THE REEF MERCANTILE ° ARTIST INTERVIEW: ALISON HANCOCK

This month The Reef is proud to collaborate with Alison Hancock, owner & creator at Whiskey Jack Designs via Leavenworth, WA. Her love of the outdoors and the Pacific Northwest shines through in her vibrant piece 'Sea to Summit' – now available as a printed scarf at The Reef Mercantile (open Wednesday-Sunday 1-8 pm on Olive Way ° Capitol Hill below The Reef Cannabis shop).

Last week Alison stopped by The Reef Mercantile to answer a few questions about her work, running a business as an artist, and what inspires her creatively. View those answers below and stop by The Mercantile to purchase the 'Sea to Summit' scarf.

1. Describe to our readers your style of art and what Whiskey Jack Designs is all about...

Through my artwork, I explore the relationship between humans and nature. I use watercolor, acrylic paint, and archival ink pens in a graphic and bold style to express the human experience of natural landscapes.

2. Is there a project you've worked on that you are most proud of? Why?

One of my favorite recent projects was working in partnership with Mission Ridge Ski Area to create their 2019/2020 season pass artwork. As a passionate skier and Leavenworth local, seeing my art on every pass in the lift line was truly an honor!

3. What inspires you? Why do you feel compelled to create?

I have created in many forms from a young age and genuinely cannot imagine a life without creativity. I'm most inspired by beautiful landscapes that make me feel the most alive. Getting to experience a breathtaking place, and trying to express the feeling and emotion behind the place is what keeps me painting.

4. How do you navigate stress and keep a work/life balance?

Ha! Isn't this the million-dollar question. Over the past 4 years of growing my business, I've had to learn to take time off and say no to more and more projects that don't entirely light me up. I also take winters very slow and ski as much as possible so that I feel recharged by the time my crazy summer season starts to ramp back up.

5. What part of the creative process excites you the most?

The most exciting part for me is the very beginning brainstorming process of a painting; When I decide on the layout, the color palette that I want to use, and have a vision in my mind of what I want to create, and have a clean white sheet of watercolor paper in front of me.

6. How do you know when a work is finished?

Intuition :)

7. What piece of advice would you offer to other creatives trying to make a living as an artist?

Put some serious thought into if you want to make your creative process into a business.. and be intentional about how much you set yourself up to have to create in doing so.