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Meredith Hanson

@merhanson

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Bespoke multimedia artist, blending traditional techniques with modern inspiration
🖌️ Custom collabs & partnerships
Princeton <-> Nantucket
🐕🪽Willis

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Willy, you are the wind my sweet boy🐕🪽

In January of 2014, I brought little Willis home on the car ferry with me back to Nantucket..he sat on my lap the whole way. I was 25 and my life felt complete from the moment I saw him.

Willis and I enjoyed 10 years of life on Nantucket together…we were inseparable. Car rides, art lessons, beach & lighthouse adventures, sandwiches at Claudette’s, walks with our dear friends all over the island…we did everything together and continued our adventures off island. Willis was always my rock…he got me through heartache, health challenges and more…he always knew when I needed him (which was always) and he was always right by my side.

Reconnecting with Patrick (30 years after our NY nursery school days) was the best thing to ever happen to me and Willis. I like to say that Patrick is a golden retriever in human form and seeing the two of them together made my heart full. For the first time I had met a partner who loves Willis as much as I do. 💛

Willis was so strong and resilient his entire life. The past year was incredibly hard as Willis was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his paw which came back after surgery and spread to his lungs. My heart shattered but I knew that we would do anything and everything for him. Willis held on for 10 additional months, two weeks shy of his 12th birthday. For almost 12 years, Willis was by my side for every painting project — and he was there with me one last time just last weekend 🎨 On Saturday, we celebrated our birthdays together with dog-friendly ice cream and a homemade dog cake 🍦🦴🎂

We sat with Willis under his favorite tree outside yesterday as he crossed over the rainbow bridge. I am beyond heartbroken and lost without him physically by my side looking up at me with that great big smile…but I am only envisioning Willis being able to run as fast as he used to again…on our favorite Nantucket beaches, all over our farm in Princeton and beyond with endless treats.

Willis, you are and will always be my sweetie funny boy and I’ll love you forever 🐕🪽🌈 taken in Princeton, New Jersey by @merhanson

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a year ago

Willis and I journeyed back to the island earlier this spring for the first part of my custom mural project for dear friend and client, @laurenfornes🪻Having Willis by my side for the start of this project (after months of his health challenges) filled my heart to see him energized and so happy to be back on island.

Nantucket truly is a magical and healing place to be 🐚🌊

#Nantucket #nantucketisland #nantucketlife #artistsofig #muralart #goldenretriever #goldensofig #dogslife #merhansonartanddesign taken in Nantucket, Massachusetts by @merhanson

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a year ago

Happy opening day @periwinklebookshop!🖌️📚

What an incredible experience is has been to work with the fabulous, Sarah Underhill, owner of Periwinkle Books (and now dear friend!) to help bring her beautiful new bookstore to life in Bronxville, NY — the town where I grew up from 1988–2000 (and where I first met Patrick at Chapel School!).

Over the past few months, I’ve been commuting back and forth from Princeton to create an 18-foot mural for the children’s section and am so honored to be part of the Periwinkle team🎨🖌️

This project came to me through the Schramm’s lifelong family friend, John Knox, who served as project manager for the bookstore. (Couldn’t have done this without you, John! 🙌)

It is so special to return to the place where I grew up and leave a little piece of my art behind in a room devoted to children, books, imagination, and community 💛🪄✨📗☁️🌈

Congratulations Sarah and the entire Periwinkle Books team! I’m so grateful to be part of this magical new chapter! 📚✨

P.S. My favorite, @parkplacebagels fueled my entire mural process with the most delicious blueberry bagels and hazelnut coffee! 🧋🥯

#PeriwinkleBooks #bookstore #booksbooksbooks #mural #muralpainting taken in Bronxville, New York by @merhanson

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2 months ago

October will always be ours 🍂🐕🪽

Our birthdays, our favorite month, our adventures up and down the East Coast, and all the beautiful memories we made together as a little family here on the farm 🌾

Willis is everywhere ✨☀️🌙🌈 taken in Princeton, NJ by @merhanson

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a day ago

The season of the (artsy) witch 🕯️🕸️🐈‍⬛

#artstudıo #artlife #artiststudios #libraseason taken in Princeton, NJ by @merhanson

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12 days ago

🔍 Come explore some of our favorite details of the @periwinklebookshop mural!🎨🦢🐝🦋🌲🪷🫐

The magic of this mural is in all the little discoveries woven throughout the garden — familiar characters, literary nods, and hidden details for everyone to find together! 📚 (With a few extra-special touches woven in for Sarah, including her granddaughter, India and beloved dog, Sophie! 🎀🐾)

So special to be back in Bronxville after meeting with the Periwinkle team yesterday — and there’s more mural magic on the way! ✨ Stay tuned for some fun new products coming to Periwinkle soon!

And for those who know my murals and designs… did you find my little “signature” hidden somewhere in this one? 🐾 Let me know if you spotted it! 🔍

#Mural #muralart #muralartist #muralpainting #muraldesign taken in Bronxville, New York by @merhanson

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14 days ago

Happy birthday to my beautiful mom, @janetthanson —and Princeton’s newest resident! 🌿🐅 So happy to celebrate you and your beautiful new home at Constitution Hill on the historic Morgan estate!

Having my mom living just four minutes down the road from us might be the best gift of all! 🎁

We celebrated with a dip in the pool, a walk through the gardens, a grilled dinner at our house thanks to Patrick, and @thebentspoon ice cream to finish the night! 🍦

So excited for this next chapter and all the memories we get to make together in Princeton! 🧡

Thank you @heidihartmannhomes of @coldwellbanker for helping my mom find her perfect 🏡!

