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

Iris, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I’ve always had a love for art and exploring all things creative. Even while working full-time in healthcare for over a decade—a career driven by my deep empathy and desire to care for others—art remained a constant, a quiet hobby I turned to for joy and peace.

Over the years, I’d occasionally take on commissions, but it was never something I viewed as a business. That shifted after a life-changing moment in December 2021, when my husband and I welcomed our beautiful baby girl into the world. I love my daughter more than words can express, and my husband is truly the love of my life. But somewhere in the beautiful chaos of motherhood, marriage, and a demanding career, I lost sight of myself.

I realized I didn’t know who I was outside of being a mom, a wife, and a caregiver. It had been a long time since I created anything—no sketching, no painting. In spring 2024, I finally picked up my sketchbook again. What started as a form of visual journaling slowly reignited something inside me. My passion came back to life.

As I poured myself into creating again, opportunities began to open. My paintings found their way into local coffee shops. Commissions started coming in. I discovered a love for digital design, taught myself graphic design, and found new ways to blend it with my painting. People began asking me to create everything from invitations to posters to wallpaper designs.

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.

I’m a freelance artist specializing in surface pattern design and art licensing, with a strong focus on creating thoughtfully curated print-on-demand collections for products like stationery, home goods, and textiles. My process is rooted in trend forecasting, artistic intuition, and strategic planning—I spend time researching future trends, identifying manufacturers that align with my aesthetic, and crafting collections that include a hero print, a complex pattern, and a simple coordinating design. Every collection I produce is intentionally cohesive, designed to speak to both artistic integrity and commercial appeal. I tailor my portfolio for specific industries, often adjusting elements to suit brands that create items like greeting cards, gift wrap, or journals. I also invest in pitching my work directly to manufacturers, building personalized outreach strategies and forming connections with decision-makers. While I pay close attention to trends, I always infuse my own style and voice into the work. What truly sets me apart is the human touch behind every design—I deeply believe that in a world increasingly filled with AI-generated content, genuine human creativity, heart, and soul remain irreplaceable. I’m most proud of staying true to that philosophy while evolving in a fast-paced, ever-changing industry.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One thing I think non-creatives may struggle to understand about the creative journey is that our process often doesn’t follow a straight line—and that’s okay. We move at our own pace, in our own way, and somehow, we bring something into the world that didn’t exist before. That, to me, is nothing short of magical. But it’s not just the finished product that holds value—it’s the soul we pour into it along the way. Even when we think something is “done,” our minds stay in motion, constantly dreaming, tweaking, imagining. Creativity isn’t a task we complete; it’s a way of existing in the world. The unknown doesn’t deter us—it drives us. Especially now, in an age of instant gratification and nonstop noise, I believe it’s more important than ever for non-creatives to understand and support the value of creative work. It asks us to slow down, to be present, and to honor the beauty of the process—not just the result.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

To truly support artists and a thriving creative ecosystem, society needs to start by recognizing the value of creative work in all its forms. While I might want to say, “don’t buy mass-produced art,” I also understand the appeal and accessibility of it. And even then, it’s important to remember that behind that canvas print at HomeGoods or Target, there was likely a real human—an artist—who poured their heart into the original piece. Supporting artists isn’t always about what you buy; it’s about acknowledging the soul and intention behind the work. And within the creative community itself, we must also give space for differing perspectives and processes. Even artist to artist, we think, feel, and create in completely unique ways—and that’s the beauty of it. Embracing that diversity, both in expression and experience, is what keeps the creative world alive and thriving.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @irisclarestudio