We first saw the body of Hannah Katz's artwork at the Bromfield School art show. Hannah could be frequently spotted drawing her trademark figures, hands, and eyes at school with her Escher-like illustrations woven throughout the pages of her sketchbooks. But it wasn't until the Bromfield art show that most of us glimpsed her colorful paintings and drawing-dropping computer illustrations.

Martha Brooks, her computer graphics teacher at the school commented that Hannah is a natural and navigates the illustrating tools with ease, combining her computer knowledge with her fine illustrating techniques. Martha explains, "First and foremost, Hannah can draw! And then to watch the figures in her animations flow from her mind to the screen so effortlessly is exhilarating! I think her gift is such that she doesn't even realize how difficult it is for the rest of us to draw using the mouse. Most computer artists use a stylus and tablet... she doesn't need it. She is a member of the first generation that grew up doing digital art. I can't wait to see what her future brings."

It's hard to think of Hannah without picturing her contently entertaining herself in her sketchpad. "In a way, my art is my security blanket. Sometimes if I forget to bring a drawing pad with me, it feels as though my right arm is empty and fidgety because it should be holding a sketchbook or a pencil. If I need to escape, if I need to relax, or if I need to scribble an idea down, I always have a reassurance in knowing my sketchbooks are there with me. My sketchbook covers are torn, stained, and even slightly crumpled because they have endured rain, wind, crammed backpacks, and even pizza grease stains. At lunch during school, you can see me huddled over my sketchbook with a pencil in one hand and a sandwich in the other because what better time is there for a drawing break?"

Hannah is drawn towards storytelling and the enjoyment of conveying strange happenings and events that she presents to the viewer. "My work also has a strong sense of narrative. In my sketchbooks, the poor citizens that occupy the pages of my drawing pads are regularly chased or devoured by terrifying monsters, controlled by strange machinery, or have mutated due to bizarre, horrible accidents. In general, my characters meet their odd, ridiculous fates for my own amusement. Although the majority of my drawings take on a less illusionist approach than many of my favorite surrealist artists, my characters are either unusual in themselves or misplaced in illogical situations similarly to the artwork of the surrealistic painters I admire. Many of my drawings often lead viewers to a storyline behind them, whether or not it really is there."

Hannah has taken as many art classes as she could in and outside of school exploring different media, both traditional and digital, and to explore the combination of them. She completed courses in figure drawing, maya, digital drawing board, photography, watercolor, drawing, computer animation, printmaking, ceramics, and game design. Outside of school, Hannah participated in a variety of art classes and projects including black and white photography at the Worcester Art Center in order to learn how to develop her own film, an apprenticeship in printmaking and jewelry design, sculptural welding classes at the Providence Rhode Island steel yard and stone carving classes in West Rutland Vermont.

Hannah elaborates, "In 9th,10th, and 11th grade, I earned certificates from Rhode Island School of Design in cartooning and animation, game design, and art school preparation. I have always loved to draw and paint, but it was not until a few years ago that I started to combine different materials in my artwork. I have experimented in multiple art forms such as jewelry design, sculpture, printmaking, photography, collage, web design, computer animation, and various forms of painting. I often combine many of these mediums together, especially printmaking with watercolor, pen and ink drawings, photography, or sometimes even the combination of all four of them."

"For example, the piece entitled 'The Fall' is a mixed media piece that combines collage, print, photography and watercolor. Alternately, the print 'Holding On' utilized a monotype process, using stencils, oil based inks and string to achieve the desired effect. In the paintings shown below I use narrative imagery in my work. Each of them presents a fantasy that invites the viewer to invent his own story. The pieces below illustrate how I like to combine mechanical features and living creatures to create a sense of mystery."

Hannah was recently a recipient of the FAS Donna Sherman Scholarship for the Arts. She is currently attending Rhode Island School of Design. Hannah plans to major in illustration and minor in animation. "After taking Ms. Brooks animation class, I realized how animation and illustration go hand in hand and that that I really enjoy them both."

"Art began as a way for me to communicate. I hope now it can become my profession." After school Hannah hopes to illustrate her own books, collaborate with other writers to illustrate their stories, and to work for an animation company. If you are interested in commissioning a project or in purchasing one of her computer prints, send email to hannah@iskatz.com.