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

Julia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Extremely happy! I am so grateful that I was able to be able to pursue my dreams to become a full-time artist. It took several years of prep work, projects and learning to be able to get where I am today and I’m extremely grateful for the journey here. I think because I’m so happy that I’m able to create everyday, that having a “regular” job again wouldn’t fulfill me in the ways that having an art career does.

Julia, 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?

Hi, I’m Julia! I’m an Illustrator/Designer and in my work I create textile designs for trend forecasting, apparel and lifestyle goods. I started in my industry just out of college where I studied Illustration at Art Center College of Design. My first job out of school was creating surface designs for a collection of skateboard decks and for the last 7 years I have created hundreds more that have made their way across Home, Apparel, Lifestyle, Stationary and more.

Some of the things I do in my day to day work are using trend reports to create the new repeat patterns for the season, find design inspiration for upcoming collections, draw/paint elements of design and incorporate them into digital works while also building a story/moodboard with images and prints for each client. At the point in my career I think I am most proud of two things. One, my illustration that made its way into space aboard the ISS with the astronauts at SpaceX. Second, my work created with WGSN. We get to build a brand new print story with crafted design for upcoming years and its so exciting to see it all unfold. Being able to create a story with my clients by the use of artwork is such a fulfilling experience.

In my personal work, I like to get inspiration from nature and the human form to create my paintings and drawings. Im currently working on a larger body of work that is reflective of my time spent En Plein Air painting where I take drawings created in the field and translate them into bigger works.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

There are several ways you can go about supporting your favorite artists/creatives. Following their journey through social media, purchasing prints or tactile goods from their online shop, go to a local art opening, repost, share and tell your friends about your favorite artists so that word can spread and their voice can reach more people.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Being able to create something that is a piece of you to then have someone else or multiple people enjoy it is fulfilling. You get to share what you love about creating with other people and have a sense of engagement with it is really rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.juliahillart.com
• Instagram: @juliahillart
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/julia-c-hill-/