Like so many others, I’ve been creating things my whole life. When I was young I’d go into the woods and make things with sticks and clay. I loved exploring and letting my imagination run wild. But eventually the woods were replaced with houses. My interest turned inwards and I became more intellectual.

My first leap into visual art began in 2010. That was when I took my first drawing class and I realized I was fascinated with drawing and painting. I couldn’t remember anything else I had cared about so much before. I remember spending a whole day after school practicing drawing cubes. Every new leap I made in art skill came with excitement.

Through college, art and the creative life became more important to me than ever. In some ways it threw off the neat path into the sciences I had made for myself. I spent years finding connections between science and art, but my work didn’t want to stay in that box for long. I grew a lot in technical skill and I felt like I had split artistic identities.

I’d say my biggest turning point in the way I create art came from the new freedom (and confusion) I had after I graduated college. Not really having a purpose that went beyond a career, I began to reflect more on what art meant to me. I started to explore new, more expressive styles like Japanese ink painting. I connected with other artists in meaningful ways. I went through an explosion of creativity and made something almost every day. I felt like I finally found a voice of my own!

When I went to live in Japan for a while I had another breakthrough that shaped me as an artist. Being in a place where everything was new, I felt reawakened as an explorer. I’d take my camera and sketchbook with me on hikes up mountains, to Buddhist temples, and around the streets of Tokyo. I wanted my art to be inspired by my experiences and things I saw. I found a lot of joy in showing people the beauty I saw in the world. Art became a way of turning my own life into a work of art and adventure.

However, there were challenges too. For many years I faced a spiritual crisis — I was in and out of depression. When I was living in New Mexico I became so burnt out from art I put down my tools. I thought that was the end. I’m glad it wasn’t though. After six months I made some cautious steps into art again thanks to the encouragement of my friends and family. It taught me that my art needed to honor something I neglected: my connection to others.

Now I get inspired by endless sources: nature, man-made things, our own human form. I’m always curious about new and old styles of art. One day I’m learning about Saharan rock art, the next I’m studying 90’s design trends. I look forward to staying curious about the world and its beauty. I can’t wait to share it with you!

​- Chris Hanna