Life & Work with Hannah Newman of Santa Monica

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Newman.

Hi Hannah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’m a full-time wood burning and tattoo artist in Los Angeles. That still feels a little surreal to say, since I never set out to become a visual artist. I originally worked in the medical field and did social work. It wasn’t until about ten years ago when I was living in Alaska that I picked up a cheap wood burner on a whim and started experimenting. I fell in love immediately. It was the first time that making art felt intuitive for me, and I loved the challenge of focusing on such an underutilized tool.

I spent a few years honing my pyrography skills on wood scraps and pre-made craft boards before realizing I needed to learn some actual woodworking to take things to the next level. I was lucky enough to become part of a woodworking community in Denver, where I studied and eventually taught fine woodworking techniques (furniture building, carving, wood turning, etc.) while continuing to develop my pyrography and finding ways to combine the different skill sets.

Now based in Los Angeles, my work is on display at the wonderful artist co-op Ten Women Gallery in Santa Monica, and I’ve been exploring a new creative challenge in tattooing! I recently completed my apprenticeship at The Apollo Tattoo Studio in Santa Monica, and I work there about 25 hours a week as a junior artist. There’s a lot of overlap between tattooing and wood burning, and it’s been fascinating to see which techniques translate across wood and skin and which do not. I’m having a great time.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not particularly! The biggest struggle for me has been figuring things out without a roadmap. The other careers I’d considered had much more structure to them, which was definitely comforting (if constrictive). The scariest thing about choosing a career as an artist was that I had no idea what that career would look like, or how to achieve it. Making art is one thing, and then selling it, marketing yourself, and making that sustainable over decades is an entirely different thing.

It’s an ongoing struggle. 🙂

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a wood burning artist specializing in mixed-media pyrography, creating both large-scale wall pieces and smaller functional or decorative works that often incorporate woodworking techniques. I’m best known for my portrait-based work, especially pieces that merge realism with surreal, layered elements, using materials like string, gold leaf, and driftwood to build complex surfaces on wood.

In addition to my personal practice, I accept commissions—most frequently portraits of people and animals, but I also enjoy working with more open-ended or unconventional concepts.

What does success mean to you?
For me, success is being able to keep doing the work on my own terms and continuing to grow. It’s less about any specific milestone and more about having the freedom to evolve, take risks, and stay engaged in what I’m making.

If I can support myself through my work, stay curious, and keep moving forward, that’s success to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.hannahlnewman.com
• Instagram: @hannahlnewman

Image Credits
N/A, all mine