This New Zealand Artist Sculpts Animals From Layers Of Paint

Hannah Jensen Fox has carved a niche for herself – literally – by transforming layers of acrylic paint into breathtaking works of art. Drawing from her background in printmaking, she applies up to 80 layers of paint onto custom-made boards and canvases, then meticulously carves through them to reveal intricate images inspired by flora and fauna. This unique technique, developed during her time at Auckland University of Technology, results in textured, topographical pieces that celebrate the beauty of the natural world. From life-size animal portraits to delicate botanical studies, her work captures the essence of wildlife with remarkable depth and detail, as she pushes the boundaries of her medium. She shares the intricacies of her work process.

What are the greatest challenges you face when creating your artworks?

Self-doubt. I may be a positive person who is often viewed with endless energy, but I too have times when it all feels too much and I’m overloaded with work, trying to be the one-woman band running a business and keeping up with life. Allowing myself to be honest with my clients about what is going on and asking for more time, if needed, is the best way I can manage my workload. I am human after all.

How many projects you work on at any one time and how many artworks do you make per year?

Over three years, I can do a total of 200 commissioned works for clients all around the world. I also take a break from commissioned work to concentrate on my own works. It is an ebb and flow of concentrating on my own ideas and then opening up for commissioned works. When I am open for commissions, there is often an influx so I ride that wave. But while I finish the last few commissions, I am layering up the next boards for my ideas to follow.

When did you move to Christchurch, why do you choose to live and work there, and what have you been able to achieve there that you wouldn’t have been able to anywhere else?

I moved to Christchurch in November 2018. I moved to be with the love of my life. My divine soulmate was born and bred in Christchurch, and I joined him there to adventure the beautiful South Island of New Zealand, after spending the previous 32 years in the North Island. It’s a bit cooler down here, but mainly it’s a quieter life that I surely prefer from the busy city of Auckland.

What was a memorable project you worked on?

One of my passion projects were two huge carvings: one of a rhino carved with blue-and-white china patterns, bringing into conversation the heartbreaking trade of rhino horn to China, and a whale work carved of flowers, a memorial to our dying oceans. 62 liters of paint were layered for these two works. The rhino is 3.3 meters long with 28 liters of paint layered and the whale is 3.6 meters long with 34 liters of paint layered. They are both made up of smaller panels so I could easily handle each piece, and then they are hung altogether.

What do you feel is the role of the artist in society?

To bring joy, to share stories, to challenge, stretch and push boundaries. A visual voice of history unfolding.

What do you hope to achieve or what message do you hope to convey through your art at the end of the day?

Mostly I want to bring a sense of joy through my work and how I share it. Sometimes my works have a sad story to go with them. I can only hope they spark some inspiration for the viewer to make changes in their day-to-day lives for more sustainable and healthier choices.