We recently connected with Hana Eichin and have shared our conversation below.
Hana, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Going back to when I was a kid there were two things I swore I would never do. A) open a store and B) get into theatre. How in the world did I get to where I am now, working as a Scenic Designer and owning an art supply retail store?
A) My elementary school had a really awesome project to help us understand how commerce, stores, and money works. We were assigned the task of coming up with a product, making the product and then selling the product at a “craft fair” of sorts at school. The idea was that we would figure out how much the item cost to make and then price it accordingly. The grade was determined on if you made a profit or not. Everything was great until my turn to “shop” at the fair. I spent all of my profits and my money to make change on everything that was being sold. I did not pass and decided owning a store was maybe not the best choice for me. Fast forward years later and what I actually learned was how to manage money and keep a business alive.
B) On a family trip we stopped in Oklahoma to see a musical titled “Oklahoma”. I was bored out of my mind. Walked out of that place and decided I would never get into theatre because it was absolutely, dreadfully boring. Fast forward to high school. The only group I really fit in with ended up being the theatre kids. I got hooked and ended up going to college for Scenic Design leading me to Barter Theatre. Along the way I learned all kinds of art and painting techniques.
My mom really instilled a love of arts and crafts in me that grew to where I am today. I was a solid B student until I got to do a craft project for extra credit. I always showed up with the most amazing things, even a scale model of the Globe Theatre (where Shakespeare did his thing). It brought so much joy to others and made me feel special and respected in a way that nothing else ever had. I knew I needed to do more of this work. Theatre kept me interested because there was always something new and amazing to work on. No two shows were identical. There were always problems to solve. I loved it. However, I didn’t get to interact with the people enjoying my work, which was the missing link for me. So, when I was frustrated about the lack of art supply stores in the area I decided that would be a great way for me to do what I love, share it with others, and get to see the joy it brought them. Now, I still do the Scenic Design work with Barter Theatre and get to teach art skills and sell art supplies to the local community. It’s a lot of work but, incredibly rewarding.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
At Spot of Color I get to chase all of my favorite art dreams. I get to sell art supplies to people who will learn a new skill or transform them into stunning pieces of art. I get to teach skills to people who always wanted to paint or draw and watch them grow into amazing Artists and Creatives. I get to share my skills and unique views by painting murals and temporary window paintings. I get to bring art to local events where people, kids and adults, can participate in arts and crafts projects. When someone comes in with a project and needs help to find the right supplies or techniques to accomplish their vision, I get to help problem solve. It is the best.
Currently you can sign up for traditional art classes and sip and paint style classes. You can shop for traditional art supplies like acrylic paint, oil paint, brushes, watercolors, art papers, journals, sketchbooks, graphite pencils, colored pencils, kid’s craft projects, educational books, and so much more. If you are looking for a mural, window painting or, commissioned art work, I can help you out or, connect you with someone local who can.
Coming up I am planning to expand to kid’s classes, making sure it is affordable for all families. This is something I think is vital. An art education may not lead to becoming a professional artist but I can tell you, the skills learned in the arts translates to so many other jobs. It teaches creative problem solving, an ability to express yourself, an understanding of the world around you, empathy, and so many other things.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most impactful would be learning to speak in public, being my authentic self, and knowing when to ask for and receive help.
Learning to speak in public requires you to put yourself in situation where you have to speak in public. Find someone who you trust to give you helpful constructive criticism or join a local Toastmasters, or similar, group. Practice whatever you are going to say in front of a mirror or camera out loud.
Being your authentic self also comes with time and practice. I grew up hiding a lot of my quirks and weirdness. It’s only recently that I have gotten comfortable being me. People will trust you more if you don’t look like you are hiding something. Even if that something is just a bit of personality. You will also be more memorable and relatable. All building on trust. Start small with your friends, family, or immediate co-workers.
Knowing when to ask for help and then receive it is tough. You don’t have to be good at everything and when you come across something that is difficult for you ask for help. Don’t stew in it until you are anxious and panicked. You can accomplish amazing things when you offload things that stress you out. If it’s something in your job title, don’t be afraid to have a discussion with your manager or go out and find the training you need to improve.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents let me chase my dreams and still do. As a kid it unfortunately seemed like I had a new dream every week. Bless them.
Without their support I would never have the well rounded set of skill I have today. They also pushed me to try new things, not always successfully but, at the very least I learned something from the experience. They also made me stick to something even if I failed early on. If I had given up on everything as soon as I met resistance I never would have learned a skill.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.spotofcolor.com
- Instagram: @spotofcolorabingdon
- Facebook: @spotofcolorabingdon
Image Credits
Hana Eichin
