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

Alright, Jillian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

I’ll never forget the first time I sold a painting to someone other than my family or friends. I had been doing paid pet portrait commissions for a while, which were fun and a good income stream. But, on the side I was painting larger pieces focusing on the female form. I honestly didn’t think I’d ever sell them but at my very first “pop up” artist market I brought one with me and displayed it! Almost as soon as the doors opened at this tiny DIY art gallery, a couple wondered in with their little dog. They absolutely fell in love with my big painting and scrambled back to their apartment near by to grab cash. I honestly didn’t even think they would return BUT THEY DID…. with cash in hand. It was honestly one of the happiest days of my life. They joked that they probably couldn’t afford their rent and posed for a picture holding the dog and my painting!!! They hung it proudly over their bed and sent me more photos. I felt so assured. So, validated. What I had created from my heart was so important to two complete strangers that they sleep under it every night. It was the most special feeling in my career and emboldened me to forge ahead with great confidence.

Jillian, 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’m a painter and print maker. I focus on celebrating the female form. I am proud of the connections I make and maintain with my audience and strive to portray the female form in a candid, unposed manner- from the female perspective.

I’m always exploring the influence of the male gaze/ commercialism/ consumerism on a women’s perception of their body. I am constantly unlearning and relearning my perspective of my own body and sense of self through my art. When my work creates a bridge with other people to discuss body image and gender roles I feel like I’m on the right track. And when others tell me that they feel “seen” in my work… I couldn’t tell you anything I feel more proud of.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Actually yes! There is an artist named Ekaterina Papova. She founded Create! Magazine and hosts a podcast called create! During the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic I became obsessed with her podcast. She would interview artists and talk about the ins and outs of the visual art world. SO USEFUL!! Then her and her business partner Alicia Puig wrote a book called “The Complete Smartist Guide: Essential Art Career Tips For Emerging Artists”. I highly recommend this book! It is an amazing reference for creatives of all levels!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I am a 35 year old woman who grew up in the United States. I was conditioned from a young age to see my own body and my self worth through the lens of commercialism. I was taught that sex sells and when I began sharing my artwork with the public, my work, which concentrates heavily on the nude female form, was undeniably “sexy”.

I realized I was painting women with arched backs, pointed toes, a pouty or blissful expression, a twist at the waist. I began to critique my work and ask myself “why am I painting women in such a sexualized manner? “What am I actually trying to say?” I began to think, “am I programmed to see and portray women from the male gaze?”

The glass shattered and I began to challenge concepts in my artistic practice that I had once thought were aesthetically based. I specifically remember an instance where I was drawing a model in a crouched position. She was flat footed in her stance. I remember drawing and redrawing her feet. I resisted the urge to make her feet look small. I decided to portray her feet as they were, and hung the painting at my show that month. Guess what?! It was the first to sell! And, the woman who bought the painting commented that she loved how strong this woman appeared. The buyer also mentioned that she too had large feet and saw her self in the painting, I was astonished. I also have large feet and I was always told they were not feminine my whole childhood, I was so embarrassed when I was younger by my feet.

I knew it that moment, I had a mission to unlearn what I thought was feminine, beautiful and sexy. I had to question where I learned what was beautiful about a woman’s body and find my own voice. I had a job to do; to portray women from a perspective that let them just be themselves. And guess what? Not only “sexy” sells!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.jillianburton.art
• Instagram: jillian_burton_artist
• Facebook: Jillian Burton Artist
• Linkedin: none
• Twitter: none
• Youtube: none
• Yelp: none