We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jillian White. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jillian below.

Jillian, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Taking the creative route is definitely a risk but overall the reward is twice as gratifying. I’m currently in school for fashion design so I can not only learn but also have a safety net to fall back on rather than just going full-on freelance. I feel genuinely fulfilled and the most in touch with myself when I’m creating artwork and developing my sewing skills and wouldn’t choose to do anything else.

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 create artwork of all mediums but primarily focus on pen work. My work is centered around BDSM culture with a heavy feminine touch to it. I’m proud to have a coloring book called “Lethal Woman” published that you can purchase through my Etsy (@jillianpaigeart) and have a history of selling decorated and customized paddles that have all sold out. I have also sold at multiple art shows and do custom commission pieces. My work is definitely more on the bold and sensual side which not many people are comfortable expressing and I believe that’s what secures my spot as an artist with my own distinct voice.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of my biggest hurdles to overcome was worrying about what people thought of me. I started out strictly doing mandala designs and abstract (which I still do and love), but I knew what I wanted to truly create. Growing up in a relatively strict household and a somewhat affluent yet cliquey community, it wasn’t always the easiest expressing myself, especially having been bullied for a good fraction of my young childhood. But living as a diluted version of yourself never pays off, and and learning to find my own identity as I grew up and parted from my hometown was one of the most gratifying feeling I’ve ever experienced.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I think they’re embarrassingly pretentious and useless.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jillianpaigeart.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jillianpaigeart/