Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Hohl.
Hi Megan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My relationship with art and creativity began very young. I grew up in a rural Wisconsin town, and with that came a difficulty to relate to my limited number of peers at that time. I could, however, find an escape through drawing on printer paper and creating elaborate storylines with my stuffed animals. This was how I expressed myself from kindergarten through 4th grade. Around 5th grade is when I started to take my drawing seriously.
I was a very online kid. I would spend hours exploring the depths of YouTube, whether it be in the form of Let’s Plays, tv-show reviews, or art tutorials. I remember watching sketchbook tours from people applying to art school and going “I want to do that too!”. I wish I still had the sketchbooks from this time; there would be completely filled out pages of Loomis heads and simplified rib cages. This dedication to learning human anatomy continued throughout high school. I was a sophomore when COVID-19 forced everyone to go online, and in my case I never went back to in-person high school. This meant more free time to draw.
This journey leads up to current day where I am a Senior getting a degree in Sequential Arts at art college.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Art has always been an escape for me. When I was younger I didn’t have many friends and it allowed me to entertain myself, so I don’t have many negative memories with art making as a whole. I’m also very grateful for my parents support for my artistic journey. They’ve always believed in my ability to make it as an artist and I could not be here without their help.
The only struggles that affected my art are struggles that many creatives experience: boredom and burnout. Despite my love for drawing creatures and characters, it can still be difficult to pick up the pen. I find that the easiest way for me to deal with this burnout is to learn something new, whether it be via history books, nature documentaries, or other informative media. Not to say that I’m serious all the time; I frequently make nonsensical videos and comics for my friends even when I feel like I can’t do anything productive drawing-wise on a given day. I love making people laugh.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Concept Artist who is getting a degree in Sequential Arts at art college. My specialty is character design and creature design, but I am currently learning to love prop design as well. My dream job would be to work on an indie development team as a lead character artist or an art director. I want to help others push the medium of video games to new heights.
I’m most proud of my ability to inject my own personality into my work. I love giving my designs some form of exaggeration in their appearance. This originates from my background in animation, as I am studying storyboarding as apart of my curriculum at school. I want people to be able to recognize my characters from any distance, so I design each character to have a very recognizable silhouette and colors. I have a great deal of self-drive and I just know that if I keep honing my skills, I will make it in the video game industry.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I encourage everyone to help each other in these times. Even if its a small act of kindness towards a friend or neighbor, all acts of kindness are important and special. Never underestimate your ability to bring positive change to those in your life.
And don’t forget to keep creating for yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sites.google.com/view/megan-hohl/home?authuser=0
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amphawire/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-hohl-944525291/
