Meet Hanna Jaeun | Artist/Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hanna Jaeun and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hanna, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I was first showing my work in galleries, I have to admit my work life balance was severely unbalanced. I had two jobs and one of them sent me across the country every couple of months. Whatever spare time I had was spent painting to meet deadlines. On top of that, I didn’t really know what I was doing which made painting all the more time consuming. I was going through a process of trial and error. A lot of errors. After many, many years of overwhelming stress and no sleep, I cut back on my workload to give myself some breathing room. Only then was I able to focus on improving my technique and skills. Now that the time I put into a painting has been greatly reduced, it allows more time for me to sleep and dream about the life I could’ve had if I chose a more lucrative path.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It wasn’t easy. It was a lot work at first. I had two freelance jobs as a technical spec illustrator and whenever I could find time I painted. I did it as a creative outlet, but thanks to some friends who put in that word for me, I got to show and even sell some work! That was really exciting. I really appreciate the support and encouragement of my peers and galleries for giving me a chance. What sets me apart from others is me! Everyone is unique in their abilities, experiences and emotions. Putting myself and work out there does make me feel a bit vulnerable, but when someone tells me how much they love my work or when someone actually purchases a piece, it makes me proud. And for a brief moment, it makes me really happy to realize that everything will be ok after all.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am fairly new to Los Angeles. I’ve lived in NYC for 18 years and it has been about 2 years since I moved here. I am still exploring the city. From what I have experienced so far, we would grab some Venice street tacos or rice balls at Sunny Blue and hang out on the beach in Venice or Malibu. The Galley and Chez Jay are some fun spots to grab drinks and a bite. There are tons of museums I still need to check out but I loved visiting the LACMA. I haven’t been to any flea markets here yet, but that would definitely be something on the list of things to do with my best friend.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents. My dad was supportive from the beginning. In a way, I was living out his dream of becoming an artist. After he was diagnosed with cancer, he told me he wanted get back into drawing and painting. After he passed away, I found a brand new set of watercolors he had bought. It made me really sad he never got around to it. I’ve never asked my parents for money. When I quit my full time job to figure out what I wanted to do with my life and was inevitably low on funds, my mom supported me in a financial way from time to time. I would’ve been on the streets without her. And when I told her I wanted to paint, she nearly had a heart attack.

Website: www.hannajaeun.com

Instagram: @hannajaeun

Facebook: hannajaeunart