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Hannah Svitak

Hannah Svitak
Syracuse, NY
[email protected]

BFA Fine Arts, MAT Preparation

Biography

Hannah Svitak is an emerging artist from upstate New York who explores a wide range of mixed media. After being accepted into the National Honor Society, she received Presidential and Excelsior scholarships to further her education at the State University of New York at Oswego. In her time at SUNY Oswego, Svitak was consistently recognized on the Dean's list while expanding her interests in theater and digital arts. Upon graduating with her Bachelors in Fine Arts in May 2021, she anticipates returning to SUNY Oswego in 2022 to attain her Masters in Art Teaching.

Artist Statement

This collection of works is specifically curated to demonstrate the skills and techniques that I have developed throughout my career at SUNY Oswego. The work included was made for an array of both collegiate classes and personal assignments. Due to my participation in the MAT Prep track, I have included a diverse range of pieces that explore multiple different media. Each piece has its own case-specific inspirations. However, on the whole, I used each piece to push myself creatively and continue to develop my skills. I typically try not to assign meaning or context to my pieces. I prefer for my audiences to be able to make that decision for themselves. Art should not be limited to what the artist says it should be.

Consequently, in many cases, my work is simply meant to get an audience thinking and questioning the content that they are viewing. In general, each piece was used as an opportunity to investigate myself and my interests. In both assignments that were for a class and those for personal projects, I attempted to use my creative time to discover what type of art fits me and what I truly enjoy doing.

​​​​​​​This piece is a reproduction based on the work of William Turner. The work depicts a fiery mass off in the distance. The reflection of the fire can be seen in a body of water that takes up the front most of the piece. The bottom edge is flanked with hints of plant life and people watching the fire. The sky is dark and cloudy and, in parts, filled with smoke. 

Turner Reproduction
Oil Paint
18” x 24”
11/24/19
ART 215, Painting I
This piece is a reproduction based on the work of William Turner. The work depicts a fiery mass off in the distance. The reflection of the fire can be seen in a body of water that takes up the front most of the piece. The bottom edge is flanked with hints of plant life and people watching the fire. The sky is dark and cloudy and, in parts, filled with smoke. 

​​​​​​​This piece, done completely in vector style, and depicts a woman sitting with her arms at her side and her legs crossed. She wears dark red puffy pants and a matching crop top. Her hair is short and black, half up in a messy bun; her face has no facial features. The background graduates out from a light rusty orange out to a deep rusty red. Abstract cherry blossoms are scattered along the background. 

Meditation
Digital Media
8.5” x 11”
8/7/20
This piece, done completely in vector style, and depicts a woman sitting with her arms at her side and her legs crossed. She wears dark red puffy pants and a matching crop top. Her hair is short and black, half up in a messy bun; her face has no facial features. The background graduates out from a light rusty orange out to a deep rusty red. Abstract cherry blossoms are scattered along the background. 

​​​​​​​This piece includes three ceramic skulls. Moving left to right, the first is purple with a third eye on the forehead and a horizon sun emerging from the top of the head. The sun is a bright golden yellow. The middle skull is blue with a brown rectangular box on its head. The eyes on this skull droop on the inner corner and round out at the bottom. The mouth is covered by a dark blue wrap of fabric texture and there is a small inscription on the top corner of the box that says “pass it on”. The rightm

Dead Heads
Ceramics

Approximately 1 square foot each 
2/20/20 
ART 330, Ceramics II

This piece includes three ceramic skulls. Moving left to right, the first is purple with a third eye on the forehead and a horizon sun emerging from the top of the head. The sun is a bright golden yellow. The middle skull is blue with a brown rectangular box on its head. The eyes on this skull droop on the inner corner and round out at the bottom. The mouth is covered by a dark blue wrap of fabric texture and there is a small inscription on the top corner of the box that says “pass it on”. The rightmost skull is pink and has a large mass of flowers and branches coming out of a large hole in the top of its head. This figure's mouth is closed and there are small outlines of teeth on the front of the face. On each of the skulls, rhythmic lines and dots are covering the surface area that is not actively occupied by sculptural elements. 
 

​​​​​​​
Depicted in this piece are two fragmented facial figures on both the left and right sides of a middle divide. The left face is presented in grayscale with a 50’s pin up hairstyle. The right face is presented in full color, even the skin tone is bright yellow mixed with oranges, the hair is bright blue. This figure wears a red beanie, a choker style necklace and green winged eyeliner and lipstick. The background follows the same color scheme of the faces on each side. The mass of the background is ma

Expectations

Colored pencil, graphite, marker, chalk marker, watercolor pencil, acrylic, and pen ink

Approximately 24” x 24”
2/24/19
ART 205, 2D Design II

Depicted in this piece are two fragmented facial figures on both the left and right sides of a middle divide. The left face is presented in grayscale with a 50’s pin up hairstyle. The right face is presented in full color, even the skin tone is bright yellow mixed with oranges, the hair is bright blue. This figure wears a red beanie, a choker style necklace and green winged eyeliner and lipstick. The background follows the same color scheme of the faces on each side. The mass of the background is made up of patches of color or value, scratches, words, and numbers. The background is further broken down by linear lines that follow the edges of the note cards which are the base substrate for this drawing.
 

