Hello,
I'm Hanna.
It's nice to
meet you!
My artistic journey began simply, with little doodles in the margins of my homework assignments. Like most people, I wasn’t very good at art right away. But I enjoyed it, and that’s what kept me motivated to keep going until I got better.
Like most people, I wasn’t very good at art right away. But I enjoyed it, and that’s what kept me motivated to keep going until I got better.
The “I want to be an artist” moment came around 2012. I was deep into the "Warrior Cats" book franchise and had devoured the entire series (a whopping 42 books). I found myself searching the internet for others like me who also had a love for the series (most kids my age at school weren’t super into books about talking cats).
However, through YouTube and Instagram I not only discovered niches dedicated to all things "Warrior Cats”, but I also found so many talented artists who had valuable insight and tips on how to get better at drawing. The online fanart community became my new source of inspiration and was the first stepping stone to my life as an artist.
Watching artists worldwide bring characters to life fueled my desire to contribute. And so, I started creating my own fanart, and I made my very own Warrior Cats fanart account on Instagram: @leafcloud.draws. What started as me posting into the void soon evolved into a small community of fellow Warrior Cats enthusiasts and fellow young artists. We would talk about our favorite characters, shared laughs over fan-made videos and collectively admired our favorite artists. The experience was transformative – not only did I find people to share my passion with, but I also gained a supportive community that validated and uplifted my artistic journey.
Fast forward to spring 2016: I was a sophomore at Metropolitan Arts Insitute, an arts high school in downtown Phoenix, and my family had gifted me my very own laptop. I was ecstatic; all these years I had been drawn to the digital art world but never had a way to try it out myself, until now. I bought myself a Wacom drawing tablet almost immediately. It was a highly praised drawing tool that was used by beginners and professionals alike, and I had been watching other artists use Wacom tablets for years. There was a definite learning curve since there’s no screen on the tablet, so I had to get good at eye-hand coordination first. But with time and practice, it became second nature.
Simultaneously, my education at Metro High School provided me with invaluable skills and experience in the fundamentals of art. It was there that I gained insights into form and value, learning how to effectively apply them across various mediums, including canvas, paper, block prints and photography. While initially drawn to the school for its exceptional painting and illustration classes, I unexpectedly developed a passion for unconventional mediums like printmaking and mixed media through the classes I was taking.
Around this time, a new online fandom emerged from the newly released series "Voltron: Legendary Defender." Creating Voltron fanart marked my entrance into the digital art world. As I started creating fanart for the Voltron fandom, my Instagram account, now rebranded as @leafydraws, experienced rapid growth.
For two years, the Voltron fandom became my artistic home. It wasn't just about drawing characters; it was about forming connections and overcoming my self-doubts. The community I built provided unwavering support, reminding me that I was a great artist in my own right even when I compared myself to artists much more seasoned and skilled than I was. Having that validation boosted by confidence which enabled me to try new things, and I was proud of the growth I saw over that two year period.
After the Voltron fandom died out around 2019, I searched for new inspiration from new animes and shows. However, I saw myself lose interest in the fandom culture over time, and with it my motivation to keep drawing dwindled. I was also simultaneously taking commissions, and took on too much to the point where I didn’t even enjoy drawing anymore. I took a break from my @leafydraws account, one that ended up being permanent. I just wasn’t a “fanart creator” anymore. There were other things I was interested in creating, like acrylic and oil painting and mixed media, and those types of pieces just weren’t something my fans were interested in.
So I left the fanart community behind, took a year-long break, and then started to create art for myself. Things I was interested in making, for no purpose other than it’s what I wanted to do. I was no longer using the @leafydraws account so I kept these pieces private, showing them only to my friends and family.
The subsequent two years showed an exponential improvement in my skills, and for the first time I felt confident in my work not because someone told me I was talented, but because I believed I was (as cheesy as that sounds). Today, while I'm not nearly as involved in fandoms like I used to be, I still find joy in drawing some of my favorite characters from miscellaneous fandoms. I find myself now consolidating my artistic interests into a harmonious blend, creating whatever feels right to me
My goal now extends far beyond what I’m currently capable of. There are still so many skills I want to learn, different mediums I want to try and different opportunities I’d like to experience (painting a mural is definitely on that bucket list).
