Have you seen the art popping up on electrical boxes downtown? Part of the Arts Trail and the Arts District of Glens Falls, these works have added so much to our little city already (and we’re hoping this is just the start!). We’re excited to introduce you to the talented artists behind the paintings, starting with Hannah Williams! You can see her work on the corner of Washington and Bay.
Tell us about yourself!
I grew up in Queensbury, and graduated from Queensbury High in 2011. I went on to receive an Associates Degree from SUNY Adirondack in 2013.
I have always been interested in art, ever since a young age, and I am mostly self-taught. I had mentors along the way, through my involvement with independent art studies in high school and courses through college. I always have to give credit to my parents, Brad and Cathy, for being supportive, and my grandmother, Gloria, who sat me in front of Bob Ross a lot when I was little.
Although I grew up in Queensbury, I have concrete roots in Glens Falls as far as my family goes. Both parents lived and went to school in Glens Falls. Growing up, we were always participating in activities downtown. I was always in awe of the architecture and community involvement. A big part of my childhood was attending the hockey games with my brother and grandfather, Harold “Hal” Williams. I’m putting his name out there because some may remember him fondly - he had a coaching career of 60 years, part of it at Glens Falls School District for JV Basketball, and he was the Director of Adult Education. He even managed the Glens Falls Civic Center parking lots and drove the bus for the Greater Glens Falls Transit System.
On Becoming an Artist
It has been a constant evolving thing as soon as I realized creating art was my life passion and a much needed necessity to cope with everyday life. I have been painting seriously for about 12 years, which has slowly turned into many ventures over the past decade as I’ve worked hard to get to a point of doing it full-time.
The big jump was live painting at music festivals and vending work. From there, I realized my love of painting large scale, which transferred over to painting murals. My very first opportunity was at Cote Insurance Agency in South Glens Falls. I will always be grateful that they believed in me then, because my mural work has been ongoing ever since. I also had the incredible opportunity to work for Adirondack Studios in Argyle, NY from 2016-2017, getting hands on experience painting very large scale murals – sometimes 100 ft. x 20 ft. in length.
I have been doing art full-time since the start of the pandemic in 2020. Murals and public art are my top priority, but what really keeps my work consistent are my commission services like dog portraits.
The Inspiration
Given the opportunity to have my work shown in a very public location, I really wanted to create something positive and inspirational to remind people that there is magic in this world, and to encourage them to stay in awe of the natural beauty around us. I really geared it towards children because I wanted them to keep their sense of wonderment engaged and to inspire them to get creative. Lastly, I wanted to give the art an educational focus by labeling each flower I painted. Each plant I painted represents night-blooming flowers that actually exist in nature, in hopes that people will connect with the theme and appreciate that they exist.
On The Process
I have worked with painting on metal a few times, but this project was absolutely unique and involved a whole new learning process that was exciting. The important thing is to do solid research on different surfaces before painting them. Metal is interesting because it is a non-porous surface. Paint is a friend to porous surfaces because it has something to hold onto, so you have to figure out the steps to make a slick and smooth surface, like metal, more textured. Every single artist who participated put in a lot of prep work with cleaning, sanding, and priming to make sure it was ready to withstand the outdoor elements. I had only constructive challenges, the biggest of which was the weather as well as working in a highly trafficked area and having to stay aware of surroundings. I loved every second engaging with the community and made many connections from people wanting to stop and chat. As the progress went on, more and more people showed amazing support and positivity, which was greatly appreciated.
On Public Art
I am thrilled that Glens Falls is starting to create more of a public art scene. My hope for the future here is that public art and murals are increasingly embraced. As a passionate muralist who has had the privilege to travel around the country, I have witnessed first hand the importance of public art. It not only beautifies a location - it brings extreme value, increased business, positive community morale and most importantly – makes art accessible to all.
Some Glens Falls Favorites
I love being a regular at the ever-evolving coffee hub at 140 Glen Street, which is now Kru Coffee. That place only keeps you going until late afternoon though.
My hands down favorite spot to visit after a long day of painting is Alif Cafe. The minute you walk in, it feels like you are embraced with a warm hug. You are instantly hit with the range of aromatic spices and herbs used in their dishes of modern Pakistani food and traditional chais. Don’t even get me started with their set of beautiful chais and espresso. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu - it’s all fantastic. This is a place to truly be embraced. I love any chance to go.
