Hank’s Coffee Station
Hank — Oil on Canvas Panel, 11 x 14 in
Hank was the beloved dog who inspired Hanks Coffee Station. He was a cherished member of the family and a true presence in the café. I created this oil portrait to honor his proud and poised spirit as well as the love behind the business. The owners are deeply involved in the day-to-day of the café, often working behind the counter themselves, which gives the shop a genuine ma-and-pa feel. The portrait was designed to complement the aesthetic of the café and is placed on the gallery wall where Hank faces the rest of the shop. I wanted to capture his unique soul with fine art techniques, celebrating him as both a pet and a symbol of the warmth and care the owners bring to their community. This remains one of my proudest works, and it was a defining moment for me in pet portraiture when I saw the joy and honesty in their reaction to the unveiling.
Hanks Coffee Station Illustrations
I created a series of twenty illustrations for Hanks Coffee Station, capturing the character and history of the café. The series includes Hank, the beloved dog who inspired the shop, as well as icons and elements meaningful to the owners, such as their grandmother’s sewing machine and the handmade curtains she created for the café. Each illustration began as a sketch on paper and was then redrawn in Procreate to achieve a clean, book-illustration style. The project allowed me to explore storytelling through small, detailed compositions while reflecting the warmth, personality, and ma-and-pa charm of the shop.
Live Drawing Events
I had the opportunity to participate in several live drawing events at Hanks Coffee Station, bringing art directly to the café community. These events included live tote bag drawing and watercolor postcard painting, allowing me to create custom pieces in real time for visitors. Working in this interactive setting was both fun and challenging, and it gave me a chance to connect with people while celebrating the café’s unique personality. Each event captured the energy of the space and the joy of art-making in a communal environment.
