Jeff Hausen Thoughfully Creative Art & Illustration

My son, Jeff Hausen, has developed a design and art style that is completely different from my own, and that contrast has always been something I value and admire. While my work often draws from place, history, and familiar visual narratives, Jeff’s approach is far more interpretive, with intellectual concepts and ideas driving the design process. His work is thoughtful and layered, often inviting the viewer to slow down, consider symbolism, and engage with the underlying meaning rather than just the surface image.

Jeff honed this distinctive approach during his years at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he studied and refined both his technical skills and conceptual thinking. After graduating, we had the opportunity to work together professionally, forming RuffHaus Design Studio. That collaboration was a rewarding creative chapter for both of us. We partnered on a handful of client projects, blending our different perspectives and learning how two very different visual voices could coexist within the same studio. Those projects reinforced the idea that strong design can take many forms, and that diversity of approach often leads to more interesting results.

Eventually, Jeff returned to the San Francisco Bay Area to pursue his own professional path. There, he focused on building a career, getting married, starting a family, and shaping a creative lifestyle that balanced personal and professional goals. Although our day-to-day collaboration ended, our shared appreciation for art and design never did.

One place where our creative paths continue to intersect is the Mountain Mandarin Festival. Each year, Jeff joins me at the festival, bringing with him fresh, mandarin-inspired artwork that reflects both the event and his evolving artistic vision. His annual contributions have become something people look forward to, as they showcase new ideas and interpretations year after year. For me, sharing that space with my son is especially meaningful. It’s a chance to celebrate not only the festival and its community, but also the ongoing evolution of creativity across generations, shaped by different experiences, ideas, and ways of seeing the world.