​​​​​​​This piece features a black and white front portrait of John Lennon. The portrait is centered in the middle of the composition. It is surrounded by images from the 60’s and 70’s blended together with landscape imagery. The images are in black and white and then tinted with blues and purples to create a cool almost monochromatic color palette. 

Lennon

Digital Collage

12” x 15”
8/15/20

This piece features a black and white front portrait of John Lennon. The portrait is centered in the middle of the composition. It is surrounded by images from the 60’s and 70’s blended together with landscape imagery. The images are in black and white and then tinted with blues and purples to create a cool almost monochromatic color palette. 
 

This piece features a black and white image of a
building along the riverside in Baldwinsville New York that used to be the Red Mill Inn. The image is framed by branches from trees on the closest side of the river. In the distance , the building is flanked by smaller buildings and cars that lead into town on the left and Papermill Island on the right. The reflection of the building can be seen in the water but is distracted by the ripples in the water. 

Site Study 1

Photography

18” x 24”

4/15/19

ART 243: Introduction to Digital Photography

This piece features a black and white image of a
building along the riverside in Baldwinsville New York that used to be the Red Mill Inn. The image is framed by branches from trees on the closest side of the river. In the distance , the building is flanked by smaller buildings and cars that lead into town on the left and Papermill Island on the right. The reflection of the building can be seen in the water but is distracted by the ripples in the water. 
 

This piece was completed for a study of the birds of Rice Creek. In this image there are two digital paintings of Alder Flycatchers. In the top left there is a grey Flycatcher perched on a small branch. The bird is sitting with its wings tucked back and looks off to the right. In the bottom right corner there is another Flycatcher that is slightly more yellow and has brighter feathers. Also perched on a branch, this bird is facing front and looks off to the right. 

Alder Flycatcher

Digital Painting

11” x 17”
2/14/21

ART 413, Digital Illustration II 
This piece was completed for a study of the birds of Rice Creek. In this image there are two digital paintings of Alder Flycatchers. In the top left there is a grey Flycatcher perched on a small branch. The bird is sitting with its wings tucked back and looks off to the right. In the bottom right corner there is another Flycatcher that is slightly more yellow and has brighter feathers. Also perched on a branch, this bird is facing front and looks off to the right. 

​​​​​​​This digital painting features a baseball player mid-swing. The figure is dynamically posed with his right leg forward and leaning slightly back. He wears a red and white uniform with a red helmet and black gloves, swinging a wooden bat. The background is a deep brown with lighter wooden texture and streaked lighting. 

Kenny
Digital Painting
11” x 17”
3/20/21
This digital painting features a baseball player mid-swing. The figure is dynamically posed with his right leg forward and leaning slightly back. He wears a red and white uniform with a red helmet and black gloves, swinging a wooden bat. The background is a deep brown with lighter wooden texture and streaked lighting. 

​​​​​​​This diptych is composed of two promotional posters for the Grateful Dead. The one on the left features a day scene with three skeletons lounging on the grass in front of a VW bus. In the right composition, there is a night scene. In this image, the same three skeletons are sitting on the top of the bus that is now facing to the side. They gaze out as the sun sets between the hills. In both, there is a floral forder of red roses. The same type of the band name and show details appears on both across

Dead Diptych 
Digital Illustration 
11” x 17” (Each) 
4/25/21 
413: Digital Illustration II
This diptych is composed of two promotional posters for the Grateful Dead. The one on the left features a day scene with three skeletons lounging on the grass in front of a VW bus. In the right composition, there is a night scene. In this image, the same three skeletons are sitting on the top of the bus that is now facing to the side. They gaze out as the sun sets between the hills. In both, there is a floral forder of red roses. The same type of the band name and show details appears on both across the top and bottom of the pieces. 
 

