Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Abigail Hohman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Abigail thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I think the topic of happiness as an artist or creative is a very complex one – in part because art is an incredibly emotional subject, one that is often layered in past memories, unspoken thoughts and dreams, and a yearning to express something from within. What may begin as something difficult is given life within your hands and is then laced with beauty and meaning, even more so when it’s shared with others and they, too, revel in the emotional experience of it.

Art is many things to me; my reprieve, my voice, my driving force, it is a solace for a grieving heart or an outlet for my immense excitement for life. To say that I am in a constant state of joy while being creative doesn’t feel realistic to me, because I am able to move through so many states of being while in my flow. To me, all of these things make being an artist one of the most gratifying vocations I could ever imagine.

During the course of my self employed journey, I have been crippled with fear and self doubt about my ability to continue supporting myself through my craft on multiple occasions. In my opinion, it caused more stress to worry about that possibility than to just create extra avenues of passive income or get a part time side job to help fund business costs, which really lowers the pressure. But addressing the root causes of those anxieties is equally as important, so I am sure to spend time reflecting on my fear of failure and my relationship with money so as my business and skills grow, so does my capacity for trust.

Of course, I think any creative occasionally thinks about what it would be like to have a stable career from time to time, but at the end of the day, I am ecstatic at the prospect of doing what I love every day of my life. So I will happily and gratefully accept the bumps I meet along this road.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Abbi, or Abigail, and I’m the hands and heart behind The Mystic Metalsmith – a one woman owned business local to Holly, Michigan. I’ve always been very passionate about art and nature, and as I grew into myself, it became increasingly clear that I wanted to pursue a non-traditional career. As a young woman, I bounced through various jobs I wasn’t passionate about until I was introduced to a branch of holistic health that really resonated with me and I decided to dedicate my time to studying it. I worked in the holistic health field for a number of years before jumping at the opportunity to begin selling my creations when I was laid off in the autumn of 2017, and I have yet to look back. I have shifted from selling wire wrap jewelry on etsy to operating my own website and selling my hand-crafted Sterling Silver adornment as well as seasonal, small batch herbal offerings and traveling to local craft shows where I connect with so many amazing people.

Part of the inspiration for my business was the absolutely astounding power of nature and how we are better off being deeply connected to it, so in my brand, I choose to not only create art inspired by nature, but also to use my background in herbalism to educate my community on the benefits of building kinship with what is growing around you. This is one of the things that makes my brand very niche, because I truly combine all of my passions and don’t limit myself to only sharing my craft so I can honestly say, no one else does what I do in the ways that I do.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think as a society, our general outlook on art is it’s nice to look at, but not necessary and not a real career. And existing in a capitalistic system, success feels very contingent on the amount of income you make, so I often hear my peers say things like “when I become a *real* artist/photographer” or feel shame disclosing that they have a part time job to support their small business.

In my humble opinion, creative expression is vital to human happiness. And not just the instagrammable art that gets thousands of likes, but also singing when you don’t think it sounds good or trying watercolors for the first time just for the fun of it.

Art. Does. Not. Need. To. Be. Good.
Or make you money.

Just take the photo. Paint the mountain. Play that new instrument. And don’t do it because it looks good, but because it feels good.

This is something that I have had to remind myself time and time again. I have been self employed for 6 years now and that looks different almost every year, yet the constant is that I continue making things with my hands and everything else follows.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Growing up as an artistic child, much of my life has been driven by a desire to express myself in a way can be captured and translated to others. That motivation really changed over the years as I did, a pivotal point on my journey was when I was 13 or 14 and I received a family heirloom from my great grandmother. I had never met her, and yet I was given a piece of her that she wore and cherished and it could be enjoyed by me decades later, and that felt really meaningful to me. That experience planted a seed within me that took root and blossomed, bringing a passion of capturing that timeless feel into all of my work.

If treasured and treated well, the artisinal jewelry that I craft will last lifetimes – and that comes with a responsibility I take seriously. So much thought, intention, love, and care goes into all of my creations with hopes that it is felt by not only you, but anyone else who may be handed down that heirloom in the future.

From the ethical sourcing of my gemstones and precious metals to the music and state of mind I am enveloped in while in my creative flow, I aim to bring that same level of care and attention to detail to everything I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: MysticMetalsmith.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/themysticmetalsmith
• Facebook: Facebook.com/themysticmetalsmith

Image Credits
@ColleenBinghamPhotography