Meet Hollis Callas

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

Hollis, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I believe my resilience is a blend of inherent stubbornness and the challenges life has thrown my way. In 2020, after years of working in the design industry, I made a bold decision to join a new company in Seattle, uprooting my family from our life in San Francisco. Little did we know, our move  date coincided exactly with the onset of the Covid-19 lockdowns.

My new employer told me that I was to work remotely until we could move up to Seattle safely. However, just as I was about to embark on this new, exciting journey, I received a very unexpected call – they let me go the day before I was supposed to start! It came as such a huge shock, considering the emotional investment my husband and I had made for this major life change.

After grappling with a whirlwind of BIG emotions, I decided to take control of my destiny. The idea of starting my own business had always been on my mind, but fear held me back. I decided to embrace the unexpected turn of events and venture into entrepreneurship.

This journey, nearly four years later,  has not only allowed me to have wonderful collaborations with amazing people and organizations but has also empowered me to chart my own path in the world of design and illustration. I didn’t see this coming but have so much gratitude for how it all worked out!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am an illustrator and designer based in lovely San Francisco, California. I run a multi-faceted business that specializes in custom illustration, branding, murals, and pattern design. You can often see my illustrations featured on a range of products such as tea towels, pillows, greeting cards, and art prints.

I have always been an “outdoor kid” since the very start and that still proves true today. My work is inspired by my boundless curiosity for nature and appreciation of its beautiful subtleties. Living in San Francisco, where something is always in bloom, it is easy to find inspiration on a daily basis! With a focus on flora & fauna, I hope my work sparks a similar awe and admiration in others and encourages them to be more thoughtful stewards of the wild things that make our Earth so special.

When I am not drawing or designing you can find me outside, stopping to smell the flowers, or spending time with my one-eyed black Labrador, Mamut and my husband, Greg.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Patience–

Being patient is so important to running an art business (or any business for that matter). As they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s very easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others and feeling that your progress is slow. However, it is so important to recognize and acknowledge small successes and take time to celebrate the things you have accomplished. Even a little means a lot! Every milestone, no matter how small, is progress.

Curiosity–

Curiosity has been a vital part to my creative journey. Exploring and learning new things about the natural world sparks a sense of wonder and joy in me that makes me want to create! I love to share my discoveries through illustrations that can connect people to the beauty of nature that I have witnessed myself. I would encourage others to find the thing that makes them excited and dive in. There is always inspiration waiting to be uncovered on the other side as long as you stay curious.

Trust–
In the initial stages of running my business, I felt like my hair was on fire! I had a difficult time dealing with the uncertainty of how things would unfold. However, once I finally developed a deeper trust in myself and my abilities, I was able to see my path more clearly and have a profound sense of peace. Learning to trust that it will all work out has allowed me to cultivate more space for optimism and less for worry. Trusting in the process has been an impactful part of my journey and has led me much personal growth.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am looking to work with more companies that have a commitment to the planet and advocate for the environment. I’d love for my illustrations to serve as a vessel to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire positive change. I couldn’t create my work without the inspiration I get from nature, so it’s vital to me that we take care of it.

You can email me at [email protected] to get in touch for a collaboration!

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Jesse Recor Gregory Callas

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