​​​​​​​This diptych is composed of two promotional posters for the Grateful Dead. The one on the left features a day scene with three skeletons lounging on the grass in front of a VW bus. In the right composition, there is a night scene. In this image, the same three skeletons are sitting on the top of the bus that is now facing to the side. They gaze out as the sun sets between the hills. In both, there is a floral forder of red roses. The same type of the band name and show details appears on both across

Dead Diptych 
Digital Illustration 
11” x 17” (Each) 
4/25/21 
413: Digital Illustration II 
This diptych is composed of two promotional posters for the Grateful Dead. The one on the left features a day scene with three skeletons lounging on the grass in front of a VW bus. In the right composition, there is a night scene. In this image, the same three skeletons are sitting on the top of the bus that is now facing to the side. They gaze out as the sun sets between the hills. In both, there is a floral forder of red roses. The same type of the band name and show details appears on both across the top and bottom of the pieces. 

This triptych consists of three square illustrations. The top panel depicts a skull with its mouth open that is oozing with rainbow goo. The skull takes up the center of the composition and is flanked slightly by a pink atmospheric background. The middle panel depicts cartoon clouds that are filled with the same rainbow goo. The background is set up in layers the front most has purple drips, the back has leaves and a deep purple gradient. The bottom panel features an anatomical heart with a plant inside of

Album Covers 
Digital Illustration 
10” x 10” (Each ) 
4/26/21 
413: Digital Illustration II Photography
This triptych consists of three square illustrations. The top panel depicts a skull with its mouth open that is oozing with rainbow goo. The skull takes up the center of the composition and is flanked slightly by a pink atmospheric background. The middle panel depicts cartoon clouds that are filled with the same rainbow goo. The background is set up in layers the front most has purple drips, the back has leaves and a deep purple gradient. The bottom panel features an anatomical heart with a plant inside of it. The entire background is flowing with the same rainbow goo from the other two panels. 

This triptych consists of three square illustrations. The top panel depicts a skull with its mouth open that is oozing with rainbow goo. The skull takes up the center of the composition and is flanked slightly by a pink atmospheric background. The middle panel depicts cartoon clouds that are filled with the same rainbow goo. The background is set up in layers the front most has purple drips, the back has leaves and a deep purple gradient. The bottom panel features an anatomical heart with a plant inside of

Album Covers 
Digital Illustration 
10” x 10” (Each ) 
4/26/21 
413: Digital Illustration II Photography
This triptych consists of three square illustrations. The top panel depicts a skull with its mouth open that is oozing with rainbow goo. The skull takes up the center of the composition and is flanked slightly by a pink atmospheric background. The middle panel depicts cartoon clouds that are filled with the same rainbow goo. The background is set up in layers the front most has purple drips, the back has leaves and a deep purple gradient. The bottom panel features an anatomical heart with a plant inside of it. The entire background is flowing with the same rainbow goo from the other two panels. 

This triptych consists of three square illustrations. The top panel depicts a skull with its mouth open that is oozing with rainbow goo. The skull takes up the center of the composition and is flanked slightly by a pink atmospheric background. The middle panel depicts cartoon clouds that are filled with the same rainbow goo. The background is set up in layers the front most has purple drips, the back has leaves and a deep purple gradient. The bottom panel features an anatomical heart with a plant inside of

Album Covers 
Digital Illustration 
10” x 10” (Each ) 
4/26/21 
413: Digital Illustration II Photography
This triptych consists of three square illustrations. The top panel depicts a skull with its mouth open that is oozing with rainbow goo. The skull takes up the center of the composition and is flanked slightly by a pink atmospheric background. The middle panel depicts cartoon clouds that are filled with the same rainbow goo. The background is set up in layers the front most has purple drips, the back has leaves and a deep purple gradient. The bottom panel features an anatomical heart with a plant inside of it. The entire background is flowing with the same rainbow goo from the other two panels. 

This piece contains various elements floating around the composition interacting with one another and two rectangular frames of negative space. Amongst these elements are geometric forms such as cones, spheres, and cubes. Some appear to be receding in space while others project forward. Organic root like structures move within the piece weaving around the geometric forms. 

Space 
Medium: Mixed Media 
Size: 18” x 24” 
Date: 5/10//20 
ART 310, Intermediate Drawing
This piece contains various elements floating around the composition interacting with one another and two rectangular frames of negative space. Amongst these elements are geometric forms such as cones, spheres, and cubes. Some appear to be receding in space while others project forward. Organic root like structures move within the piece weaving around the geometric forms. 
 

This piece features a cyanotype of tissue paper. Lines of negative space cut across the piece in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines sporadically. Behind these lines, there is an organic smoke like texture created by using tissue paper to block certain parts of the exposure.

Tissue Exposure 
Cyanotype 
11” x 17” 
2/20/21 
342: Experimental Photography
This piece features a cyanotype of tissue paper. Lines of negative space cut across the piece in horizontal, vertical, and diagonal lines sporadically. Behind these lines, there is an organic smoke like texture created by using tissue paper to block certain parts of the exposure.