We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Franziska Höllbacher a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Franziska, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I am a typical millennial for several reasons. I love avocados. I love cats. I love high-rise jeans and will never go back to early 2000s fashion (how dare you bring that back GenZ?). But the stereotypical millennial characteristic that affected my career the most was, that I always felt like I was something special. My parents always told me, that I can become ANYTHING I want. And though this was also the reason I ended up with anxiety and panic attacks, because – surprise – I am not any more special than every other human being, it gave me the confidence to try. And my parents always were supporting me, Not only emotionally, but financially as well. I particularly appreciate that, as I know how lucky I am. If it weren’t for my parents – for their love, support AND money, I couldn’t live my dream right now. I chose to share this, because it’s important that living your dream often means that you are in a very privileged position and that only few people even have the chance. So I feel lucky for my parents. For their constant cheers and for the life they gave me access to.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

When I was graduating from high school, I originally wanted to become an archaeologist. I didn’t come to my mind AT ALL that I could also study something creative, which is weird, because I always struggled with science, but never with art. On the contrary: I always doodled in class and even made a bunch of very detailed shark drawings. Fortunately I discovered Instagram. I stumbled across illustrators making a living from their art and this was my lightbulb-moment. I knew what I wanted to do with my life. And it kind of snowballed from there. I finished up uni (I was studying archaeology back then, so I do have a degree in archaeology – call me Indiana Jones) and signed up for a second degree in design, which I finished in 2021. I got my first children’s book gigs while I was still at uni. My art is characterized by everything that makes me me: It’s fun, it’s witty, it’s bold – and, as I love cats – there are many cats involved.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Trying to make it as an artist is HARD work. And there were MANY times that I wanted to give up. But as often as I wanted to I also didn’t. I had a good cry, spent a day or two in bed watching Gilmore Girls, and I pulled myself together. Because for me what is even bigger than the fear of failing is the fear of what my life would look like if I not even try. So I put myself out there, every day. And what I noticed is, that with every rejection, with ever project that does not work out, the voice in my head saying “you’re a failure” gets quieter. You get used to it, because being rejected as an artist is daily business, nothing else. And with every YES, and they did come along as well, I gained more confidence. So pushing through really payed off for me.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

As I currently mostly work for children’s book publishers I’d say the best way to meet, and more important connect with new clients are the bookfairs in Bologna and Frankfurt. What I love about the fairs is that you not only meet publishers and editors in person, which is great, but that you also meet fellow illustrators and authors. It’s like a big reunion every year, where you can exchange experiences or just chat. I even started working out a book idea together with an author friend of mine at the last bookfair in Bologna. And now – a few month later – we are both in the middle of signing a contract and that same book will be published in 2025 by a big german publisher. All thanks to coming together at the fair.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.franziskahoellbacher.de
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/franziskahoellbacher

Image Credits
All images by me