The start of something new

For the past 15+ years, I’ve been immersed in the world of tech—starting at Apple and eventually landing in the SaaS space. Over the years, I’ve worn many hats: sales, support, leadership, account management, and more. Tech wasn’t a field I ever expected to build a career in; it just kind of fell into my lap. But with every opportunity that came my way, I took it and kept growing.

Then, in November, I unexpectedly exited the SaaS world. Unlike my previous career transitions, this one left me feeling lost—unsure of what I wanted to do next. Since my husband and I started dating, he’s encouraged me to start my own business. I’ve never had someone in my life push me toward pursuing what I truly want, rather than just taking the first or best offer.

Before I had kids, I was in college studying Photography and Art. But at that time, I wasn’t in the right headspace to prioritize school over everything else. When I turned 20, I became pregnant with Scout. I kept trying to attend classes, but balancing school with the need to work and provide for her became overwhelming. Nearly 15 years later, I wish college were something you attended later in life—after gaining real-world experience—because I would jump at the chance to earn a degree in Art, maybe even in teaching.

After having kids, I put art on the back burner, assuming I wouldn’t return to it until retirement, when I had the luxury of time. But losing my job in November changed everything. My husband urged me to build a career around what truly fulfills me—what my soul craves. And what my soul craves is creating, learning, and sharing my growth with the world.

So here I am, nearly five months later, creating again. I don’t have a set medium right now—I’m experimenting with everything from digital art (like Procreate) to watercolors, acrylics, textured art, photography, and sketching. I plan to dive into oil paints, gouache (the medium I have the most experience with aside from photography), alcohol markers, and pastels. I want to explore it all, giving myself the freedom to learn and, most importantly, to enjoy creating again.

I’d love for you to follow along on my journey as I build my brand—both here on my site and on Instagram: @hannahforestart.