New discoveries and visual encounters have brought Hannah Stouffer to the verge of creating an entirely new body of work. After living in Los Angeles for the past couple of years, the prolific artist and commercial illustrator has made her way back to Oakland where she is beginning to delve into fresh creativity. The Summer of 2010 proved to be the perfect opportunity for Stouffer to go explore in the hope that her adventures would inspire this next phase of her practice. Starting in Los Angeles, she took a trip across the United States to visit some of the most historically magical places accessible off the Amtrak train route. Upon her return, Stouffer compiled a written piece entitled “The Littlest Hobo” and created a short video documenting her Black Magic Spirit Quest from the summer of 2010.
Check out the video as well as this excerpt from “The Littlest Hobo” by Hannah Stouffer:”All I ever wanted was to buy an old black van and paint an epic wizard on the side surfing through space. I’d pull up to the beach, open the door open and just draw. I’d drive it all around the the country with my dog… sleeping where we felt like, eating cans of beans, with a bottle of Jameson under the seat, black leather jacket, black leather boots, red lipstick, King Diamond, Burning Witch, Electric Wizard. Done.It all seems so romantic. After that plan fell through, faulty car salesmen and a small claims court date, I adjust accordingly. I really had no choice, but to just GO. So I chose the next best thing- the Amtrak train. And so it begins, escorted out of LAX by LAPD… oh, there’s my switchblade. Misdemeanor #1, and court case #2 – back to the airport, ok, here we go for reals…“
