We fell in love with Hanna Nyman’s striking paper illustrations in pretty, yet bold pastel palettes combined with snippets of printed text, that pop out at you, and come alive as each paper petal unfolds. We couldn’t wait to find out more about the Stockholm-based designer…
1. How would you describe your work to someone who hasn’t seen it before?
Paper illustrations.
2. What is it about paper as a medium to work with that appeals to you?
You know the feeling of when you have a small piece of paper in your pocket and you just roll it and bend it between your fingers, I like that feeling. I like how paper feels and how you can bend, fold or roll a piece of paper. Its a simple material and its easy to handle. You don´t need any machines or much equipment. But what appeals most to me with paper is that something that is just flat and plain can be built in to almost anything three dimensional.
3. Flowers feature a lot in your work. If you could be a flower what would you be?
A light pink peony, that’s my favourite flower
4. When are you happiest?
When I find really nice shades of colours on paper.
Also when I have been working on something for hours but it just feels like a minute, and I’m completely lost in my creation.
5. What is the most challenging aspect about working with paper? Be honest – how often do you get paper cuts?
I actually don’t get paper cuts as often as you may think.
But the most challenging aspect in my work is when I make really big paper flowers or sculptures that need to last for a long time. Then I need to make a construction out of steel-wire underneath and steady it up with cardboard and stuff that you should not be able to see. That can be a little tricky.
6. What areas of your work or personal development are you hoping to explore further?
When I started with the Back to Poetry project over a year ago, I was working as a print designer drawing illustrations all day long, and was longing for my work to be more three dimensional. I never would have thought that the interest of Back to Poetry was going to be as big as it has become. I love working with other people and the collaborations I have been a part of have been the highlights of my work so far, so I’m hoping for more of that.
Right now I’m enjoying time with my little baby and my five year old, they take almost all my time at the moment. But I love it! And they do inspire me so much.
7. What do you think it takes to make a good artist?
Imagination. Open mind. Humor. Patience.
8. When and how did you learn to do origami? Are there any origami artists that have inspired you?
When I went to Konstfack university, we had a workshop called Paper Crafts. I fell in love with paper instantly and learnt how to make paper three dimensional. I don’t really see myself as an origami artist even though I love origami. I use paper in a different way; I cut it and bend it and build pictures with it, as illustrations almost.
9. What’s your favourite museum or gallery?
I don’t go to museums or galleries that often. I’m more of a Pinterest junky.
10. Tell us something about yourself that might surprise people.
My major in high school was woodwork. I just lived in the workshop and wanted to become a furniture maker.
Hanna Nyman
Chloë Owens
