We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jill Soukup. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jill below.
Jill, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
In a recent class I was teaching, I ran out of time during a follow-along exercise, where the students and I were essentially painting a painting together. So, for their homework, they were to complete it on their own, in what I believed would be a perfect opportunity for them to make unique discoveries.
You can imagine my surprise when many of the students reported being afraid of doing the wrong thing. “If you paint it with intention, it can’t be wrong,” I replied, vocalizing a favorite quote from one of my former teachers, Quang Ho. It may not “work” per se, but you can always change it back or try something else. And, in the process, you’ll likely discover something new, exciting, and, possibly, better.
As I see it, taking risks is to live with grace, embracing our mistakes and failures as gifts that promote movement forward. It’s a form of play, really, to try something, fail, try again, get a little better perhaps, fail again, and, step by step (or maybe in one great big leap), you move in a new direction that otherwise might not have been acknowledged or available.
Jill, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I knew as a child I wanted to be an artist — defining the kind of artist proved a circuitous road. Initially, I landed in graphic design, which provided financial stability and an excellent education in business, complete with deadlines, creative parameters, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Around age 30, I took a leap of faith to pursue painting full time. I gave myself three years to see if I could support myself: I knew I could return to graphic design if things didn’t pan out.
I’ve never looked back.
With my work, I’m a stickler for the foundational skills — drawing, composition, color theory — searching within them for the secrets to beauty. I believe that, within these foundations, an artist develops the skills essential to create visually engaging and effective works of art. Many art institutions and teachers have moved away from these traditional concepts of balance and order, favoring experimental and freeform approaches to art education. While experimentation and innovation are essential for pushing the boundaries of art and expression, a lack of technical skill and understanding will limit an artist’s ability to effectively communicate their ideas. The foundations provide the framework from which creativity and expression can blossom. It’s not an either/or situation — the dance, the balance between the two approaches, is the key to successful art.
The most meaningful thing in my life, the thing that brings me the most pride, is my family, my husband and son.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
I’m open to — and curious about — them. I’d like to create one to understand them better, before I make any formal judgment. That said, I suspect they have potential beyond what most of us currently understand.
How did you build your audience on social media?
For time’s sake, I initially prioritized one platform: Instagram. It was a great strategy until I got hacked and lost everything I’d built over four years. All those connections and income streams — poof, gone! (By some miracle, I got it back several months later.) It was a painfully valuable lesson: don’t put all your eggs in one basket, diversify. Some apps can help you create a post across multiple platforms, to make the most efficient use of your time. (I use Later.com.) Educate yourself on how to protect your accounts and content from hackers. And add platforms to the mix that connect your clients more concretely — and with email — like a subscription or newsletter scenario.
Contact Info:
- Website: jillsoukup.com
- Instagram: @jillsoukup
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jillsoukupartist/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jillsoukup
Image Credits
Bio picture: Elk & HAMMER Art images: Jill Soukup