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

Hi Lily, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

My journey as a creative in the full-time work force is relatively new, (about 4 years now), but over all I feel like I have been able to make a full time living with different aspects of my creative work! Overall, the main takeaway I’ve gained from my creative work journey is to be flexible and to be open to new opportunities and types of creative jobs.

For context, I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a BFA in Sequential Art in June of 2020’s chaos. I was unable to land an internship during college, and with it being the pandemic, I was worried it would be even more difficult to find a creative career. In the downtime of applying, I started my own online store, Honeypuff Press, to fulfill my passion of product design and keep busy, (and still own and run this online and convention-based store to this day!) Thankfully, a few months after graduating and with rigorous job applying, I landed my first post-grad job and moved across the country to Oklahoma City, OK! The job was related to surface design, a skill set I picked up towards the end of my time in college as a way to diversify my artistic abilities.

During my time in OKC, I found an agent and worked towards my first graphic novel pitch. About a year after working in OKC, I left my surface design job and moved to Kansas City, MO, where I am currently located. I switched paths and got a graphic design job at a non-profit based in Kansas City. I am still with that non-profit today as a graphic designer and am loving it! Also during this time, I have continued pursuing my original passion of Sequential Art and landed my first graphic novel book deal with Oni Press in 2022! I am very content with my full-time job as a graphic designer, and my “side-projects” of my graphic novel and online store!

It’s definitely been a journey so far in trying out different creative jobs. But again, I think being open to a different array of creative jobs offers such wonderful opportunities to learn and add to your repertoire of skills. You also may find a new art path you are unexpectedly passionate about!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My creative career truly started when I attended Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) from 2016 to 2020! I originally set forth to work in the animation industry, but halfway through my undergrad I switched to Sequential Art and fell in love. I wear a lot of different artistic hats at this point, but primarily describe myself as a comic artist and illustrator first! I am very proud to say I am working on my debut graphic novel with Oni Press, geared towards middle-grade children audiences. I also founded and run my own online and convention based store, Honeypuff Press, where I sell originally-made products of my art. My full, day-time job is a graphic designer (and more) at a Kansas City-based nonprofit called Folk Alliance International.

I would describe myself as a truly flexible artist. I have a very strong, cute and children’s based style that is clearly displayed through my comic and illustrative work. But at the same time, I have kept myself adaptable, which shows through my unexpected career venture into graphic and surface design. At my core, I am always trying to learn and explore in order to discover new aspects of the art world I am passionate about. I think that is what truly sets me apart and has landed me so many opportunities I couldn’t have imagined when I was a freshman in college.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The core of what actually drove me to pursue an artistic career, is still what I find to be the most rewarding part of being a creative. And that is, creating something that people can truly connect to and find themselves in. I clearly remember in high school watching a cartoon series that was very emotional, yet comforting to me and made me stop and think, “Wow, I want to create something like this for future children to have.” And though I did not end up pursuing animation, I still feel this the primary goal that drives my storytelling and art-creation when it comes to my comics.

Similarly, I have this same goal with creating for my online store, Honeypuff Press. I enjoy creating products that people can connect to, and specifically find joy and comfort in. If I am able to bring warmness to someone’s day with my products I am truly happy. I don’t forsee this goal going away through my lifetime as a creative artist, no matter where my path takes me.

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

I think the best way society can support artists and creatives is to finally realize art is almost everything we touch. Almost everything we utilize from day-to-day was designed with intention by someone. The shows and movies we watch, the clothes we wear, the branding we see on containers and in stores, literally everything. The day society finally recognizes just how interwoven art is into everyday life and stops thinking of it as just something hanging in a gallery, is the day we take a step forward into a thriving creative ecosystem.

More specifically, I think society can best support artists by taking the time to cherish and share our work. Of course, the easiest answer is to support financially, but obviously that is not something everyone is capable of doing–especially regularly. Support can be the simple act of sharing an artist’s post, or commenting how much you love that piece they just posted, or even talking about an artist’s work with those around you. Sometimes these acts are just as important as financially supporting an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: lilyjoiner.com AND/OR honeypuffpress.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/sunshinehoneybear
• Facebook: facebook.com/sunshinehoney6
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lilyjoinerart
• Twitter: twitter.com/sunshinehoney6
• Other: linktr.ee/sunshinehoneybear