We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Hannah Goering a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hannah, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started painting about 10 years ago! Nothing serious. Nothing too crazy. Just drawing and painting in my sketchbook for fun and taking some art classes in middle and high school. I also fell in love with photography in high school. I wanted to be a photographer as a career. Things changed when I ended up going to college for Art Education and I took many painting and drawing classes where I learned to oil paint. Those classes taught mainly boring still life studies or figure studies — but what I wanted to do was abstract expressionism. I was highly inspired by Helen Frankenthaler and Jackson Pollock but not just what their art appeared to be visually, I was inspired by HOW they created their art. I took the most influential class of my college career – Abstract Expressionists. They created art in a way no one ever did before and to my eyes, it was the most beautiful and unique. Jackson Pollock would mix in whatever he wanted with his paints, he would really become the painting. Helen Frankenthaler would paint landscapes but how she was seeing them in her brain. Her paintings were really interesting for me to dissect and uncover. I wanted viewers to feel the same about my paintings. Ask questions, ponder and discover.

There was a transition phase when I purchased an iPad in 2022 – I started experimenting with digital artwork. I used my photographs as a starting point and then added colors and layers until I was pleased. Now I would say I am a painter and a digital artist. I create these digital artworks through Procreate on my iPad. It was a learning experience and I truly still do not know what I’m doing – but I love learning the process!

In addition to being an artist, I am also a teacher. I believe we are always learning. There is not a single step in my artistic journey that I would have wanted to speed up. I truly believe that I’ve had all my experiences at the appropriate time in my life for me. I’m constantly learning in my art and I hope that continues.

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

I am an artist/teacher and I’m originally from Nashville, Tennessee. I went to art school and painted a little for friends and family. I did a few commissions a month but definitely did not consider myself an “artist.” I even refused to sign my paintings because “I wasn’t a real artist.” I moved to Los Angeles in 2019, then down to San Diego in 2020. Once I felt settled, I began trying to grow a following with my art and paintings. First, I did a couple art shows here and there which weren’t very successful but I felt like I was getting some good experience in the San Diego art scene. It wasn’t until I did a market in April of 2022 that lit a fire beneath me! It was a market in Artist Alley in Oceanside with a lil gypsy shop called Mystic Soul Ritual Shop…I sold so many paintings, prints and anything else I had on my table that I made by hand. I met friends in the art community, I talked to people who enjoyed my paintings and I felt encouragement like no other. That was the start of my art career in San Diego and that was when I finally was able to call myself an Artist.

After my first market, I ended up finding several markets each month to participate in – then I felt confident enough to join the Ocean Beach farmers market. The Ocean Beach farmers market really gave me confidence in my work and business through meeting new clients/collectors and customers purchasing my artwork. It has been such a wild success and I can’t wait to see what else it brings!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part is seeing your artwork all together, like either a collection or just seeing your work as a family. There was nothing more rewarding than seeing all my work together and noticing my style or my favorite colors or favorite shapes. I feel like it brought me closer to understanding myself and why I make the art that I make. Before I looked at all my work together, I had no idea that I literally used the color pink every chance I could get – I didn’t realize that I use lots of circles as shapes in my work – I didn’t realize that I use abnormal, crooked lines until I saw all my work together. I am really interested in art therapy and I feel like seeing my artwork together can bring me closer to understanding my subconscious.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

First of all, BUY OUR ARTWORK! Or FOLLOW OUR INSTAGRAM PAGES! Or SHARE OUR POSTS! Or just TALK TO YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT US! Or if ya wanna you could COME TO OUR MAKERS MARKETS! Sorry for all the yelling, but there are so many ways to support artists and creatives that doesn’t even include spending money. Sharing our instagram posts is free advertisement for us and is a great way to spread the word about artists in the community. By doing this, you share our art with the entire instagram world – including potential buyers or collectors (which financially supports us!) By supporting artists, you don’t only help us pay our rent but you also give us the encouragement to keep creating!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahgooart/

Image Credits
Ty Fox Photo