HANNAH’S PERSPECTIVE

I asked Hannah to give her perspective on our efforts together for the book. This is some of what she wrote:

Craig Pursley and I met at a fortuitous crossroads. I was working at a small theater in Vermont. While I spent my days welcoming patrons to wonderful shows, I was missing a certain element of creativity and drama in my own life. Craig and his wife, Julie, came early to see an art exhibit before a show. When I looked up from behind my desk, Julie had the biggest smile and Craig looked like a cowboy pulled straight from a wild west film! I was immediately intrigued. After some chatting, Craig gave me his card, asking me to check out his work online and let him know if I was interested in collaborating as a model for his paintings. He even provided references I could contact for an honest review of prior models’ experiences. I mulled over the idea. Should I stay comfortably behind a desk behind the scenes or try out being the actress in my own story through the world of modeling? I’m so glad I picked up that card! Every time I crossed over the covered bridge near his home and studio in New Hampshire it was like going back in time and stepping into other worlds. The costumes, props, settings, music and stories that Craig provided for each shoot were always filled with a rich context that enabled me to slip completely into character. Over the years working with Craig, I’ve always felt safe and in control. Though I’ve branched out in modeling since then, I’ve never had a collaboration so firmly rooted in mutual consent and creative partnership. It’s rare to find an artist so talented who still puts the person before the art. It makes the experience of creation just as meaningful as the final piece.