Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hillary Frazier. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Hillary, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I have known since I was a teenager. I was constantly checking out books on “How to become a comic book artist,” drawing up fashion designs, and creating stories and worlds in my head. I knew I wanted to do something creative, even if the direction was directionless (maybe even pointing at too many different directions) at that moment in time.
I played around with the idea of pursuing other careers in high school–military, nursing, et cetera–but, by the end of it, none ended up seeming like a viable option for me.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Hillary Frazier. I am currently 32 years-old and hail from Shreveport, Louisiana. The best way for me to say how I got into this industry is purely by accident. I always knew I wanted a creative career, but was virtually clueless on the direction I would take it. As a shy 20-something year old coming out of undergrad, I probably would not have pursued art as hard as I did were it not for some very supportive friends in the scene like Ben Moss or Taffie Garsee.
I tend to perpetuate the “burnt-out gifted student” mindset and approach projects in a way to where I want the work to stand out and be outside-of-the-box from what the client may be expecting. I personally get bored with just drawing what I see or drawing what is expected, so I try to include whimsical elements that are interesting for the viewer. Also, any client I have can most likely expect an intense amount of colors incorporated in the final product.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Long story short, I grew up with pretty low self-confidence. If someone back in the day asked if I was an artist, I would shuffle my feet in the dirt and say “Well, I draw sometimes,” instead of just owning it. I was a secretive art goblin who would clutch their sketchbook tightly to their chest any time someone wanted to take a peek. When I started putting my art out there, I had to unlearn years of “politely defensive” behavior. I also had to come around and realize that opening up to other creatives was such a great benefit to my artistic journey. It has allowed for some fun collaborative opportunities and created a fantastic circle of friends.
Self-confidence is always an tumultuous battle, but I have a much better sense of self now than I did when I was in my early 20’s. I enjoy being able to look at my work now and being proud of the final product (most of the time!). I also enjoy challenges now rather than shy away from them.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Go out to your artist friends’ shows! Share their work! Buy their pieces! Support their small businesses, whether it is through your wallet or through your words!
With the way algorithms and social media work these days, not all types of support have to be monetary. Artists are constantly having to fight for viewership everyday in an oversaturated market. People would be surprised just how much a “Like” on a post can help push a creative one step closer to exposure.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.hillaryfrazier.com
- Instagram: fkafrazierart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilfrazier/
- Twitter: MadameDraws
- Tiktok: fkafrazierart
Image Credits
First photo: Jeremy Hernandez (Fish art): World Beneath Us beer can design for The Seventh Tap Brewing Project (Flower Mohawk): Merchandise design for ShrevePride