Life and Work with Hannah Robertson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Robertson.

Hannah, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised in Colorado Springs. Growing up, I wanted to be an artist or a singer. I was always listening to music and creating visual art – painting, drawing, making clay jewelry, etc. In high school, I became interested in photography submitting photos into local contests and even had one photo published in a local newspaper! I have always been an artist at heart; however, like many of us struggling to find our path, I strayed from who I really was in light of expectations from my family and society.

Right out of high school, I started working as a sales associate at Bath and Body Works and going to college full time studying Sociology. I only lasted two semesters before I dropped out and started working full time. My family was disappointed that I had quit going to school and was focusing on a job in retail. I felt guilty about making that decision, but that didn’t stop me from pursuing that career – I worked my way from a seasonal Sales Associate to an Assistant Store Manager. This job has been such a blessing in my life. I learned so much about myself, how to be a leader, and I met incredibly strong, smart and inspiring women! The knowledge and the friendships I gained over those five years have shaped me into the woman I am today and will continue to impact me throughout my life.

Despite the incredible experiences I had with this company, I eventually became drained, depressed and burnt out. I was lost. I felt my time with the company had run its course and I was ready for a new beginning. This was the start of my journey to re-invent myself and my life.

At this point, I had not nurtured any of my artistic interests for years and I was in desperate need of a creative outlet. My boyfriend suggested I try going back to my roots of being creative to cope with everything I was going through. I decided I wanted to try painting, so I bought some cheap watercolor and acrylic paints. After I completed my first painting, I was hooked! I had that giddy, butterflies in your stomach, kind of feeling – I knew I had to “listen to it” and pursue this rekindled passion.

In May of 2017, my boyfriend and I moved to Denver for a fresh start with the intent of working on repairing and uplifting our combined mental health and relationship. By then, I had painted quite a few pieces and was still loving it! As I was searching for my fresh career start in Denver, I began working non-stop on new artwork, creating my brand and digging deep into who I really was and who I wanted to become. Within a few months, my brand evolved into “A Blooming Pineapple Art!”

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road on this journey has been bumpy and downright scary at times. It was a challenging experience to burn out – I developed depression and anxiety that has lasted many years. I began to feel defeated and frustrated because I didn’t have energy to do the things or spend the time with the people I loved.

I had to learn new techniques to cope with stress such as therapy, herbal remedies, a self-care routine and many holistic avenues. I eventually went to a doctor for additional help. I started a low dose of medication as a tool to heal from the stress my mind had undergone. After a few months, I was more energetic and bubbly as well as feeling more emotionally balanced. I was finally feeling more myself again. With my change in energy and my own space to create, I began to gain more confidence in myself and my artwork.

Even with the struggles and loss I’ve had along the way, art has been the constant, truly helping me to heal and grow. Without these struggles, I would not have gained the tools and perspective I have to create my artwork. My biggest piece of advice is to take the time to learn about yourself. Meditation, self-care routines, reading, exploring, and creative projects will teach you more about yourself than you ever knew existed! Surround yourself with people who support and inspire you to be who you are.

Put yourself out there – it is nerve wracking but extremely rewarding! Life is far too short to not do something out of fear of judgment or failure. Keep learning! Look at every struggle and challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow as a person. Finding your own strength and perspective will help you learn more about, not only who you are but who you want to become.

Please tell us about A Blooming Pineapple Art.
My brand name, “A Blooming Pineapple,” is supposed to represent me and serve as a reminder of who I want to be. I want to be like the common pineapple – tough, confident, bright, and sweet – forever blooming into the best version of myself.

I am an abstract artist practicing “intuitive painting,” meaning that I typically don’t begin a painting with any preconceived ideas. I allow my intuition and my creativity to take the lead, bringing connection and freedom to my art. This creative process results in movement, layers of paint, texture and variety of color. I am known for my abstract, acrylic paintings on canvas infused with an emotionally expressive style. I like to complete my paintings with a glossy varnish that makes the layers of color pop! My paintings are meant to bring positivity and to inspire connection with nature as well as personal evolution.

I am most proud of the growth I experienced as an artist in the last year. I had my first art display in September of 2019. Since then, I have had my art displayed at four venues and I have participated in two art/craft shows! They have each been great learning experiences and I have met even more inspiring women and artists in my community! So far, 2020 has brought a couple of fun and challenging commissioned art projects and a couple of display opportunities! I am excited to continue growing as an artist and sharing my passion for art this coming year.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
Get out of your own way! Never let your inner critic limit the amount of growth you gain from your failures. In other words, don’t strive for perfection, strive for progress. As you play with a new idea, it may not always come out the way you pictured it, but the more you play with the concept, the more you learn. It will challenge you and you will gain the knowledge you need to achieve the results you desire.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.abloomingpineapple.com
• Email: abloomingpineapple@hotmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abloomingpineappleart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abloomingpineappleart
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/bloomingpineappleart

Image Credit:
Hannah Robertson – Photos of paintings; Kathy Robertson – Photos of myself

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