Check out David “Habbenink” Habben’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to David “Habbenink” Habben.

David, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I come from a mixed background of artistic influences and education that adds up to an aesthetic that straddles the line between traditional illustration, graphic design, and contemporary gallery art. I was fortunate to have the influence of a librarian mother, who instilled in me the value of narrative illustration work, and an excellent high school teacher who really let me explore the art world. That continued through undergraduate work at Boise State University and then as a transfer student to Brigham Young University. After a decade of freelance illustration, design, and gallery work, I returned to school for an MFA at The University of Utah. Following graduate school, I was hired as an Asst. Prof. of Illustration at Brigham Young University where I try to share my varied experience with the rising generation of artists and illustrators.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My work continues to be spread out in a few different areas, but the longer I work, the processes for each of them is beginning to blend more than previously. I really enjoy the directness of working with ink and using the line to create texture and shape. More recently, I’ve been creating work that it a blend of large brush ink abstraction and graphic digital elements. Each piece is made with a certain amount of immediacy that requires a responsive approach to creating the composition. I hope is that regardless of the level of abstraction or narrative elements, people will view my work is a sense of whimsy and wonder. I want to provide a vision of something different and unusual, but still approachable and able to start a new inner and outer dialogue.

How can artists connect with other artists?
I think its a mistake for artists to confuse online or social media interaction with a real artistic community or friendship. Every city has a place where artists can meet and talk to each other. I believe the more real relationships you can make time for, the better your mental health will be and the will translate to better, more productive, art making. That was in large part my reason for going back to school and getting into academia.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The easiest place to see my work is online: https://habbenink.com/

Instagram: @HABBENINK Illustration

Currently, my work is also up in the Springville Museum of Art in Springville, Utah and the Church History Museum in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I do sell prints through my Society6 shop (https://society6.com/habbenink) and will also print work directly if people contact me through my website.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.habbenink.com
• Email: hello@habbenink.com
• Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/habbenink/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/habbenink

Image Credit:
©HABBENINK.

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.