JILLIAN’S CREATOR STORY

“RETURNING TO A CHILDHOOD IMAGINATION & JOY”

Student-Made UVM’s Jillian Holland gives us a simple yet powerful reminder that sometimes all we need to revamp our creative energy, is to return to that childhood state of imagination and joy. Awaiting us there will be the things that we love about ourselves, and about the world around us— some of the best inspiration out there.

My career as an artist really began in 3rd grade when I would write comics about myself going on wacky adventures with my favorite Nintendo characters (especially Bowser Jr.) as well as my own original characters. I would bring my doodled notebooks to class and proudly show them to my friends. At the time I thought they were crafted with a stroke of genius, laugh-out-loud funny and drawn immaculately well. Of course, looking back at them now they lack a lot of substance.

I used to be embarrassed by my old work, even throwing out a couple drawings that induced a painful amount of cringe. I still kept drawing because I honestly can’t help it (My engineering class notes are still littered with silly doodles). Amidst my self doubt, In high school I made a decision that ultimately led to my becoming a ~professional~ artist.

I decided to do my high school senior project with a well known local watercolor artist, Ian Newbury. At the time I was practicing with watercolors and was very unsure about what I wanted to study in college. Ian taught me that I don’t need to follow any set of rules to make art that people will buy. I would ask him very pointed questions about painting, I think I can recall even asking him if I was holding the brush correctly.

For my project, we both made three paintings using the same reference photos and auctioned them off at a fundraiser for autism awareness; all proceeds went to the charity. All the paintings came out wonderfully, it helped me to understand that I was fully capable of making a name for myself as a respected artist as long as I keep making art!

During my first years of college I kept practicing watercolors and started to paint with acrylics as well. I created my instagram account and started posting my paintings that I considered the “best” ones. It didn’t get much attention and I wasn’t super confident in how good it all looked. I was so focused on trying to brand myself but I just couldn’t get it quite right.

I went through a lot of changes in my four years at UVM. Those changes were all reflected in my art as I started to just create things that make me happy or remind me of things I love about myself. I love the ocean and am studying to someday build machines that can traverse the deep sea in order to protect it, hence my many paintings of fish and other aquatic creatures. I also love to paint landscapes based on places where I have fond memories of. These themes started to form my brand: just stuff that I like!

My art truly turned full circle when I purchased an iPad for school. I started making digital drawings and realized how quickly and easily I could make such colorful, professional looking drawings! One of the first things I drew was Bowser Jr. with heavy eyeliner and the koopalings as drag queens. I did this as a joke but soon realized that it brought me such immense joy that I needed to keep drawing! I stopped thinking that my art wasn’t professional enough, which brought me mentally right back to 3rd grade when I was fully convinced my wacky comics were priceless.

I am so thankful for the Student Made community for welcoming me and supporting my endeavors. Because of this group, I was able to not only connect with fellow students but also leave a permanent mark on the school. My Student Made managers recommended me to a marketing team hired by UVM who was looking for an artist to paint a 4’ by 8’ mural inspired by taking summer classes in Vermont. I took on the challenge and it was such an amazing opportunity. My painting is permanently on display in one of UVM’s administrative offices.

As I approach graduation and prepare to step out into the real world, I fully intend on bringing my childhood imagination and joy with me. Whether or not I “make it” as an artist and small business owner isn’t of any concern to me. I have always made art because it makes me happy, and I sell it because it makes me even happier to see someone else love my work as much as I do.