#Princeton #princetonnj #houseandgarden #gardenparty taken in Princeton, NJ by @merhanson

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a month ago

A night at the (ART) museum! 🖼️💍

Monet may have gotten a little cameo in Carly & Evan’s watercolor wedding map that I had the pleasure of painting, but I think we can all agree the masterpiece of the evening was @carlyking performing her song, “Loving You is Easy”, inside the @princetonartmuseum! ✨

A rehearsal dinner and cocktail party surrounded by art, followed by a private performance from the bride herself! 👰🏼‍♀️🎸

So special getting to paint a little piece of this beautiful Princeton wedding weekend! 🗺️ And if you want to hear more from the incredibly talented bride, you can find Carly music on @spotify! 🎶

(BIG thank you to @judykinginteriors and @_ceceking for helping bring this watercolor map to life!)

#princeton #watercolormap #artmuseum #watercolorillustration taken in Princeton University Art Museum by @merhanson

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a month ago

Summer’s last hurrah: Maine 🦪🦞🛶🌲🌊

Our best friend, @lrohner put together the ultimate Maine weekend — shucking oysters at @erosoyster, lobster rolls on the water at @fiveislandslobsterco in Georgetown, a sunset cruise on @cascobaylines, an art studio visit with the incredibly talented, @marguerite_lawler (my other bestie!) and time exploring Portland!🖌️🎨🌲🚢

After 20 years of friendship, time with Leah and her fam (who have always made me feel like part of the Wolfpack! 🐺) is extra special — especially now, getting to watch my best friend be the most amazing mom!

Best friends, oysters, lobster boats, lighthouses, art & Maine — all of our favorite things in one perfect end-of-summer weekend! ☀️🌊🦞

P.S. I met the nicest gentleman taking care of his daughter’s golden, Atkin, named after Atkins island in Maine! 🐕 I asked if it was ok to take their picture and he said yes with a big smile across his face. (If this is your dad/goldie, DM me!)

#maine #mainesummer #mainephotography #mainephotos #mainetheway taken in Georgetown, Maine by @merhanson

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I don’t think it’s a coincidence that hummingbirds have been finding their way into several of my paintings this year🖌️🕊️

This summer, a little hummingbird started visiting our Calamondin orange tree just outside my studio window 🍊🌳I first spotted her while painting at my desk, and after seeing her return again and again, I immediately ordered a feeder. Now she visits 10-20 times throughout the day, and somehow I always catch her out of the corner of my eye.

At first I tried to photograph every visit. Now, I mostly just stop what I’m doing and watch her—and make sure her little dishes are filled with fresh sugar water. ⛲️

It has been just over ten months since losing Willis, and after twelve years of my days being so intertwined with his, I’ve struggled with the emptiness of not having him here to care for. This daily ritual has given me a little bit of that purpose back.

I look for Willis everywhere—in rainbows, birds, and the trees moving outside my studio window. And this summer, I think I’ve found a little piece of him in my hummingbird. 🌈🕊️🦜🌳🌴

Maybe that’s why they keep finding their way into my paintings, too. I like to think they’re little gifts from my Willy boy🐕🪽

#hummingbird #hummingbirdfeeder #mural #muralpainting #watercolorpainting taken in Bronxville, New York by @merhanson

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a month ago

“Mermaid’s Catch” is now live in the Tim Russert @nbgc_summergroove Auction, supporting the Boys & Girls Club of Nantucket! 🧜‍♀️ I’m so happy this painting can give back to a place that inspires me so much. A special thank you to my friend, @renee_portnoy for putting together the “Art Walk” and making this all possible! 🖼️🎨

“Mermaid’s Catch” brings together so much of what has inspired me lately: Nantucket’s iconic lightship baskets and the beautiful scrimshaw in The Wider World & Scrimshaw exhibit at @nantuckethistoricalassociation, along with my love of experimenting with trompe l’oeil—and the fun of making you look twice to see what’s painted and what’s real!🔎🖌️ 
The mermaid hook was a lucky @chairishco find—a vintage 1970s cast-iron coastal wall hook that I couldn’t resist 🧜‍♀️🪝From there, I loved the idea of bringing together inspiration from different places, including Carel Fabritius’s The Goldfinch (1654), one of my favorite paintings. I’ve always loved its beautiful simplicity and how it reminds me that sometimes the simplest subjects can be the most captivating!

Link in bio for all auction items benefitting @nantucketbgc! 💙

#Nantucket #nantucketisland #trompeloeil #nantucketbasket #boysandgirlsclub taken in Nantucket, Massachusetts by @merhanson

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2 months ago

My biggest “canvas” yet!🪜🖌️🎨 Come with me behind the scenes, from start to finish, on my 18’ mural for @periwinklebookshop in Bronxville, NY! 📚

I treated the wall like a large canvas, painting it much the same way I approach my studio work with attention to the tiniest of details. 🔍🖼️

Inspired by many classic children’s books I loved growing up, I created a secret garden filled with animals, flowers, foliage and little surprises for children to find and interact with! 📘🪄🦢🌺🪻🪷

A HUGE thank you to friend and project manager, John Knox, who recommended me for this project and to his incredible crew for helping me every step of the way—from tools and machinery to getting me up on the Metaltech scaffolding to reach the very top of that 18’ wall! 🪜🧰🪛🔧

Every project I do is always a team effort, and I couldn’t have brought this one across the finish line without Sarah, John, his crew, and the entire Periwinkle Books team!

I hope you’ll visit @periwinklebookshop and step into my (painted) secret garden!
🪴🍓🪻🪷🦢🐇🐢🐸🦋🐛🦆🐁🧸🐴🐕🐑🐖🐞🕷️🕸️

This entire mural was fueled by @parkplacebagels 🥯🧋!

#mural #muralart #bookstore #bookshop #muralpainting taken in Bronxville, New York by @merhanson

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