About

About Lake Effect Studios

The name comes from lake effect snow. If you grew up near Lake Ontario, you know how it goes. A storm rolls off the lake out of nowhere, buries everything, then leaves the world quiet, bright and still. All force, then calm. That's how the work gets made here, too.

Curiosity

Hanna Arnold at age two, blowing bubbles outdoors — Hanna Arnold, age two, already in the studio.

Hanna grew up outside Rochester, New York, where the winters are long and gray. This was one of those bright summer days Rochester saves up all year for, and she was deep in an experiment with a bottle of bubbles. Blow one, watch the light bend across it, see it disappear, try again. The tools have changed since then, from brushes to video cameras to watercolor cards, but the habit hasn't. Notice something small, then make something from it.

Design

Hanna received her MFA in painting, then pushed her practice off the canvas into digital video and installation art. Teaching at several universities came next, followed by years at global companies including The LEGO Group, Schneider Electric and BAE Systems, getting creative, IT and marketing teams to actually work together. It's not the usual path for a painter, but it taught her something most artists learn the hard way. A good idea only matters if it can get out into the world. So every piece here starts with a feeling. Painting gives it a shape, and downloads, cards and gifts let it travel.

Delight

Today the studio is based in Lowell, Massachusetts, just north of Boston, making original watercolors, printable digital art and a growing gift line, from hand-painted watercolor cards to the Believer set, coming soon. Thoughtfully made, easy to bring home, and something you'll actually enjoy owning.

We're launching in stages. Want to see the first pieces before anyone else? Get on the list.