I have three beautiful grown sons, daughters-in-law, a grandson, and a husband. We live in Central Oregon, but traveling is an occupation that has taken me all over the country; Italy, Germany, Greece, Austria, Bermuda, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Canada, and Mexico to name a few. My family and I hike, backpack, mountain bike, and kayak in our down-time. I always have my camera with me wherever we go. I have thousands of photos, and much inspiration for my paintings. I usually take my journal and a small set of watercolors with me as well, and paint my surroundings. Most of my work is created in acrylics in my studio, using these fantastic photos as reference. Those works can be found on my website, sarahbhansen.com.
My unique style is a result of a personal artistic journey that began with a pencil. A colored pencil. At age 5, I won an award for a coloring contest, which lit a burning light within me to create, and thus began my journey. I later received my degree and worked as an interior designer, which ingrained my understanding of composition, pattern, and color theory. In my 30’s, I discovered a knack for painting portraits in watercolor. This resulted in focusing on very realistic, tightly detailed work. My concentration centered on evoking emotion while capturing likeness. Portraiture proved so satisfying, it became my focus for 20 years, creating many commissioned portraits and winning awards for my work.
Once I settled on creating artwork as my full-time business, I changed to painting contemporary landscapes in acrylic. This method reflects my love of nature and the natural landscape, allowing me to fully immerse into the creative process.
I use watercolors in my travels, collecting information, thoughts, and essences of my surroundings in an expressive, impressionistic manner, very loosely capturing the area’s “feel”. This is the method I teach in my in-person watercolor workshops, both locally and abroad. In my abroad workshops, I collaborate with reputable, passionate venues whose tours authentically present each country and provide the best accommodations.
I hope to encourage you to begin your own artistic journey and record your thoughts and feelings of your surroundings as you travel throughout life.
Sarah B. Hansen
sbhansen ART Blog 