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Growing up, Phil Hansen knew he wanted to be an artist.

Hansen eventually went to a neurologist, looking for a solution. Instead, he found out he had permanent nerve damage in his hand. But the neurologist said something that stuck with Hansen: "Maybe you should embrace it instead of fighting it."

Hansen realized he was actually becoming more creative 

 of his limitations. So he started creating new ones. For six months he worked on a series called "Art Happening" in which every week he would pick a news story and then create a work of art responding to the story within the next couple of days. Then there was his series "Goodbye Art" where for a year he destroyed every work of art he made once it was complete. Hansen says it forced him to stop coveting the end result.

Hansen says he became much more experimental, and found new ways to make art. One of his more popular projects on YouTube is his portrait of Jimi Hendrix made out of 7000 matches.

Now Hansen is sharing his creativity with anyone who wants a boost of their own. He's created 

a website of ideas for making art with everyday objects

that provides instructions and templates for dozens of projects.

Hansen says people are often encouraged to "think outside the box" - but it's also important to be extremely creative 

Hansen says his hope is that "Tattoo A Banana" will encourage more people to make art, enjoy it, and bring creativity into all aspects of their lives.

Arts and Culture

State of the Arts Blog

Marianne Combs

Author

When the artist suffered permanent nerve damage to his hand, he didn't let it get in the way of his art. Now he's more creative than ever.

Phil Hansen knows you can be more creative

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