So here's to a future of endless possibilities! A future where I to continue to evolve as an artist, and I’m always learning new things. Thanks again for taking the time to read a little bit about my journey <3
Love,
Hanna
My artistic journey began simply, with little doodles in the margins of my homework assignments.
However, through YouTube and Instagram I not only discovered niches dedicated to all things "Warrior Cats”, but I also found so many talented artists who had valuable insight and tips on how to get better at drawing. The online fanart community became my new source of inspiration and was the first stepping stone to my life as an artist.
Watching artists worldwide bring characters to life fueled my desire to contribute. And so, I started creating my own fanart, and I made my very own Warrior Cats fanart account on Instagram: @leafcloud.draws. What started as me posting into the void soon evolved into a small community of fellow Warrior Cats enthusiasts and fellow young artists. We would talk about our favorite characters, shared laughs over fan-made videos and collectively admired our favorite artists. The experience was transformative – not only did I find people to share my passion with, but I also gained a supportive community that validated and uplifted my artistic journey.
Fast forward to spring 2016: I was a sophomore at Metropolitan Arts Insitute, an arts high school in downtown Phoenix, and my family had gifted me my very own laptop. I was ecstatic; all these years I had been drawn to the digital art world but never had a way to try it out myself, until now. I bought myself a Wacom drawing tablet almost immediately. It was a highly praised drawing tool that was used by beginners and professionals alike, and I had been watching other artists use Wacom tablets for years. There was a definite learning curve since there’s no screen on the tablet, so I had to get good at eye-hand coordination first. But with time and practice, it became second nature.
Simultaneously, my education at Metro High School provided me with invaluable skills and experience in the fundamentals of art. It was there that I gained insights into form and value, learning how to effectively apply them across various mediums, including canvas, paper, block prints and photography. While initially drawn to the school for its exceptional painting and illustration classes, I unexpectedly developed a passion for unconventional mediums like printmaking and mixed media through the classes I was taking.
Around this time, a new online fandom emerged from the newly released series "Voltron: Legendary Defender." Creating Voltron fanart marked my entrance into the digital art world. As I started creating fanart for the Voltron fandom, my Instagram account, now rebranded as @leafydraws, experienced rapid growth.
For two years, the Voltron fandom became my artistic home. It wasn't just about drawing characters; it was about forming connections and overcoming my self-doubts. The community I built provided unwavering support, reminding me that I was a great artist in my own right even when I compared myself to artists much more seasoned and skilled than I was. Having that validation boosted by confidence which enabled me to try new things, and I was proud of the growth I saw over that two year period.
After the Voltron fandom died out around 2019, I searched for new inspiration from new animes and shows. However, I saw myself lose interest in the fandom culture over time, and with it my motivation to keep drawing dwindled. I was also simultaneously taking commissions, and took on too much to the point where I didn’t even enjoy drawing anymore. I took a break from my @leafydraws account, one that ended up being permanent. I just wasn’t a “fanart creator” anymore. There were other things I was interested in creating, like acrylic and oil painting and mixed media, and those types of pieces just weren’t something my fans were interested in.
So I left the fanart community behind, took a year-long break, and then started to create art for myself. Things I was interested in making, for no purpose other than it’s what I wanted to do. I was no longer using the @leafydraws account so I kept these pieces private, showing them only to my friends and family.
The subsequent two years showed an exponential improvement in my skills, and for the first time I felt confident in my work not because someone told me I was talented, but because I believed I was (as cheesy as that sounds). Today, while I'm not nearly as involved in fandoms like I used to be, I still find joy in drawing some of my favorite characters from miscellaneous fandoms. I find myself now consolidating my artistic interests into a harmonious blend, creating whatever feels right to me
My goal now extends far beyond what I’m currently capable of. There are still so many skills I want to learn, different mediums I want to try and different opportunities I’d like to experience (painting a mural is definitely on that bucket list).
So here's to a future of endless possibilities! A future where I continue to evolve as an artist, and I’m always learning new things. Thanks again for taking the time to read a little bit about my journey <3
Love,
Hanna
The “I want to be an artist” moment came around 2012. I was deep into the "Warrior Cats" book franchise and had devoured the entire series, a whopping 42 books (obsessed much?) I found myself searching the internet for others like me who also had a love for the series (most kids my age at school weren’t super into books about talking cats).
