We’re looking forward to introducing you to Hanna Smith. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Hanna, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve really been enjoying playing piano. Even though I’m not professionally trained and I have no idea what I’m doing half the time, I love sitting down and belting out my favorite songs while messing around with chords. My grandma was a piano teacher, and every time I play, I think of her. I have some notes of her favorite piano song “Fur Elise” tattooed on my arm as an ode to her.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Hanna – rhymes with “fauna.” I am a graphic designer turned muralist. Out of college, with a BFA in graphic design from LCAD, I went on to work at an ad agency for two years as an art director. I felt deeply anxious, and on a whim, I booked a three month trip to Oaxaca, Mexico, where I volunteered with my illustration and design skills for local businesses. While in Mexico, I painted my first ever wall mural for free for a local restaurant, and I fell in love. I felt connected to my artistic passion in a way that I haven’t felt since I was a kid. From there, although everything inside of me was terrified, I quit my design job and decided to start from scratch and pursue murals full time. I blindly trusted myself and my gut was telling me what I needed to do. I still face anxiety today, but I am crafting a life for myself that I am truly proud of, true to my creative self.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My dad. He was the first supporter of my artwork and he encouraged me to make a living from art. When I was only 10 years old, he drove me around town to sell my drawings of dogs and cats to local shelters and veterinary clinics. I think I made $10 or $20, but I felt so accomplished and proud of myself. He saw that I had artistic talent since I was a kid, and he always pushed me to pursue art, even when it wasn’t the most financially “secure” option. These days, he helps me with my murals whenever I need him. He is so supportive and it’s because of him that I have the faith in myself to pursue art full time.
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Without going into too much detail, I had to make the extremely hard decision to go no-contact from my mother about a year and a half ago. There are a lot of traumatic things from my childhood that I’ve been processing through, and every single day I am learning more about myself and what happened to me. I’ve been healing through lots of therapy (EMDR is great), journaling, yoga and weight lifting, and having an incredible support group of friends and family. Somebody who has supported me and been a steady rock in my life throughout this healing journey is Angel, my incredible boyfriend. He has the biggest heart and the most patience of anybody I know.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I admire my boyfriend, Angel, for his character. He is so pure and such a fundamentally good person that it knocks me off my feet every single time. Even when he doesn’t have a lot of money, he tips very generously at restaurants and coffee shops because he empathizes with service workers. He is the first to rush to help a stranger in public if they dropped something. He cries at Puss and Boots and Kung Fu Panda 2 because of how touched he is by the story. He makes sure to show his parents how much he loves and appreciates them and isn’t afraid to hug his friends or give his dad a kiss on the cheek. I can go on and on about his character all day, but he is truly such an emotionally mature person and he keeps me so grounded.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I can finally say I am doing what I was born to do. I have shoved down my artistic passions for so long, believing they could only be a side hobby. Now, I am painting MURALS, which are so large and hands on and real. I never had any interest in painting murals before, because I genuinely thought something of that scope was so far beyond me that I couldn’t even dream of it. Heck, before I painted my first mural, I didn’t even paint! I only did digital art and used pencil in my sketchbook here and there. I truly believe that the universe or something bigger than me (fate?) brought murals into my life. Also, alongside the murals, I am now fully invested in making Youtube videos, which also feels like something I was born to do. I’ve always made videos since I was a kid, but I also stopped doing that once I got into the corporate world. Now, with each mural, I have so much fun filming and editing a YouTube video to show the process. I love making art, and telling stories about my art, so it’s perfect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hannaxart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannaxart/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hannaxart-mission-viejo
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hannaxart/videos
