coffee + community pt. 1

Let’s welcome Hanah Tremblay, artist, brand curator, graphic designer, & the one who brought Sol Sipsters vision to life with her creativity! Get to know a bit about Hanah & how her lifestyle shapes her art + design.

What is your why behind the art you create?

My “why” behind creating art is both for myself and for others.

For myself, art has always been a form of therapy, just as any passion is. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve found so much peace in sitting alone with my music, free from distractions, just creating for hours on end. In those moments it feels like I reconnect with myself. Art gives me a sense of calmness that I can’t really find anywhere else, almost like it brings a part of me back that the outside world, at times, pulls away when I get caught up in the hustle of life. 

For others, my “why” stems from wanting to make people feel something. It could be a quick smile from someone passing by one of my goofy stickers slapped around town, or something that sparks deeper emotions or ideas and really sits with them. That moment of connection is what matters most to me. If my work can make someone pause, reflect, or feel even the smallest shift in their day, then I feel like it’s done its job. Sometimes life can feel heavy, and through my art I strive to remind people that things don’t always have to be taken so seriously. A little creativity, color, and laughter can go a long way.

How does surf culture inspire your art?

Surfing and art have always gone hand in hand in my life. They’ve been two of the biggest driving forces for me as long as I can remember. Most of my family surfs, and a lot of us are artists too, so growing up I was constantly surrounded by both worlds. Overtime they naturally started to intertwine. When I was a kid, I used to cut up all of my Dad’s old surf magazines and make collages out of them, paint on them, tape them to my wall, and whatever else I could think of. I was completely fascinated by the photos, the stories, and all the creatives that helped bring these magazines to life. Looking back, that was probably one of the first places where surfing and art really started to come together for me.

I look at surfing as its own form of creative expression. Every person approaches it with their own style and because of that I think surf culture naturally attracts and is made up of creative people. Constantly being around that energy has definitely influenced my art and the way I create. Majority of my illustrations are inspired by the ocean, nature, the experiences I have while on surf trips around the world, and the people I meet along the way. Those experiences constantly feed my creativity. 

Coolest place you have ever traveled?

I’ve been extremely fortunate to travel to many countries around the world so far, but without a doubt the coolest place I’ve visited has been Morocco. A few years ago I was working at a surf and yoga retreat in Spain and you could see Morocco right from the beach. At the time, I was living in a tiny little apartment up on a hill and you could even see it from the kitchen window. So, after staring at it from afar for months on end, I decided to venture there next and was absolutely blown away. The food, the people, the culture, and of course the waves! It all felt so different from anything I had ever experienced before. I had originally planned to travel all around the country and see as many places as possible, but that plan didn’t last long. Every morning I would wake up to perfect, glassy right-hand waves breaking right out front of where I was staying. Surfing for hours on end, followed by some nice, warm mint tea and tasty tagine. After a few days of that, I just couldn’t bring myself to pack up my things and head somewhere else. Even though I only saw a small part of Morocco, it left a huge impression on me, and I’ve been itching to get back there ever since.

What’s your go to for getting out of a creative funk?

My go-to for getting out of a creative funk is going back to creating for myself. I’m really fortunate to have a passion that also doubles as my job, and most of the time it hardly feels like work. But sometimes when your’e constantly creating for other people, deadlines, specific styles and outcomes, it can start to burn out that creative spark. 

When I feel myself getting stuck in a rut, I step away from any expectations and just make things for fun again. I’ll spend time creating random pieces, getting messy, experimenting, and not worrying at all about how the final result turns out. I also try to make sure I’m creating physical art, not just digital work. There’s something really special and important about using your hands, working with real materials, and getting a little dirty in the process. Taking the pressure off and letting myself play with art again usually helps refresh my mind and bring that creativity back.