Life & Work with Hannah Vaughn

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

Hi Hannah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I credit my first counselor with much of my success today as an artist. It was her prompt during a session that led me to explore the visualization of mental health back in 2018.

Because of her, I created a 10-mixed media series entitled “The Face of Mental Health” where I sought to help those without mental health struggles visualize and stand in the shoes of those who battled it daily while also helping those with mental health struggles to feel seen and understood.

I continued to create mixed media collages, exploring other mediums, such as printmaking, illustration, and painting, before returning to my childhood roots in mixed media. While I still practice those others mediums, mixed media felt like one of the most natural ways to create and make sense of things.

Mixed media has afforded me the ability to create diverse work that is sometimes driven by aesthetics and other times inspired by stories and social causes.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Creating time for art is not always easy, especially with a full-time job. We live in a society that loves being busy, so intentionally carving out time to slow down and create feels counterintuitive to the culture of hustle & hurry we’re surrounded by.

Social media has made it more difficult to “make it” as an artist. Creating simply for the sake of creation is rare; there is pressure — whether internally and/or externally — to create art that fits the mainstream or pop culture in order to be seen by algorithms. I think finding my voice and style has been arduous because of the noise of social media. I have a desire for more people to connect with what I create, but I don’t want to lose myself to it either.

I’ve also found it challenging to connect with other creatives. The pandemic made that especially hard. I believe it’s important to be surrounded by people who will challenge the way you’ve always created in order to push the boundaries of your work and grow as an artist.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a sustainability artist who creates framed mixed media prints and canvases using found objects and recycled materials. Typically each of my collections highlights a theme or issue that I am passionate about. I strive to make art that is sustainable, beautiful and informative, or thought-provoking.

I am most proud of my collage work that explored mental health awareness. It is one of the best examples of my passions coming together to become one. With my art, I want people to connect with more than an aesthetically pleasing piece. I want viewers to see themselves, the world, and/or others more deeply.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
So much of an artist’s work is exploration. That’s why their style evolves over the course of their work. Picasso talked about this and described himself as a “painter without style.”

When I first read this, I deeply resonated with it. I am an artist exploring various mediums as I change and grow. Like other areas of life, we are not solely defined by one characteristic. Van Gogh once said: “I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say ‘he feels deeply, he feels tender.”

I hope that as my work continues to change and evolve like myself that people will always feel touched and loved and moved no matter what I create.

Pricing:

• My pieces range from $3 (cards) to $30 (prints) and $100+ for originals.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.hannahvaughngogh.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahvaughngogh/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannahvaughngogh
• Other: https://pin.it/4lyKf88

Image Credits
Sam Nichol