Artist Hannah Joiner is constantly inspired by people’s stories. From her custom paintings to baby room pieces and wedding vows, Joiner employs textures and layering in order to achieve a unique look in her pieces. She’s been steadily growing her business and brand while she pursues a degree in Visual Communication at the Savannah College of Art and Design.
When not juggling her many business projects, she’s a creative director at the local nonprofit reThink Group. Here, Joiner talks to CommonCreativ about being a girly tomboy, Atlanta’s art scene and her obsession with spray paint.
CommonCreativ: How did you end up as an artist?
Hannah Joiner: I started coloring on walls when I was little. I still like crayons, but I try not to color on walls (although every once in a while someone lets me color their walls and it’s awesome). I went to a small, private high school, and even though most days I hated it, it allowed me to have a lot of one-on-one time with my art teacher. She pushed me to work really hard at developing my skill. She brought out confidence in me that I would have never discovered without her. After high school, I went to college to major in public relations and marketing, thinking that an art degree wouldn’t lead to a decent job. Eventually I ended up at Savannah College of Art and Design and was offered a creative director position at a non-profit in Atlanta where they allowed me to still grow my own business and sell paintings. I get to build and paint sets, which actually gets me more work outside of my day job. I really couldn’t ask for a better situation right now.
CC: Your paintings have a lot of layers and textures—what are your favorite materials to work with?
HJ: I LOVE spray paint and mediums that add textures, like gel medium, concrete and terra cotta. I mostly work with acrylic paint because it dries fast for layering and I am really impatient person.
CC: What’s your thought process when creating?
HJ: Honestly, my first thought is, what are people buying? I’m an artist, but I’m also a businesswoman. Some people think you can only be one or the other, and artists who create for business’s sake are sellouts. I think there is a healthy balance in there somewhere. My first thoughts are about my audience and what they want to spend money on. After that, I try to figure out how I can bring meaning out of whatever that subject is. Every once in a while I just dream about an idea (literally dream) and can’t wait to wake up and make it happen, not caring if it’ll ever sell or not.
CC: Your wedding vows series is very unique. How did you get into that?
HJ: I actually didn’t mean to. I made one for a friend’s wedding, and then people started asking me to make them for theirs. It was kind of a cool accident. 
CC: Tell me more about your new jewelry line with toys.
HJ: This goes back to my love of spray paint. I found this really awesome gold—I have been painting everything with it. I named myself a girly tomboy, and decided to come up with jewelry that fits that.
CC: Where do you find inspiration?
HJ: I’m inspired by stories. The people I know, the people I meet, the people I hear about that I’ll never know.
CC: What do you think about Atlanta’s art scene?
HJ: There are so many talented artists in Atlanta, [and] I don’t think there are enough outlets for those artists. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who don’t know how to find value in art. Maybe it has something to do with how much the art programs in schools have suffered. Regardless, I think art is so important to our culture. I hope the art scene in Atlanta continues to grow!
CC: What’s next for you?
HJ: I’m focusing in on creative directing right now. It affects everything from my own small projects to the teams I get to lead and work with. I really love motivating teams creatively. I hope that never stops being a part of what I do.
