Hannah Lynn Calvert Fine is a visual artist based in Kansas City, Missouri with southern roots in Atlanta, Georgia. Hannah works with a variety of materials like glass, wood, acrylic, resin, food samples, metal and ceramic, while often utilizing photography and processes in digital fabrication to create her works. Hannah’s practice, inspired by colors and textures from nature, evolves alongside emerging technologies. Fine’s work is on display at the Blue Valley Library until April 21, 2022.
Tell us about the works on exhibit. What’s the medium? What has inspired their creation?
As a multimedia visual artist, I am always utilizing multiple materials in a variety of different ways. I am the type of person that gets bored doing the same thing over and over again, so working with different mediums and using different processes keeps things interesting for me in the studio. My work ranges from macro photography on archival prints, to 3D printed renewable silk PLA plastics, to laser cut acrylic, to cast glass. My art operates between sculpture, science, photography and digital fabrication, and I am forever inspired by nature, textures, forms, colors and the “hidden” worlds inside ingredients like fruits and vegetables that are commonly consumed but not often noticed or appreciated.
What’s the most challenging thing about your creative process?
The most challenging aspect of my creative process is the preparation and testing stages. The preparation stage begins by researching information, supplying materials, acquiring knowledge about the process and thinking critically about the ideas. Then, the testing stage is where I am making sure my ideas are coming together and working as expected. It’s where I am testing tolerance fits, testing finishes and testing settings on equipment to achieve optimum results. These stages are the most expensive and time-consuming part of the process and it is also when the most important decisions are made.
How has your practice evolved?
My art practice has looked like a lot of different things throughout the years and is always evolving as the world around us continues to evolve. With my practice so closely tied to technology, which is always advancing, my practice changes as my access, experience and knowledge with equipment and software grows. By learning new technology and software, I am able to build a library of different tools, techniques and processes to create works through 3D modeling, CNC milling, 3D printing, laser cutting, vacuum forming and water jet cutting. Showing range in my abilities and work is important to me as a maker because being multifaceted is so tied to who I am as an individual. Since studying and graduating with a BFA in sculpture from KCAI in 2017, I have been exploring acrylic, resin casting, woodworking, kiln-formed glass and blown glass, as well as working on growing my practice through digital fabrication processes. In 2022, my main goal is to expand my website and online shop at artbyfine.com to grow my studio practice into brandable products.
What do you feel is your role as an artist?
I am not sure I believe there is a specific role(s) an artist must take on, but I see art as an immensely vital part of life and society. Art is one of the only ways the human experience and human condition can be shared and compared through generations. History describes life as it was for those before us, science explains how things operate, and art is what allows the sharing of perception and emotion. If I had to consider my role as an artist, it would be to develop and share techniques, explore emerging technologies and be a creative problem solver that finds innovative solutions to commemorate our time, experience and ideas in this world.
What is your most important artistic tool? Is there something you can’t live without in your studio?
Rhino is the most important tool in my practice and absolutely something I couldn’t live without. Rhino (Rhinoceros 3D) is a computer-aided design (CAD) application software that I use to design, plan and layout my work. No matter what it is that I am making, Rhino is always involved at some point during the process of creation. All the forms you see in this show were designed in Rhino.
Please list 5-10 books, movies and/or music that currently inspire you.
- Humans: book by Brandon Stanton
- Photography of Modernist Cuisine: book by Nathan Myhrvold
- Alinea: book by Grant Achatz (Also his Season 2 Episode 1 Chef’s Table episode on Netflix)
- Experimental Eating: book by Tom Howells
- Broccoli Magazine: art and lifestyle independent print magazine
- Bullseye Techbook 2020: technical and inspirational articles
- Parts Unknown: TV series and anything created by Anthony Bourdain
- Kelsey Lu: singer and cellist is who I listen to the most while working in the studio
- Studio Lernert + Sander: a creative duo from the Netherlands
