WIP | VISTA shoreline

April 16, 2024

I’m loving working on a familiar view: a graphic abstraction of the Lake Michigan shoreline. These clients responded to the graphic approach to landscape in VISTA: grasslands and requested a “Chicago version” with a similar palette and level of abstraction for a corporate office space.

sketch | VISTA: shoreline c Heather Hancock 2024

Progression of an idea from inspo image to final sketch.

inspo pic with diagonal shoreline | Lake Michigan

VISTA

April 15, 2024

Over the past year my cityscapes have expanded to include landscapes…and lakescapes..and desertscapes…. Painted backgrounds with natural imagery foregrounded using glass inlay is a satisfying effect I’ve been working toward for a long time.

Some of these drawings have been realized as dimensional art pieces. So much potential for fresh views as graphic abstractions.

CDMX inspo | new ideas

April 09, 2024

I’ve been thinking about new ideas inspired by our trip to Mexico City last spring. Nature and city, architecture and engineering, matte textures and polished surfaces, neutrals and color, minimalism and maximalism. So many inspiring and contrasting moments in that city. I started by making small versions to test some of my ideas with this approach. Lots to explore here!!

test piece TITLE TBD | 22” x 10” glass inlay + texture + paint c Heather Hancock 2024

urban fragments01 | 22” x 10” c Heather Hancock 2024

urban fragments02 | 22” x 10” c Heather Hancock 2024

urban fragments03a | 22” x 10” c Heather Hancock 2024

urban fragments03b | 22” x 10” c Heather Hancock 2024

recent project installed | REFLECT 3@32" x 32"

February 27, 2024

Happy to see these lovelies up and shimmering in a Nashville hotel. These pieces come out of my deep belief that we are attuned to rhythms in the world around us. I explore the many powerful rhythms I find in the city which are sometimes overlooked as important aesthetic and visual rhythms.

REFLECT 3@32” x 32” hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2023 photo credit Whitaker Art Consulting

REFLECT 3@32” x 32” hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2023

detail REFLECT 3@32” x 32” hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2023

REFLECT | last available 2' x 2's

February 23, 2024

Lots of ideas swirling around next directions with REFLECT/architectural series.

I learned so much working on this series. There are a few 2’x2’ pieces left. Here are some groupings.

REFLECT 1.54 shadows | REFLECT 1.36 glass+concrete c Heather Hancock

REFLECT 1.58 truss | REFLECT 1.36 minimalist | REFLECT 1.48 light study | glass+concrete c Heather Hancock

REFLECT 1.55 curve | REFLECT 1.19 black grid | REFLECT 1.48 light study | glass+concrete c Heather Hancock

REFLECT 1.43 grid | REFLECT 1.35 abstract Mies | REFLECT 1.19 grid | glass+concrete c Heather Hancock

rendering | REFLECT 1.58 REFLECT 1.36 REFLECT 1.43 each 2’x 2’ glass+concrete c Heather Hancock

REFLECT 1.54 shadow | REFLECT 1.56 concrete | glass+concrete c Heather Hancock

REFLECT 1.49 light study | REFLECT 1.48 light study | REFLECT 1.47 light study | glass+concrete c Heather Hancock

REFLECT 1.42 marina | REFLECT 1.50 perspective glass+concrete c Heather Hancock

rendering | REFLECT 1.36 + REFLECT 1.43 2’ x 2’ glass + concrete c Heather Hancock

Reflect 1.61 alley 2’ x 2’ glass + concrete c Heather Hancock

urban fragments

February 12, 2024

I just started looking at new groupings of 20”x20” pieces and can see that I’ve been working on the ‘nature and city’ theme from different angles. Random moments and contrasts from the cityscape: nature and architecture, color and grayscale, information and noise, pristine surfaces and matte textures.

rendering | ENCODE 3.21 REFLECT 6.3 each 20” x 20” | glass + concrete c Heather Hancock

These pieces can work as singles, diptychs, triptychs and grids. Super versatile.

