We were lucky to catch up with Jill Pearson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jill thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

When I was two I used to make marks on my walls during nap time with part of a toy. Those were my early abstracts! By high school I knew I wanted to study art in college. After completing my freshman year at MICA in Baltimore, I transferred to major in illustration at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I chose illustration because I felt I would get a good education in fine art, graphic design and marketing oneself as an artist.

Jill , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

After graduating college I worked as a freelance editorial illustrator and graphic designer. My illustration style was digital collage that I created in Photoshop. By my late twenties I got the urge to paint again because I was tired of always being on the computer and was feeling uninspired by commercial art. I started selling abstract paintings on Etsy, but was not yet showing my work in person. (I was still working in the commercial art field as well). Eventually I decided to take time off to focus on raising my three kids. I began to paint regularly again in 2021. After spending months just messing around in my studio and reacquainting myself with art making, I began showing my abstract work in 2022 and things took off.

I believe that being an artist is a journey and each endeavor serves as a foundation for what comes next. My current work shows elements of my digital collage days coupled with my education in traditional media. I use acrylics, collage and drawing media to create abstracts that are often inspired by nature. Each piece invites the viewer to make their own connection to an imaginary landscape.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

What I find most rewarding about creating abstract art versus working in the commercial art field is it comes from within. I’m not illustrating an article or following the sketch I made for the art director. I’m literally creating something from nothing, pouring my heart into it and sharing it with the world. Every studio session is full of exploration and surprises. Looking back, my best illustrations were made by playing around in Photoshop, and I think I had subtle clues long ago that my focus would shift towards abstract art.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

While a lot of artists would prefer to just be in their studio, I enjoy the other aspects of running an art business. I love connecting with other artists, gallerists and collectors in person and seeing their reaction to my work. It’s something I really missed out on years ago when I only sold on Etsy and was doing commercial work at home, alone. I often wonder if I had made those connections earlier, would I have continued to some extent when I was in the depths of motherhood? This is something many mothers struggle with in any field, and I have to trust that I made the right choice for the right reasons. I came back into my career in my early forties feeling the most excited I’ve been about art since my college days. Now that I feel like I am part of a community, it pushes me to keep aiming higher and also allows me to help other emerging artists begin their own journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jillpearsonart.com
• Instagram: @jill.pearson.art
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jill.pearson.art/
• Other: Pinterest @jillpearsonart