The “I want to be an artist” moment came around 2012. I was deep into the "Warrior Cats" book franchise and had devoured the entire series, a whopping 42 books (obsessed much?) I found myself searching the internet for others like me who also had a love for the series (most kids my age at school weren’t super into books about talking cats).
However, through YouTube and Instagram I not only discovered niches dedicated to all things "Warrior Cats”, but I also found so many talented artists who had valuable insight and tips on how to get better at drawing. The online fanart community became my new source of inspiration and was the first stepping stone to my life as an artist.
Watching artists worldwide bring characters to life fueled my desire to contribute. And so, I started creating my own fanart, and I made my very own Warrior Cats fanart account on Instagram: @leafcloud.draws. What started as me posting into the void soon evolved into a small community of fellow Warrior Cats enthusiasts and fellow young artists. We would talk about our favorite characters, shared laughs over fan-made videos and collectively admired our favorite artists. The experience was transformative – not only did I find people to share my passion with, but I also gained a supportive community that validated and uplifted my artistic journey.
Fast forward to spring 2016: I was a sophomore at Metropolitan Arts Insitute, an arts high school in downtown Phoenix, and my family had gifted me my very own laptop. I was ecstatic; all these years I had been drawn to the digital art world but never had a way to try it out myself, until now. I bought myself a Wacom drawing tablet almost immediately. It was a highly praised drawing tool that was used by beginners and professionals alike, and I had been watching other artists use Wacom tablets for years. There was a definite learning curve since there’s no screen on the tablet, so I had to get good at eye-hand coordination first. But with time and practice, it became second nature.
Simultaneously, my education at Metro High School provided me with invaluable skills and experience in the fundamentals of art. It was there that I gained insights into form and value, learning how to effectively apply them across various mediums, including canvas, paper, block prints and photography. While initially drawn to the school for its exceptional painting and illustration classes, I unexpectedly developed a passion for unconventional mediums like printmaking and mixed media through the classes I was taking.
Around this time, a new online fandom emerged from the newly released series "Voltron: Legendary Defender." Creating Voltron fanart marked my entrance into the digital art world. As I started creating fanart for the Voltron fandom, my Instagram account, now rebranded as @leafydraws, experienced rapid growth.
For two years, the Voltron fandom became my artistic home. It wasn't just about drawing characters; it was about forming connections and overcoming my self-doubts. The community I built provided unwavering support, reminding me that I was a great artist in my own right even when I compared myself to artists much more seasoned and skilled than I was. Having that validation boosted by confidence which enabled me to try new things, and I was proud of the growth I saw over that two year period.
After the Voltron fandom died out around 2019, I searched for new inspiration from new animes and shows. However, I saw myself lose interest in the fandom culture over time, and with it my motivation to keep drawing dwindled. I was also simultaneously taking commissions, and took on too much to the point where I didn’t even enjoy drawing anymore. I took a break from my @leafydraws account, one that ended up being permanent. I just wasn’t a “fanart creator” anymore. There were other things I was interested in creating, like acrylic and oil painting and mixed media, and those types of pieces just weren’t something my fans were interested in.
So I left the fanart community behind, took a year-long break, and then started to create art for myself. Things I was interested in making, for no purpose other than it’s what I wanted to do. I was no longer using the @leafydraws account so I kept these pieces private, showing them only to my friends and family.
The subsequent two years showed an exponential improvement in my skills, and for the first time I felt confident in my work not because someone told me I was talented, but because I believed I was (as cheesy as that sounds). Today, while I'm not nearly as involved in fandoms like I used to be, I still find joy in drawing some of my favorite characters from miscellaneous fandoms. I find myself now consolidating my artistic interests into a harmonious blend, creating whatever feels right to me
My goal now extends far beyond what I’m currently capable of. There are still so many skills I want to learn, different mediums I want to try and different opportunities I’d like to experience (painting a mural is definitely on that bucket list).
So here's to a future of endless possibilities! A future where I continue to evolve as an artist, and I’m always learning new things. Thanks again for taking the time to read a little bit about my journey <3
Love,
Hanna