Today we’d like to introduce you to Hunter Warr.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I discovered my interest in art in middle school. I always had fun in art classes before then, but I was a choir girl. Singing was my hobby and the only part of school that I enjoyed – end of the story. It wasn’t until the end of seventh grade that choir changed from a passion to a chore, and I wanted no part of it. When I realized that, I was at a loss. I had no idea what I wanted to do as a hobby or for an extracurricular, but the music was definitely not it. So that following year, I enrolled in an art class with the full intent of just going through the motions until I found something else I enjoyed. However, the joke was on me because by the end of that first semester, I was hooked and continued taking art classes from then on. I never questioned whether I was talented or not, I just enjoyed the freedom that art provided me.
During my time in high school, though, something changed within me. I was surrounded by peers who I deemed as more talented in me, and my confidence began to falter through no one’s fault but my own. As my attitude towards art shifted, so did the rest of me. I lost my passion and became extremely unhappy. I would critique myself constantly and did not know how to stop. I was unaware at the time, but this was the beginning of a battle that I still struggle with to this day: Anxiety and Depression. I continued to take art classes throughout high school, but I became harder on myself each year, so much so that it went past art and into my everyday life. By the time I graduated, my confidence, in general, non-existent and I had no desire to do any kind of art. Unfortunately, when I got to college, my anxiety and depression got worse and I lost myself completely. Nothing made me happy.
My mind was constantly spinning and I felt out of control. I had no idea what was happening to me, I just knew that I needed something in my life to distract me from myself. I began looking for ways to cope and eventually tried what I knew gave me comfort in the past: Art. Oddly enough, it worked! It got me out of my head, despite it having the opposite effect in high school. Once I realized that I clung to it. When I found myself getting overwhelmed by school or life in general, I would take myself out of it by diving into a new project. I especially found solace in painting and used it to get me through some of the most challenging years of my life and finally finished my college education. Slowly but surely, my passion for art was returning and with that, I finally sought help to deal with my still ever-present mental illnesses. After doing so, I found myself painting less for coping and more for the enjoyment of myself and others. My friends and family loved when I painted things for them and slowly began to plant the idea that I could sell my art if I just put my mind to it. Fast forward to spring of this past year, something struck me and I decided that’s exactly what I was going to. With the support and encouragement of those same friends and family members, I launched Warr Crafts and haven’t looked back since!
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?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. I still struggle with having confidence in my work, not to mention my depression and anxiety still creeping around every corner. There have been many times in this past year alone when I have had to try and force myself to get out of bed so I can finish a project – and many of those days I failed to do so. When that happens, I try to remember not to be that hard on myself. I am only human and sometimes I just need to take a day before jump back into it!
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 create handmade, customized paintings and crafts on all different mediums! I’ve done coasters, plaques, stocking holders for the holidays, cards, coasters, canvases of all sizes, and I am currently experimenting with resin. This past summer I did a large (36x48in) thermal body painting for a client that I am still obsessed with! My specialty is making key hooks/mask holders with animated/pop culture characters from all types of movies, TV shows, and books. I enjoy doing minimalist character art, most of all, as it requires imagination from both myself and my client. My favorite thing to in a project is to take a subtle part of a movie scene or character and add it to my paintings. I like to think it adds something uniquely my crafts – like a subtle “if you know, you know” It’s fun to see if they notice it!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I constantly listen to True Crime podcasts while I paint! My absolute favorite is “The Last Podcast on the Left,” but I also enjoy “Crime Junkie.” When I change up the genre every once in a while, I enjoy “Call Her Daddy,” “Abe Lincoln’s Top Hat,” and “The Read.” I do enjoy reading on occasion, but unfortunately, I never seem to set time aside for it anymore. The last book I read was “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas, a beautiful and emotional story that everyone should read!
Pricing:
- Key Hooks – $10
Contact Info:
- Email: warr.hunter@yahoo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warrcrafts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Warrcraftss/