urbanVINE 3.4 | reflect 6.4 | reflect 6.3 | grow 5.1 c Heather Hancock

encode 3.19 | reflect 6.4 | encode 3.40 | reflect 5.1

rendering REFLECT 6.5 | ENCODE 3.18 | ENCODE 3.40 each 20” x 20” glass inlay w concrete textures c Heather Hancock 2023

encode 3.14 | reflect 6.3 | urbanVINE 3.4 | encode 3.8 c Heather Hancock

encode 3.22 | Reflect6.3 | encode3.21 | encode 3.40 c Heather Hancock

grow 5.1 | reflect 6.4 | encode 3.39 | encode 3.8 c Heather Hancock

urbanVINE 3.4 | reflect 5.1 | reflect 6.4 | encode 3.40 c Heather Hancock

VISTA: grassland

January 31, 2024

This project started a couple of years ago as part of planning for a new construction healthcare facility. The clients wanted a contemporary approach to landscape. Something for a 2 story wall in a light filled atrium. The composition needed to be abstract and color-forward for viewing from a distance and then offer smaller details to engage viewers closer up. The panels will hang behind an architectural staircase giving viewers a chance to move past the work.

Color palettes were drawn directly from landscape imagery with vibrant blues to create sky. Apple, pine and fern greens create grassland. Playful circles create “edge foliage” and bring in additional hues.

Blues and greens are cooler in the distance. Small quantities of olive and lime green warm up the foreground. Iridescent glass was integrated across all panels to make a highly dynamic piece that will shift and shimmer as viewer move past the piece. An iconic black KY horse fence recedes into the distance. The built form creates a curving counterpoint to the graphic organic imagery.

An early design phase included a couple round of revisions and edits. A hand held sample helped ‘explain’ glass and concrete and light.

The fabrication phase took ~10 weeks start to finish with frames constructed first and then panels completed in pairs over the next 7 weeks.

Panels weigh between 41lbs and 45lbs (2.6 - 2.8 lbs PSF). Ordinarily I would install a metal cleat prior to thinsetting for a secure hanging. In this case, the installers want to connect the 2 pieces for hanging. Bolts were full integrated into the pieces for installers to connect to a backer board to hang vertical paired pieces.

Edges are a clean 1 3/16” anodized aluminum with a 1/8” metal outline on the face of the panel. I omitted the trim between the 2 vertically stacked panels for continuous imagery.

front face 18” trim edge | “ready to hang edged panel”

art for an Evanston dining room

January 26, 2024

Finally got in to take pix of this lovely hanging in an Evanston Airbnb near St Francis. A totally fab fresh space (for rent here: https://airbnb.com/h/historicsouthevanston).

Encode | each 20” x 20” glass inlay with concrete texture and paint c Heather Hancock 2024

Encode | 20” x 20” glass inlay with concrete texture and paint c Heather Hancock 2024

more about ENCODE

WIP | new VISTA: grassland in 14 panels

January 10, 2024

It’s been a busy 6 weeks in the studio working on a multi-panel 220SF lobby installation. 14 panels each 6.5’ h x 2.5’ w (~16SF) will be installed on a feature wall behind the reception desk and central architectural staircase in a new construction healthcare facility. I have 4 panels to finish with these lush layered greens.

WIP | VISTA: grassland 14 panels at 6.5’ x 2.5’ glass inlay with concrete c Heather Hancock 2023

rough snapshots of completed panels…taking shape!!! c Heather Hancock 2024

more of this in 2024

January 05, 2024

Looking back through 2023 projects to find the themes and ongoing questions…

URBAN RHYTHMS

beauty in the everyday
…clean line and repetition
…looking up perspectives
…shadow and light, surface and dimension
…information fragments
…nature + concrete

ENCODE 3.40 | REFLECT 6.3 | ENCODE 3.42 handcut glass + concrete + paint each 20” x 20” c Heather Hancock 2023

REFLECT 4.8 triptych | hand cut glass + concrete each 32”x32” c Heather Hancock 2023

REFLECT 4.9 urban rhythm diptych | hand cut glass + concrete each 2.5’ x 2’ c Heather Hancock 2023

NATURE with a GRAPHIC TWIST

nature through an ‘urban lens’
…approaching nature’s infinite complexity using urban inspired clean line and hard edges

Grow 5.1 hand cut glass + concrete + paint 20” x 20” c Heather Hancock 2023

urbanVine hand cut glass + concrete + paint 5@2’x2’ c Heather Hancock 2023

glasswall 01 hand cut glass + concrete + paint 4’x1.5’ c Heather Hancock 2023

VISTAS with TEXTURE + SHIMMER

new ideas for big views. landscapes and cityscapes.
…foregrounding tiny things against monumental things
…painted backgrounds
…bold contrasts in texture and shine

