We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Olivia Henson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Olivia below.
Olivia, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
When I think about learning my craft, whether it’s graphic design, painting, or any creative medium, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how I learned. The truth is, the only way to learn is through practice. Failure is an essential part of the process—it’s how you discover what works and what doesn’t. Over time, I’ve gone through many trials across different subjects, mediums, and client projects to understand what processes work best for me and for others.
Patience has also been critical. None of my pieces—whether digital, traditional, or otherwise—have ever been completed in a day. Each part of the process—conception, creation, and feedback—takes time and deliberate effort. If I ever thought I could rush a piece and finish it in a day, it likely turned out terrible. Good work demands patience, and you can’t shortcut the process. As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Art is about the process, not just the final product. The beauty lies in the time and effort it takes to bring a vision to life.
Knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t necessarily want to speed up my learning process. I’ve learned at a pace that feels right for me. Sure, it might have been nice to pick up painting a few years earlier, but I don’t think it would have resulted in the same level of creativity or inspiration that I have now.
The most essential skills in this journey have been accepting failure, embracing trial and error, and welcoming constructive criticism. You can’t grow if you’re the only one evaluating your work. Alongside these, patience has been the foundation of my development, giving me the space to fully engage with every step of creating something meaningful.
The biggest obstacles to learning more have always been mental blocks. I’ve been scared of growing, learning new mediums, or using new programs because that makes me vulnerable to failure. I’ve feared wasting time, not being good enough, or comparing myself to others. But the reality is, no one else sees or cares about those fears. People only notice the work once it’s done. Overcoming those mental hurdles has been a big part of my growth.
Olivia, 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?
Hi, I’m Olivia Henson, a Design Studies student at North Carolina State University and the Marketing Coordinator for Black SEL, a social-emotional learning hub for Black communities. My journey into the creative industry has been anything but linear, and if I’m being honest, I’d say my success is a mix of chance, faith, and determination. I’ve always believed that everyone is born with a gift, and as we live and experience life, we uncover what that gift is. For me, that gift has always been visual creativity, though pinpointing the exact moment it began feels impossible. I can’t recall the first time I picked up a pencil and created something meaningful, but I know my career truly started when I decided to invest in myself.
In 2022, fresh off my first internship, I used $1,500 to purchase an iPad and an Apple Pencil. That decision unlocked countless creative possibilities and set me on the path I’m on today. Since then, I’ve focused on offering digital design solutions, including branding, illustrations, and marketing materials, as well as creating custom hand-painted apparel for special occasions. Occasionally, I work with traditional media like paint and ink, and every project I take on feels like a new opportunity to connect with someone else’s vision.
What makes my work stand out is my ability to genuinely enjoy what I do while focusing on solving problems for others. I’ve always told people that inspiration doesn’t strike me from within—it comes from others. I thrive on bringing someone else’s ideas to life, visualizing what they can’t, and turning abstract concepts into reality. I like to think of myself as the missing puzzle piece for my clients. When someone has a big idea but lacks the tools or skills to make it happen, I step in to bring clarity and execution to their vision.
Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of my dedication to professionalism, clear communication, and creating collaborative experiences. My approach ensures that every client not only gets the work they envisioned but feels deeply connected to the process. Whether it’s a design project, a marketing campaign, or a custom art piece, I pour myself into every detail to deliver something meaningful.
For me, it’s not just about the finished product—it’s about the process. Art is an expression of time, effort, and patience, and I’ve come to embrace that journey with every project. The work I create isn’t just for me; it’s for us. When you work with me, your vision becomes my inspiration, and together, we create something remarkable.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
A lesson I had to unlearn is the idea that everyone on social media has their lives perfectly together. The reality is that nobody does, and even if someone were to sit me down and try to convince me otherwise, I wouldn’t believe them. I’ve always stood by the saying, fake it till you make it, but over time, I’ve realized that you never truly “make it”—you’re just faking it until it all starts to make sense.
This year, 2024, has been one of deep reflection and growth for me. While I haven’t faced any catastrophic failures, I’ve had moments that challenged me emotionally, physically, and spiritually. I’ve been brought low at times, but those moments have also taught me resilience. The truth is, everyone is living, breathing, and moving at their own pace. Opportunities come when they’re meant to, and sometimes we turn them down because they simply aren’t right for us. Unlearning perfectionism has been a key part of my journey, especially because perfection doesn’t exist. As humans, we can strive to get as close as possible, but nothing is as perfect as God.
Creatively, this understanding has been freeing. I once heard a saying (not mine, but one that stuck with me): You never know when a piece of art is finished unless you keep working on it. I believe that same principle applies to life. Success isn’t a destination you reach—it’s something you continually work toward. As an artist, I’ve learned the importance of critique and collaboration. Critique isn’t about tearing you down; it’s about finding the missing pieces in your work, and hearing other people’s perceptions can lead to growth.
Of course, I wouldn’t necessarily take artistic advice from someone who’s never picked up a paintbrush, but that doesn’t mean their perspective lacks value. Similarly, in life, I might not take criticism from someone who hasn’t walked a path remotely similar to mine, but their viewpoint can still offer insights. Whether it’s from someone with shared experiences or someone looking in from the outside, every perspective holds something worth considering.
Unlearning perfectionism and the false image of social media “success” has taught me to embrace the process and accept that life, much like art, is never truly finished—it’s a constant work in progress. And that’s okay.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
In my view, one of the most important things society can do to support artists, creatives, and a thriving creative ecosystem is to stop pointing fingers and start fostering a culture of collaboration rather than competition. Too often, I hear people say things like, “This person copied me” or “That person stole my idea.” But the truth is, art has always been about inspiration and reinterpretation. Humans have been on this earth for billions of years, and with that comes inevitable replication. It’s part of the process.
If another artist were to see one of my pieces, find inspiration in it, and create something even better, I wouldn’t feel offended—I’d applaud them. That’s how art evolves. Instead of tearing each other down, we need to support one another because, quite frankly, America doesn’t support artists. This country runs on art—look around, and you’ll see its influence everywhere—but it fails to truly value or invest in the people who create it.
Artists have to be the system that supports each other. Especially now, with the rise of artificial intelligence, we see major corporations prioritizing technology over human creativity. But here’s the thing: there’s nothing more valuable than the human mind. The ability to imagine something from nothing, to create expensive ideas from pure vision, is unparalleled. AI can replicate patterns, but it will never truly replace the raw, boundless creativity of a human being.
So, as artists, we have to take ownership of our community. We must build and refine systems that value creativity, whether that means advocating for fair wages, creating platforms that amplify diverse voices, or simply celebrating each other’s work. A thriving creative ecosystem starts with us. It starts with recognizing that the collective success of artists benefits everyone, and that together, we can create something far greater than what we could achieve alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://luxearteco.wixsite.com/design
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livi.isabel/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-henson-a02075279/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/luxearteco/
Image Credits
Basil Edwards, Troy Thomas