For the jeweler turned artist, bringing newness into the Thrift Studio mix was a top priority.
Artist Hannah Brown recalls the first year she first donated one of her paintings to Thrift Studio. “It was in 2020, just before COVID hit — only a couple of weeks before everything shut down. I had recently shifted my focus from jewelry to art and wanted to explore how I could get involved, meet other artists, and support the community.”
The decision would prove to be a pivotal one, personally and professionally. “Teaming up with Dwell with Dignity was not only a way to feel good about giving back — it also resulted in quite a few commissions and sales, which, for me as an artist, has been a win-win.”
Brown was thrilled when the organization asked her to be Art Chair this year. “It was an opportunity to introduce new people to Dwell and its mission.” In the meantime, she’s gotten to really understand how the charity works with families transitioning out of homelessness. “It’s so true that when you feel good in a space, how much better you feel. Helping a family get back on their feet is like the cherry on top.”
The upcoming Thrift Studio will feature a wide range of styles from this year’s featured artists — abstracts, landscapes, faces and portraits. “It’s really interesting to step out of your world and see how everyone’s minds work,” she said. “Some of the artists are further along in their careers, others do it more as a hobby. It’s just a great group of people who want to contribute to something meaningful.”
You can instantly see the influence 11 years in the jewelry business has had on Hannah’s work. “Part of my job, which I loved, was doing all the hand sketches for clients.” As a result, she tends to paint more realistically.
Hannah’s 2025 donation “Jewels of the Orchard” is a stylistic work combining digital photography and oil on canvas. “This painting reflects my fascination of nature and appreciation for craftsmanship. I’m trying to make viewers see that these tiny little creatures are just as special as diamonds.”
Few people realize how much thought goes into each work. “Creating a visual kind of poetry is a process. I try to make something look really beautiful from a distance, but then as you engage more, you see something a little bit odd like a jeweled bug.”
Among her favorites: “Dear Weed,” commemorating her first summer with her son. “It was a slow, sweet time. We spent hours outside picking weeds.” A hand with a balloon dons a bejeweled snake bracelet which says, “I whispered to the weeds.”
See “Jewels of the Orchard” and the complete array of featured works at the upcoming Thrift Studio, April 4 – May 3, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; 1833 E. Levee St., Dallas, Texas 75207.
