We’re looking forward to introducing you to Caroline Mills. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Caroline, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: When was the last time you felt true joy?
I recently went to upstate New York with all of my closest friends to celebrate our ‘friendsgiving’ and we ended up going on such a treacherous hike that was presented as a small walk, but at the end we got to see such a beautiful waterfall and go right in the middle of it. We were all exhausted, just sitting on a huge rock feeling the mist from the waterfall on us, and I felt true joy. I think working every day makes me forget how beautiful this Earth is and how there is so much to see and experience with people you love. Just being in the middle of an ethereal, natural part of this world made me feel euphoric. I don’t present myself as an ‘outdoorsy’ person, I usually am a city girl, but being there made me excited about my life knowing I can continue to explore and learn and love!!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Caroline Mills. I’m a Philadelphia based illustrator! I do freelance work for a bunch of people and companies which is super fun. My own work is focused on childhood nostalgia how I try to keep that era/culture in my adulthood. I like collaging things that were important to me as a kid with things I like now. Sometimes it’s hard to describe my work because it feels like a necessity that I have to draw. It’s sort of like a diary. I’m not very good at verbalizing my thoughts so drawing helps me convey them. I also sometimes draw on clothing to create one of one items! I try to buy vintage/thrifted items to help reuse something that is just going to end up in a landfill. Making these one of a kind pieces brings me joy knowing someone is wearing something that is theirs and only theirs.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child I was extremely shy. I hated any group activities, talking to strangers, meeting new people, etc. I had such horrible social anxiety that I thought was going to last forever. In college it got way better, but the more I grow up the more I try to socialize with people. Traveling helps with this so much. I’ve learned there are so many amazing people in this world and learning about them and their lives makes me feel more fulfilled as a person. Creating a community for yourself is extremely important. I do still love my alone time, but I’ve begun to treasure small interactions with strangers. Even in cases where I know I will never see that person again, I’m so grateful for the time spent with them and getting to know about their life. People are amazing!!! Go out and talk to a stranger!!!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
In high school I was dealing with such horrible mental illness. I was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder and dealing with such deep depressions that I didn’t want to be on this earth anymore. I thought there was no other option because I was in pain 24/7 and nothing was helping. Because of my mental illness, I still hit super low lows and feel like giving up on everything. I’m so grateful to have such a strong community of people who love and care about me. Without them I wouldn’t be here, and I’m so glad I’m still here. I’m extremely grateful to be where I am now and to be doing what I am now. Art is extremely important to me and to be able to have that as a career makes me feel insanely lucky. There is so much to see and do on this earth that giving up doesn’t even seem like an option to me now.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think the public version of me is the real me. Having an online presence, it’s super important for me to be as open and honest as possible. I think being direct and open about myself helps add authenticity to my work. I see a lot of people who have a different online presence then they do in person and it creates a weird barrier between them and their work. For me, my work is a part of me, so I try and be as much of myself I can possibly be on the internet and in public.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I always think about what I would do if I wasn’t an artist and I genuinely do not have an answer. If people ask about my career, I joke and say it’s the only thing I’m good at. Sure I could do other things well, but I really feel like art is the only thing I truly understand. I think I was born to do this but also told to do this. Growing up my parents always supported my art and pushed me to immerse myself into it and I’m very grateful for their support. I don’t think there is another option. I think in every other parallel universe I’m also an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carolinemills1998.com
- Instagram: carolinemills
Image Credits
Credit to Caroline Mills
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