Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Molly Holmes. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Molly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

For me, there’s not been one project that has been more meaningful than any other, but making art that represents me has been incredibly meaningful. I think that allowing myself to make art that is fun and funky and weird has been so freeing that it’s become an act of self love. I feel like my art is speaking to a younger version of me that used to think she had to be perfect in order to be loved. The Art that I make now has none of that pressure put on it. What I make now feels loose and fun and joyful. I turn on my podcast at night and relieve myself from reality for a few hours, surrounded by bones and doll parts and thrift store trinkets. Things that bring me joy but felt alienating and shameful growing up. Making art as an adult has helped me show my inner world to others, and not care so much how it is received. Though I have been pleasantly surprised by how many people enjoy my art and identify deeply with being a grown up, self-described weirdo. At the end of the day I make this art for me, as an act of self care and self acceptance, and that feels meaningful to me.

Molly , 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 loved art as a kid, who doesn’t? Sharpening your new colored pencils, opening up a fresh piece of watercolor paper, forming clay into whatever moved you- the possibilities were endless! As I got older, I felt like what I was making wasn’t good enough, like I wasn’t good enough. I cared so much about what other people thought of me and I was deeply self conscious. Creating anything felt too vulnerable. As an adult I wanted to dive back into creating without all of those expectations and doubts. Without the expectation of perfection. I wanted to have fun. I wanted to make art that high-school Molly would have loved to make, but was too scared to.

It started with a gift of animal bones. A big, stinky box of bones that I lovingly learned how to clean and care for. I painted them, made them into terrariums, and magnets, and wall hangings, and found myself having fun making art again. Over the past few years my art has evolved a bit and now includes anything creepy or offbeat (my room is teeming with creepy porcelain dolls) but animal bones are still my mainstay. There is something so special about giving life back to something dead. Celebrating the current of death that runs alongside life is a powerful thing, and I think that speaks to a lot of people.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Unlearning perfection. We all *know* that nothing and no one is technically perfect, but how many of us are still raging perfectionists? It’s one of my most annoying traits, and I say that lovingly. Perfectionism serves its purpose as we grow and develop. It keeps us feeling like we are doing something right in a highly critical, and unpredictable world. As I’ve gotten older I have realized how much this adaptation holds me back; bringing anxiety and stress into situations that should be easy and joyful. Art is one of those things. I always thought that the only art worth making was hyper realistic, or elaborate or boring (looking at you, oil paintings of fruit). I slowly came to realize that art can be anything; clothes, music, sculpture, gluing doll arms to a candle holder- literally anything. My art is not for everyone, and it’s definitely not traditional or ‘fine’ art, but I have such a good time making it that it doesn’t matter!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Getting to be vulnerable. I share my work with people and there’s a vulnerability in that. People see my art and they’re seeing parts of me, and that feels hard sometimes. But the older I get, the more comfortable I am being seen, taking up space and existing exactly the way I want to. Im not so afraid of being judged and rejected anymore, and that is such a gift. And my art is not for everyone, I have had so many people pass by my table grimacing, telling me my art is creepy (it is) but I’ve learned not to take that as criticism. I’m learning that other people’s opinions of me are, in fact, not a true reflection of my worthiness (gasp!) and that feels really liberating.

And allowing myself to be vulnerable has, in turn, allowed me to connect with so many people I would have never met otherwise. I have had the opportunity to make friends and to talk to so many people who feel a connection with what I make, and that feels really special.

Contact Info:

• Website: Etsy.com/shop/mollymoonchildstudio
• Instagram: @mollymoon444
• Facebook: @mollymoon444