Meet Hannah Eining | Artist & Owner of Drift Art Studio

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hannah Eining and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hannah, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started Drift Art Studio as an outlet for the art I love to create. I realized early on that my home could not continue to be a shrine full of art that was taking over and that I should start to share this with others. I have always been a maker, cycling through various artistic forms at different stages of my life. Though my business has currently taken on the form of fiber art, I love so many other mediums. This includes drawing, painting, woodworking, pottery, photography, and often mixed media. I tend to lean into the medium I’m having the most fun with at the time. Over time, I expect my business to reflect this wide range of artistic interests. I have so many ideas and am excited to see how my business will evolve over time.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Many people do not know that Drift Art Studio is not a full-time pursuit. I am equally as passionate about the outdoors and my main goal in life is to improve the environment, especially after seeing so much degradation in our worlds’ ecosystems. I work for the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas where I help to manage over 50,000 acres of land. We participate in a large variety of work including restoration, plant and animal monitoring, and habitat improvement projects. One of my favorite parts about the work we do is our efforts to bring back the endangered black-footed ferret populations. Black-footed ferrets are one of the most endangered animals in North America. They were thought to be extinct until a farmers’ dog caught a ferret, thus beginning a journey to bring these animals back from the brink of extinction. We have teamed up with several other organizations, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the National Black-Footed Ferret Conservation Center to work on this effort.

I bring this up because nature is my main inspiration for art. I have found when I am focusing all my attention only on art or habitat improvement, I feel like something is missing in my life. For years I struggled on what to pursue, believing I could only do one or the other. Once I finally decided I should do both, I found peace in my decision and am now living the life I love. I am helping improve the environment and expressing my creative side. Because of my love for nature, I like to incorporate natural elements, like driftwood, into my art wherever possible. I use sustainable, high-quality materials that limit environmental degradation. The string I use is all Oeko-Tex certified, meaning it is free of harmful toxins. This certification ensures that the working environments are socially and environmentally sound for those involved in production. Wherever possible, I reuse boxes and packaging materials to limit waste. It is my goal to create art that is beautiful and as environmentally conscious as possible. My products are mostly made from cotton, which will eventually break down without creating waste.

I am thankful for my journey to where I am today and the business I have created. I want others to know that each item on my website is handmade by me. I restock my website periodically throughout the year and announce shop drops on Instagram, so please follow me to remain up to date. I also do custom inquiries. If you are interested in a custom product made for your home, please contact me either via email or Instagram about your ideas. Custom product inquiries are not guaranteed but accepted on a case-by-case basis. I love doing custom items and want to work with you to achieve the perfect look for your home.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Fort Collins, Colorado is full of wonderful local businesses and destinations. We are known for bikes and brews. Take a bike ride to a local brewery on the interconnected network of trails that meander through town. My favorite spots to grab a drink include Zwei Brewing, Maxline Brewing, Mythmaker, and Funkwerks. They all have upbeat atmospheres and collaborate with one another to create the best beers around. While on the bike trails, don’t forget to stop along the way at various Natural Areas in town. The trail runs along the Poudre River corridor where you will be surrounded by nature and will forget you are in a city! Some other local natural treasures to check out include Horsetooth Reservoir, a 6.4 roundtrip hike to Horsetooth Rock, and Soapstone Prairie Natural Area. If you are here in the summer months, be sure to stop by the Larimer County Farmers’ Market held each Saturday from 9AM-1PM. Here you will find fresh, local produce, art, homemade soaps, kombucha, baked goods, and more! Before you leave, travel up the Poudre Canyon for beautiful views of the Poudre River where you can go rafting or can stop by The Mishawaka for a meal or live music on the river.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my Shoutout to my family and partner, Scott, who have always encouraged me to put my artistic talents to use. I also want to thank various art teachers I had throughout my life who helped refine my art. This includes a huge shoutout to Barb Janssen who was my art teacher in grade school and again throughout my high school AP art journey. She truly helped my artistic side bloom! Thank you, Barb!

I also want to thank Sally Knight and Nancy Wahamaki who both taught me techniques I still use today and most importantly, how to have fun creating art! Whenever I was in the final stages of finishing a painting, I remember Nancy telling me, “Keep pushing it, Hannah”. I still tell myself this today when I am afraid to keep going out of fear of ruining a piece at the very end! It’s the final details that are the hardest to make, but the most important.

Website: www.driftartstudiobyhannahclaire.com

Instagram: @driftartstudiobyhannahclaire

Other: Email for custom inquiries, questions, or comments: driftartstudio@gmail.com

Image Credits
N/A. All my own personal photos.