Daily Inspiration: Meet Hanna Finch-Watson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hanna Finch-Watson

Hanna, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hi hi!! I’m Hanna, a lifelong artist whose creative journey began in childhood. From makeup and dance to photography, the arts have always been a way to escape, helping me navigate life’s crazy ups and downs. I started taking self-portraits at 14, often skipping school to find quiet moments of freedom through my art. At 16, I graduated early and moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to start fresh, where I began modeling and created an online series, *Hanwokeuplikethis*, focusing on self-expression through photography.

My love for art is inspired by many days on Tumblr, Polyvore, and my high school art teacher, Mrs. Louis, who encouraged me to embrace my individuality. While people often compared my looks to iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe or those like Miley Cyrus (even Farrah Fawcett when I was way too young), I strive to simply be seen as myself.

I’m also passionate about architecture and drawing floor plans for fun, though I’m still figuring out if it’s a possible career path one day. I’ve dreamed of designing and building a home for my family one day, inspired by my childhood love of Sims & Sims City (haha).

My life took a amazinggggg turn when I met my husband through an art connection. We now create together—he captures my vision through his photography, and I’ve recently found joy in directing our projects. As a mother, I’ve also rediscovered my love for painting and mixed media, and I cherish creating with my daughters every day. Social media has helped me connect with an amazing community, and I’m grateful for the opportunities it’s given me to share my work and story. At the heart of it all, I believe in designing my life little by little, trusting God, and creating art that speaks to me and the people I love.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has been BUMPYYYY but I am thankful for every bump and blessing I’ve encountered. You really don’t realize until you grow up and are in the midst of your “new life”, that so many childhood traumas will come to surface. I had to leave friends and family members behind, because they simply did not accept who I was as an artist or more importantly—just a person. My biggest struggle is probably supporting and encouraging myself even though my mother hardly has. If anyone reading this struggles with hard conversations, have them anyways! And if “your people” can’t meet you where you’re at, then they’re not your people! This world is plentiful!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work is a reflection of a lifelong passion for the arts and a journey of self-expression. From a young age, I was drawn to creative outlets like makeup, fashion, collaging, dance, and photography—each offering me a way to navigate the challenges I faced growing up. I began taking self-portraits at 14, staying home from school “sick”, so I could find just a moment of peace in my chaotic household. This was a crucial turning point for me, allowing me to find my voice in an otherwise turbulent world.

I’m perhaps best known for my online series *Hanwokeuplikethis*, where I used self-portraiture to explore identity in “unexpected places” (yes, literally a selfie on the toilet every morning, lol). This series was sparked by my shortest haircut ever, and my way of sharing a deeply personal journey of finding myself through imagery & storytelling. Over the years, I’ve expanded my creative work to include modeling, photography, directing, and mixed media—each medium allowing me to express different facets of my identity.

What I’m most proud of is how my creative work has evolved, especially as a mother and partner. My husband and I now collaborate on projects where I direct and he photographs, blending our skills to create art that’s meaningful to both of us. Working together has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career, and it feels full circle—starting from the solo act of taking self-portraits to now collaborating and sharing that vision with others.

What sets me apart is my ability to seamlessly blend various forms of art into my life and work. I’m not just a photographer or a director—I’m someone who embraces different creative outlets, from drawing to painting with my daughters, and mixing them all together!! I believe in designing my life in the same way I create my art—carefully, thoughtfully, and with intention. I strive to be authentic in everything I do, and that’s what I hope people see when they engage with me or my work.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I used to think that I had no luck if it wasn’t bad. For a long time, I saw life as a series of struggles and misfortunes, and I didn’t feel like luck was ever on my side. But looking back, I see that I’ve always had something far greater than luck: I’ve had God by my side. He’s never let me down or let me go without. There have been moments in my life where things could have turned out very differently—especially when I was navigating difficult situations growing up—but somehow, I always found my way through. The places I’ve been, the people I surrounded myself with, the grief I put myself through, all of the bad thoughts, the victim mindset…I’m just beyond thankful to even be where I am today, creating, breathing, and living the life I’ve dreamed of, the life I prayed for, and I owe it all to Him. I now see how the pieces have come together in ways that I could never have orchestrated on my own, and I trust that He’s always been leading me, even when I couldn’t see it. Every step of my journey, every twist and turn, I believe has been part of a bigger plan, and for that, I’m deeply grateful.

Pricing:

• $200 – starting price for a portrait photo session

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.starvingxartists.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannamania_/profilecard/

Image Credits
Personal: by Koto Agency on IG

Others: Jalen Neal (jayyyneal), Kennedi Carter (internetbby), Jim Clark Stevenson (jclarkimges), a collage of photos I have taken, Nathan Richard’s (nathanrichardsstudio), and one of my “sick at home” self portraits.