PRESTON HANNA VISUAL ARTIST Prestonism.
By Yolanda Hanna Photographs courtesy of Scharad Lightbourne Photography and June Collins of Sixty2sixty Gallery
A
feeling that stirs at the core of your soul and encroaches upon each one of the senses until you are completely immersed in the world of Preston Hanna – a world of history, expressive thoughts, vibrant colours and beautiful melodies that are all entwined in a single space. Prestonism represents the mind, body and soul of visual artist Preston Hanna. This innovative artist uses his environment and vivid imagination as a palette for his canvas. He has developed quite a following over the years and his unique sense of expression transforms his canvas into a kaleidoscope wrought with African heritage, Caribbean culture and paint strokes of sensual, unfettered emotions. I was privileged to speak with this brilliant and busy artist, who is also an art teacher and head of the art department at a high school in New Providence, about his work, his inspiration and his students, and was fascinated by the information he shared with me during our interesting conversation. When did you discover your love for art?
Harmony 2021
65
up and away
I wasn’t an art student in high school, but I was always sketching something in a sketch book. When I was in the 11th grade, the art teacher saw one of my drawings and she asked me which art class I was attending. She was shocked to learn that I didn’t have any training. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t interested in art at all. My plan was to go to college and study architecture (laughs). But she convinced me to come to her art classes in the afternoon, and that’s where my love for art began. She taught me about art, and I attended afternoon art classes until I graduated from high school. After graduation, I wanted to learn everything about art. So, I went to college, and I obtained a bachelor’s degree in art education. Today, I teach at my former high school, the school where I discovered my love for art and where I graduated from.
