Today we’d like to introduce you to Lily Hollinden.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
I was always an art kid, so attending art school was a no-brainer. I fell in love with painting, specifically during my time as a BFA student at Indiana University. Painting became a close friend that I could confide in. After I graduated, I moved to St Louis and did an internship at Bruno David Gallery, which was an incredible experience for me. I got to meet many local St Louis-based artists, handle their work, and gain a deeper understanding of the industry. I’m currently just over halfway through my MFA at the University of Arkansas; I knew as soon as I found out about doing a Master’s in studio art that was something I wanted to pursue. I’ve always enjoyed the structure of academia, and having my wonderful faculty and talented fellow students around has created a great environment for me to grow as a painter. My work has changed significantly over the last couple of years in this program, and I greatly enjoy watching my paintings progress and shift in style and concept.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There are a lot of struggles that come with being an artist. When I wasn’t in school, finding time to paint around the stress and time commitment of a day job was very difficult. It becomes frustrating when you spend so much time doing something that does not feel important to you, while that unimportant thing takes time away from what you want to do. But the bills have to get paid somehow! This is the eternal struggle of the young artist. Make your money how you have to, and paint on the weekends. I could have done a lot of great work during that time. I also really struggled during my first year doing my Master’s. Moving to a new town, knowing nobody, and the imposter syndrome combined made my first year quite lonely and stressful. Luckily, with time, I’ve settled in quite well and made some perfect friends, which has helped me feel supported and motivated to work. Being in a good place mentally improves the whole experience and has allowed me to focus on painting.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am primarily an oil painter, but I’ve also been known to dabble in ceramics. My work centers around understanding human nature and my specific place in time and lineage. I’m interested in humanity’s instinctual and vestigial elements and how they affect how we move through the modern world. The ocean represents this kind of timeless birthplace of life and sets the stage for all the things to come. Looking at humans specifically through an animal lens and analyzing what traits we’ve held onto for thousands, if not millions, of years helps me understand myself and the world around me. This is where the clowns come in; I’m particularly intrigued by the idea that humor and comedy are uniquely human and instinctual traits. Clowning traditions have existed since pre-history in many different cultures, and I think the clown “archetype” is an often overlooked but highly fascinating character. I relate a lot to my clowns; they perform comedy and cheerfully and socially fulfill a certain place as entertainers, but they have more complex existences than that. I have a lot of sympathy for the “sad clown.”
These days, I’m most proud of the progress my work has made over recent years. Most times, when I finish a painting, it’s my new favorite. I “get over” my old paintings pretty quickly. I’m always looking forward to the next thing, the next piece. I like my paintings from a couple of years ago, but they sometimes feel like old news, “been there, done that,” to me. I have a unique sense of humor that comes out through my paintings. I am a fan of the ridiculous. I’ve been enjoying bumping up the bizarre elements of my work.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
My biggest strength is simply that I enjoy painting as an activity. I’m in the studio almost every day, and it doesn’t feel too much like “work,” so I usually don’t mind going weeks without a day off. I’m also good with time management, and I work quickly.
All artists can be pretty darn self-critical, and there have been times when I would self-flagellate for not staying in the studio until late at night or taking the occasional day off. I’m no hustler, and I’m eternally worried I’m not “doing enough,” even when the people around me tell me I’m doing plenty. I have a restless nature that yearns to chug forward constantly. I don’t like stagnation. Although these feelings can be challenging to deal with at times, they motivate me to push myself and make things I’m proud of.
Contact Info:
- Website: lilyhollinden.com
- Instagram: @lilyhollinden
Image Credits
Photos: Courtesy of the artist and Bruno David Gallery
