We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hannah McCormick a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hannah, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I think about the concept of “digging in” a lot. If I can just keep going as an artist, regardless of growth or specific goals, I’m still doing it. Everyone has to adapt as they grow, and I’m no exception, but if I can just keep my heels dug into what I already began then I will achieve longevity. It’s not a magic solution or major inspiration, but it gets you through the day to day.
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?
I am a fine artist living in a small town in North Mississippi called Water Valley, filled with other artists. I have been working as a professional studio artist for more than half my life now. I make paintings for galleries, commissioned custom works for patrons and clients, live event paintings, and I also teach private art lessons to people of all ages.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
When I answer this I always turn into my teaching self. I work with lots of artists who I encourage every day. I find myself always reminding them to be patient with themselves. Patience is the main key to developing any skill and enduring. I don’t even know how helpful talent is if you aren’t a patient artist. Patience, focus, calm.
If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?
I’m pregnant with our second child and it is a struggle to be focused between everything that physically interrupts your body’s stasis and the demands of regular life. Being completely sapped of energy right now is an acute challenge to going into a studio to make beauty and use critical thinking skills every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hannahmccormick.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahmccormic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahpaintsthings
