Life & Work with Hannah Pedersen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Pedersen

Hi Hannah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I graduated in 2015 from Grand Valley State University with a fine arts degree and a minor in psychology, thinking I would return for my masters in Art Therapy. At the time I didn’t have the funds to be able to pursue a masters, so I worked through multiple different jobs. I’ve done all different types of things from Vault teller at a bank, marketing, customer service, dispatch, grant writing and driving a bus for public transportation, to IT, accounting and data entry for a trucking company. Any job I would get, I would train in as many departments as I could, never wanting to be idle. On the weekends, I would do art fairs and had an etsy shop, because my true passion for the arts was something I couldn’t stay away from.

At the end of 2019, I went on the difficult journey of restarting my entire life. I left an abusive marriage, moved into a small apartment and had to sit on camping chairs, and in 2020 lost my job. Thankfully I found my footing, got a good support system, and had people who would encourage me to follow my passions. I took up more art jobs, did more markets and conventions, and in 2022 landed an apprenticeship for tattooing. Art became my full time career and I love every minute of it. by 2023 I opened my own shop with my friend Rowan, and we were able to create a space where we work to service the underserviced in tattooing, making sure we use inclusive and accommodating practices. I found a niche that I could do art and make room for those who normally don’t feel welcome or safe in more traditional shops.

I had always wanted to do art therapy, and I found a way I could provide healing to people through tattooing. We have taken trainings in being trauma informed, domestic violence, worked with the Red Project to be narcan trained and carry it in shop, done fundraising for the youth homeless shelter and more. The way we can make people feel at home in their bodies, feel better about their appearance and boost their self esteem, pay tribute to loved ones and more, it is the most rewarding part of my job. Having a shop that also makes them feel seen and included, offering fidget toys, sound and light accommodations, being handicapped accessible etc, it makes me feel like we are doing the work and I’m glad it’s being noticed and appreciated. We will always continue to grow and do more work so that we can continue to provide these services.

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?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. As I previously mentioned, I left an abusive marriage, moving out of my home in one day with as much as I could pack up. I sat on camping chairs in my living room for a while because I didn’t have a couch, and I lost a lot of my friends and the family I had on my exes side. I struggled with mental health and my chronic physical conditions on my own as well. I lost my job during the shut down, and was out of work for almost 6 months as well, but did manage to get a new job and moved to Grand Rapids after that. There were struggles in my apprenticeship as well, and opening a shop meant I was out of work for almost 2 months as well not getting paid as we had to renovate and wait for the health department.

Thankfully with an amazing support system, and the support of my wonderful partner, I was able to get through this, get mental health support, and chase my dreams of being a full time artist. I know without that, it would have been a lot harder, and I am eternally grateful to all of them.

I do think that those struggles, and me being very vocal and wanting to advocate and support for others going through similar things, has really helped me connect with clients, and in my newest endeavor of being on the board of Inclusive Ottawa County – a nonprofit that focuses on underserved communities in Ottawa county. I want to give back, support and help change the systems and structures in place so that others hopefully will not face the struggles that I have.

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 tattoo artist and co-owner of a tattoo shop called Ravens Rookery. I really love doing print making style tattoos or watercolors and bright vibrant tattoos, but I like to believe I can adapt to quite a few different styles. Our shop and what I like to focus on is helping people feel better about their body, their appearance, to find healing through art. I am a queer, disabled, neurodivergent person, and I want to help change the landscape of tattoo shops to be more inclusive and accessible to those like myself. I want to continually learn and work with others to improve how we service those communities and make it so everyone has access to tattoos.

The amount of times I have heard that someone has gone to another shop and was turned away because they were ‘too fat’, or they couldn’t do color on darker skin, or that their disability/neurodivergence was something the artist ‘couldn’t work with’ is disheartening. We were very intentional when choosing where we opened our shop so that we could be accessible, we wanted the music, the decor, the lighting etc to be welcoming and calm, and attuned to sensitivities. From how we book clients, to the appointments and making sure we have ongoing consent and accommodations in shop, to our after care goodie bags, we are trying to make tattoos for all as best as we can.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I never want to discount all the hard work that has been a part of how I got where I am today, but I do count myself lucky for the support of my friends and family and my partner. Without them, I know it would have been a lot more work, would have been harder, and I might not be where I am today without them. Having an amazing support system is a key player in where I am now, in life and in business and I am so lucky to have them.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comic_hans
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ComicHans/

Image Credits
Personal Photo taken by Peculiar Perspectivez