VISTA: CO hand cut glass + concrete + paint 2 @ 4’ x 2’ c Heather Hancock 2023

VISTA: Chicago hand cut glass + concrete + paint 3 @ 4’x2.5’ c Heather Hancock 2023

VISTA: prairie hand cut glass + concrete + paint 2.5’ x 5.5’ c Heather Hancock 2023

mood board

December 29, 2023

A recent RFQ called for a mood board …and it was super fun to pull together inspo and relevant sketches. I’m going to make use of this format this year. New relationships and directions always emerge from pulling together inspo and sketches and art pieces. Also. This RFQ reminded me that I really want to see work fabricated in other materials and formats. Step one is cutting in paper + vinyl as a quick way to test new ideas.

urbanVines installed in healthcare setting

December 22, 2023

Loved getting installation images of new grouping of urbanVine pieces. Geometric foliage in crisp white glass pops against the weathered urban concrete background with layering and textures, etching and embossing. A subtle touch of color was worked into this series. Every time I come back to this it evolves in a good a new way.

urbanVine 4.2 5@ 2’ x 2’ glass inlay, concrete, paint c Heather Hancock 2023

detail | urbanVine 5@24”x24” hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2023

urbanVine 4.2 5@ 2’ x 2’ glass inlay, concrete, paint c Heather Hancock 2023 photo credit Forrest Scott

REFLECT 4.9 urban rhythm

November 17, 2023

This REFLECT diptych is installed in a Manhattan financial services firm, serving as a videoconference background for the executive team. I love it opposite this black and white photography…urban rhythm meets nature’s complexity.

REFLECT 4.9 urban rhythm 2.5’ x 2’ hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2023 photo credit Forrest Scott

REFLECT 4.9 urban rhythm 2.5’ x 2’ hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2023

detail REFLECT 4.9 urban rhythm 2.5’ x 2’ hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2023

VISTA: prairie

November 16, 2023

Thrilled to get images of VISTA: prairie hanging in a pediatric lounge in a midwestern hospital.

The art consultant on this project provided a color palette for the piece. We worked back and forth to figure out how to incorporate more green into the foreground. Vertical glass stringer combined with painted topography in the foreground was approved by the client.

VISTA: prairie 5.5’x2’ hand cut glass + concrete + paint c Heather Hancock 2023 photo credit: TOC Artwork

detail | glass stringer and painted topography

detail VISTA: prairie 5.5’x2’ hand cut glass + concrete + paint c Heather Hancock 2023

VISTA: prairie 5.5’x2’ hand cut glass + concrete + paint c Heather Hancock 2023

new cityscape close to home: VISTA Chicago

November 08, 2023

VISTA: Chicago is installed in a downtown conference room. Here’s a quick overview of the progression from preliminary sketch to final pieces.

started from this drawing of Chi skyline.

inspo image. Chi skyline museum campus view

inspo image. had to double check that there was “green” in the view from museum campus. yep. trees…and grass.

VISTA: Chicago 3@4’x2.5’ hand cut glass + concrete c Heather Hancock 2023

headed for install | NYC

November 07, 2023

October’s been busy busy. Catching up on pix. This new diptych is heading for install in NYC.

Reflect 4.9 a+b urban rhythm 2.5’x 2’ hand cut glass and concrete c Heather Hancock 2023

detail Reflect 4.9 a+b urban rhythm 2.5’x 2’ hand cut glass and concrete c Heather Hancock 2023

recent pix | REFLECT commission Cadence

October 27, 2023

Love getting to see pieces installed. This is a very special architect designed home. This piece was created specifically for this wall.

Reflect 4.6 Cadence 5’ x 2.5’ c Heather Hancock

multi panel pieces

October 24, 2023

Getting all set up to start in on multi-panel landscape project

Looking forward to working with color again. Blues and greens…with some accents in ambers. Love the vibrancy of glass in these hues.

A large lobby space with several architectural interruptions called for a color forward approach to graphic landscape imagery. Discrete vertically stacked panels will feature glass strips and shimmering iridescent circles, evoking sky and land. Continuity between panels is seen with an iconic fence and topography.