About Hannah Phelps
I create oil paintings and woodblock prints of experiences and dogs that I love and know won't last. Making art is my way of studying something closely in hopes that I remember details when my time in a special place is over.
Growing up, I spent a large part of every short New Hampshire summer at a beach cottage my grandparents owned. The common refrains were, "You are a lucky kid to have this place to visit every year," and "Someday, you won't be able to come here anymore."
Each fall when we had to leave, I’d find a rock and sit there crying, witnessing each wave surge and collapse, never to be seen again, but followed by another. A metronome counting the moments of my childhood.
There were dogs then, and pretty much always. Constant friends in every sense of the word - they followed me around and listened to me. The first two - a golden retriever and a black lab - lived a long time, for dogs.
The dogs that have been in my life since have taught me that, like waves, they can't stay forever and in fact, some won't be here long at all.
So I began to draw and paint dogs, waves, rocks, autumn leaves, snow and mountains in order to collect the precious places, things and friends I am with for a short time before I have to leave them or they leave me.
Now, I also make woodblock prints in small editions so I can keep these memories and have enough to share.
