Today we’d like to introduce you to Savannah Hamilton.
Hi Savannah, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m an animator, freelance painter, and gallery manager, navigating the creative industry through a blend of flexible roles, specialized skills, and a deep passion for visual storytelling.
I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Kansas City Art Institute, where I built a strong, versatile foundation in creative skills that translate across multiple mediums. I chose to focus my studies on animation, dedicating three years learning traditional animation principles and expanding my skill set across various techniques.
After graduation, I spent four seasons as a character animator on the Emmy Award–winning TV series “Archer” at Floyd County Productions. There, I honed my expertise in 2D puppet animation—bringing characters to life with believable facial expressions, physical motion, comedic timing, and dynamic camera movement to enhance the storytelling in each scene.
Alongside my education and animation career, I’ve worked as a freelance painter for over eight years—during school, between jobs, and full time at times. I’ve completed over 100 commissioned and original paintings, and I’ve developed an online shop selling prints. I grew my business organically by sharing my creative process on social media and building a personal brand across several platforms.
I also have a passion for digital illustration. One of the highlights of my career was winning the Adobe x Billie Eilish global art competition, where my digital design was selected as the grand prize winner. It was featured on her tour merchandise, showcased on concert screens, and displayed on a billboard at Coachella in 2022.
Currently, I manage part-time at an art gallery, Gallery Chimera, where I foster clear communication between artists and clients while overseeing daily operations. My role also includes helping curate shows and managing social media and advertising.
My creative career is constantly evolving, and working in this industry has taught me to fully embrace its ebb and flow. Whether I’m animating for television, painting commissions, illustrating digitally, or managing a gallery, I’ve learned that staying adaptable and open to new opportunities is essential. Every project, role, and challenge has helped shape me into a more versatile artist, and I’m excited to keep pushing my work forward—wherever the path leads next.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Navigating the creative industry has definitely been a journey full of ups and downs. During my time in the animation industry, working contract to contract came with its own set of challenges. It can be stressful not knowing whether the show you’re on will get renewed, and even if it is, there’s often a hiatus between seasons that can last up to three months. That kind of uncertainty can be tough, but with the right preparation and mindset, it’s manageable. During those gaps, I typically leaned more into my freelance painting business, using that time to focus on commissions and grow my audience.
In animation, a lot depends on timing—where society is at, the state of the economy, and now, the rise of AI, which is beginning to take a share of jobs in the field. Industry-wide layoffs and instability have made it especially difficult. Despite these challenges, I remain hopeful that I’ll find my way back into animation when the time is right. In the meantime, I’ve been focusing on other creative pursuits.
Freelance painting for the past eight years has also come with challenges. It has taken a long time to grow my audience by posting consistently on social media, which serves as my main form of advertisement. It’s been a slow build that’s required a lot of patience and persistence. In the beginning, I charged lower prices just to get my work out there. Over time, as the value of my art grew, I was able to raise my prices accordingly.
Developing a strong portfolio and refining my skills required long-term commitment and discipline. I’ve made mistakes—like spending countless hours on pieces I undercharged for—but I’ve learned how to manage my time so I can hit my desired hourly rate while painting.
Running my own business also means handling admin work such as communicating with clients, writing contracts, building my website, documenting artwork, and creating content. That’s pushed me to learn a lot about software, tech, and marketing.
At the end of the day, painting only makes up about half of what I do since running a freelance business involves a lot more behind the scenes. It’s a tough reality, but it becomes a lot more manageable – and even rewarding when you connect with others in similar situations. Sharing information, exchanging experiences, and staying open to learning from one another can make all the difference. I’m always refining how I operate, whether it’s improving how I package a painting or exploring different brands of paint. It’s an ongoing process, but it’s one I’m committed to for the long haul.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When it comes to freelance painting, I specialize in both acrylic and oil mediums. My subject matter varies widely—from portraits and landscapes to architecture and abstract pieces, but the common thread throughout my work is a strong attention to detail. I work best using photographic references, which allows me to capture accuracy while still bringing my own artistic interpretation to each piece. I’m always open to hearing a client’s vision and helping bring their ideas to life.
When someone submits a commission request, I provide a list of common canvas sizes and pricing options, along with an estimated timeline for completion. Once the painting is finished, I handle the packaging myself and ship it. Almost every piece I create also comes with a short process video I edit, showing the painting come to life step by step.
If you’re interested in commissioning a painting, you can use this link, [https://savannahhamilton.com/contact-me/] to get started. You’re also welcome to reach out via direct message on social media or by emailing me at savannahhamilton111@gmail.com.
In my animation career, I specialize in 2D animation and have the versatility to adapt to a wide range of styles. I’ve worked on everything from raunchy adult comedies, to wholesome children’s stories, to educational videos. During college, I also wrote and directed several narrative short animated films that were selected for multiple juried film festivals. While character animation has been my main focus over the years, I genuinely enjoy wearing many different hats within the animation pipeline, whether it’s storyboarding, background and character design, editing, or directing. I’ve fallen in love with the full scope of the animation process, and I’m always excited to explore new creative roles. I’m currently open to freelance animation commissions or collaborating with a team on larger projects. If you’re interested in working together, feel free to reach out via email: savannahhamilton111@gmail.com.
Beyond animation and painting, one of my favorite creative pursuits is designing artwork for musicians—whether it’s album covers, merchandise, or promotional visuals. Music and visual art have always gone hand in hand for me, and I love the opportunity to blend the two. I’d be excited to collaborate with more musicians in the future, much like I did for the Adobe x Billie Eilish competition in 2022.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is participating in the Arthritis Foundation’s “Art for Arthritis” program for three years. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis when I was 10 – an autoimmune disease I’ll be managing with medication for the rest of my life. “Art for Arthritis” is a fundraising initiative that pairs children and teens living with juvenile arthritis or other rheumatic diseases with professional artists to create collaborative artwork. The goal is to offer a creative outlet, build community, and turn a difficult diagnosis into something uplifting and empowering.
Each piece created through the program is sold at a live auction, with all proceeds supporting the Arthritis Foundation’s mission and research to find better treatments. Being part of this program gave me the chance to connect with other kids going through similar experiences, and the mentorship I received from the professional artists helped me develop my artistic skills early on. One of my pieces even sold at the live auction for between $3,000 and $4,000 – an unforgettable moment that made a lasting impact on me, and likely played a key role in shaping my artistic path.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://savannahhamilton.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savannah_sierra_art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Savannah-Hamilton-Art/100063580536740/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannah-hamilton-3b2689122/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@savannahhamilton3171
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@savannahsierra11
