Q: What are some of your favorite things about living and working in Brooklyn?

A: I’m from Manhattan. I now live in Brooklyn. Actually I have a love/hate relationship with it but realize after many years of considering living elsewhere that there’s nowhere else to live. I love the people here, the vibrant creative culture all around and the history.

Q: How and when did you first become interested in art and illustration?

A: I grew up in an artistic household. My mom was an artist and my dad was in the music business. It was completely natural that I’d go on to pursue art commercially.

Q: Do you keep a sketchbook? What is the balance between the art you create on paper versus In the computer?

A: I used to do a lot of observational drawing. I don’t anymore. I’d like to pick it up again though. I do think it keeps you fresh and keeps your hand loose. I illustrate all my projects by hand and then scan them into Photoshop to tweak. Nothing major, just sizing and perhaps popping the contrast a bit.

Q: What is the most important item in your studio?

A: The window, it lets in lots of sunlight. Light is everything to me.

Q: What was your favorite book as a child? 

A: I loved too many books to name just one. Visually, I have always been a fan of Maurice Sendak books and in terms of literature I love E.B White. I still love both of them.

Q: What is the best book you’ve recently read?

A: East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Q: Who and what are some of your strongest influences?

A: I can’t pinpoint just one but I love Andy Warhol’s early illustration work quite a bit.

Q: What was your first professional assignment and how did you get it?

A: The first real project that made me feel legit was with Glamour Magazine. I sent them a postcard.

Q: What are some of your favorite places/books/blogs/websites for inspiration?

A: I love spending time outdoors, going for long walks around Brooklyn and Manhattan. I like going to museums, movies and out for meals with inspiring friends in the art community. A few favorite brunch spots include: Maialino, The City Bakery, and The Breslin. I love going out for dinner too. Lately we like Van Horn and Franny’s.

I love reading books, magazines and blogs like The Paris Review, New York Magazine, Refinery 29, Letters of Note and The Forest Feast.

Q: What is your favorite part of the creative process? 

A: The part where I am giddy about starting a new project and all the pieces fall together perfectly and I’m just painting away at my drawing table.

Q: How do you go about finding great clients?

A: It takes time but at this point I find that work begets work. Clients see my work other places and reach out. I also reach out to new clients from time to time. I should do that more. 

Q: What is/would be your karaoke song?

A: You’re So Vain by Carly Simon or Landslide by Fleetwood Mac. Both are in my range and fun to sing.

Q: What would be your last supper?

A: Very lemony and sea salty brussel sprouts, pasta, bread and cheese followed by ice cream.

Q: Where did your idea for title originate? What was the most difficult part about getting from idea to finished art?

A: My debut book, Well-Read Women: Portraits of Fiction’s Most Beloved Heroines was published by Chronicle Books in fall 2013. 

The idea to paint my favorite female characters from literature and hand-letter quotes from their dialogue or thoughts emanated from a solo show I had in 2011 called A Thousand Ships based on the Marlowe poem about Helen of Troy. I was interested in the idea of beauty having so much power. I illustrated various incarnations of Helen of Troy for the show and then expanded it to include the literary characters with their own voice portrayed through the quotes. 

The title of my book aptly describes the images in the book. The characters themselves are well-read and well loved and potentially the reader is as well. Hopefully everyone sees their favorite character in the book or will following an intriguing one back to her original text. 

The most difficult aspect of creating the book was just the hours and hours of research, getting accurate historical details, capturing the emotional tenure of each character, and reading the books if I had not already.

Q: What advice would you give a young artist on selecting an art school or college?

A: Pick the best art school you can get in to. Study lots of subjects in addition to your concentration. The hours you put in now are imperative. You’ll never again have the opportunity to live amongst so many creative young people pursuing their dream. The friends you make there may be your network in the industry when you get out. The most talented artist in your class may not be the one who makes it. The one who works the hardest to carve out their own niche and grow in the face of rejection will be the one who makes it.  



Samantha Hahn is a Brooklyn basked illustrator working with a range of clients such as: Paris Review, The Cut (New York Magazine), Daily Candy, Refinery 29,  J.Crew, Marc Jacobs, Mac Cosmetics, Tiffany’s, McCann Erickson, Anthropologie,  Galison, Vogue Nippon (Jp), Brigitte (De), Frau(Jp), Conde Nast Traveller, The Telegraph (UK), Glamour , Elle, Marie Claire, The Chicago Tribune, Real Simple, Bust, Faesthetic, Random House (Potter Style), Assouline, and Chronicle Books. Her work has been exhibited from New York to Hong Kong, and has been featured in AI28, AI32 and AI33. Her book Well-Read Women: Portraits of Fiction’s Most Beloved Heroines is published by Chronicle Books and was featured in the New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine and The Huffington Post in addition to other publications and sites. Blog.