“Hannah, where do you get your artistic side from?”
“When did you know art was what you wanted to do with your life?”
I get asked these questions quite a bit so I’m here to answer just that. I grew up watching my great grandma, Bertha Wood draw the most detailed and beautiful colored pencil drawings (I miss her dearly). My mom is also very creative and crafty. I drew a lot growing up and even had an Easter drawing in the Indiana Gazette when I was just 8 years old.
Art was always something I enjoyed, but I didn’t think of it as something I’d pursue. After I finished 8th grade and was going to high school, my art teachers from middle school sent a letter home to my parents saying they thought I should continue art in high school. Surprised, I thought, “Well I might as well, I need electives anyway.”
In high school, I felt so behind in my art classes. I knew how to draw and paint, but I had never used shading or blending to capture detail before. I started to get the hang of it after my first two years, but my junior year I just couldn’t catch a break. I hated critique days because it was clear my pieces couldn’t compare to the others. I almost quit art entirely that year.
One of my art teachers critiqued one of my pieces in a way that felt very harsh. Now, I’m a very determined person. If I’m critiqued in such a way as that, I’m going to do everything I can to be better and prove that person wrong. Not in an arrogant way, but behind the scenes. And that’s exactly what I did. I thought, “Oh I’ll show you what Hannah Wood can do.”
I put my all into my art my senior year of high school and it certainly paid off. I loved critique days that year because I had improved so much. My pieces were right up there with the others. It was so exciting!
In the spring, a few of my pieces were displayed at the Indiana Mall along with art from students throughout Indiana County. My parents and I made our way to the middle of the mall one Saturday morning. I was just excited to have my art displayed, but as we walked over to the displays my mom said, “Oh Hannah!” with shock and excitement. I looked up and right beside my colored pencil drawing was a purple Best of Show ribbon. I couldn’t believe it!
I honestly can’t tell you specifically when I decided to pursue art as a career, but I knew that was what God was calling me to. I chose to major in art, focusing on graphic design.
Flash forward to the spring of my freshman year at IUP. I attended the Jubilee conference in Pittsburgh with Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) IUP. While thousands of students piled into the convention center I was not expecting to encounter God in the way I did.
Speakers Brian Tome, Andy Crouch, and Trip Lee spoke on Creation. A story I’ve heard many times as I grew up in a Christian home, but this time it was different. I never thought of God as creative until that moment. My mind was blown. That’s when I knew I was exactly where God wanted me to be. I knew He was calling me to glorify Him and show others Him through my art. The Creator of the universe and every living thing created me to create too. How cool is that!?
So there ya go. That’s my story of how I started art. I love how God works in ways we could never imagine and I’m leaning into that as I grow and continue His work in my life.
“You make all things work together
For my future and for my good
You make all things work together
For Your glory and for Your name
For my good, for my good
And when I doubt it, Lord, remind me
I’m wonderfully made
You’re an artist and a potter
I’m the canvas and the clay
And I know nothing has been wasted
No failure or mistake
You’re an artist and a potter
I’m the canvas and the clay”
Canvas and Clay – Pat Barrett