It’s easy to be taken by Aley Hanson’s playful approach to art. To put it simply: her illustrations – naive, vibrant, and very much uplifting – pack a punch. “My bright, neo-primitive illustration is about positivity, feminine empowerment, and connection to the natural world,” writes the nomad illustrator, adding: “I’ve forfeited the comfort of home to live on the road; learning the world, growing the tribe and being inspired as the great adventure unfolds.”
Scrolling through her Instagram page is a sort of adventure in and of itself. “In 2016 I quit my job to hitchhike, volunteer and couch surf my way around the world,” relayed Hanson in an interview with The Design Kids. “I wasn’t lost, but certainly wandering, and it wasn’t until last year that I decided to give illustration my all. It took me a while to arrive at illustration because I waited until I had something to say, which solo traveling in 22 countries has given me in spades.”
But her road to creative fulfillment was a long one. “I considered studying law because I’m a natural debater, but ended up studying illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design,” she recalled. “I started drawing before I could talk, and so I made the right choice (phew!).”
After graduation, she worked at a screen printing shop in San Francisco that printed a max of 7 solid colors, which she says gave her a deep appreciation for what can be achieved with flat shapes and a limited palette. She then worked as a communication designer at a local food/tech startup, which was highly collaborative and design thinking oriented. “It was fun, but adventure beckoned,” she concludes.
Enter her vibrant worlds.
