tonight will be overwhelming and exciting. I’m just sitting here thinking about how grateful I am to have people in my life who I love and care about and who will be there tonight to look at all my work.

I know that I will imagine seeing my dad across the room and what he’d say or not have to say about the work. This show is dedicated to his memory.

A Thousand Ships show: Gallery preview

I’m just giddy that the show is hung. It feels like such a relief that all my pieces are on the wall (well most, some will be available for perusal on the table too). Here’s a sneaky peeky of one of the walls and me.

Here’s a detail reminder:
A Thousand Ships, Samantha Hahn solo show at Gallery Hanahou in New York
September 22 – October 21, 2011

Opening reception, Thursday September 22, 7-9 pm
RSVP: info@galleryhanahou.com

pre-show catalog (a small selection of pieces available now-Thursday)

A Thousand Ships show sneak peek: Holly Golightly

What a happy day it was. The show is officially hung. It was quite an undertaking. The first day my intern Harriet and Anna of Gallery Hanahou helped frame and hang pieces and today my loving husband and other intern Alex finished (thanks for your amazing help everyone!).

There are over 175 original pieces on the walls and there will be a batch of 30 or so other originals on the table for perusal as well. It was like doing a challenging puzzle figuring out how and where to hang all of the different papers and frames. In the end it has a wild salon feel. I hope you will try to make it if you are in New York this Thursday evening.

Again, here are a select bunch of pieces available for pre-sale from now until the opening.

The piece featured above is one of the characters I illustrated from my women in literature vignette in the show. She’s Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote.

Conde Nast Traveller illustration: September issue

I had the priviledge of working with Conde Nast Traveller for the September issue. It’s such a beautiful publication and makes my wander lust kick in big time. My assignment was to illustrate maps, sea life and do some illustrative hand lettering on the pages of this great article featuring an eco resort in the Maldives. Doesn’t it just look like the most glorious place?! FYI, you’re looking at the spreads the art director sent me so you’ll have to envision the gutter in the center of each spread.

p.s it’s count down time for my show!! Hope you’ll stop by the opening on Thursday! Feel free to grab the pre-show catalog for first dibs on select originals or contact Gallery Hanahou.

sneak peek: A Thousand Ships show

My show, A Thousand Ships is just around the corner. I have been busily framing pieces and working with the gallery on a pre-show catalog. It will be available upon request before the show.

If you email me, I’ll tell you how to request it to get first dibs on select pieces in the show.

The one above was done on salvaged paper, a reciept from the 70’s. I love working on such papers.