We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lily Hollinden. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lily below.
Lily, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I think that it’s a privilege to have something to consider your life’s passion, and an even greater privilege to get the opportunity to work with that passion. When it comes to making art, it doesn’t feel like work, and that joy I find in my artistic practice fuels my motivation and work ethic. A day in the studio is a good day for me! I am a natural planner and goal-setter (to the point of neuroticism sometimes) and am deathly afraid of stagnation and mediocrity. When your identity and sense of self-worth is so tied up with your craft, your work ethic becomes pretty straight-forward; you have to pursue your work, what other choice do you have?
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Lily Hollinden, and I’m about to graduate with my MFA in painting from the University of Arkansas this May. I primarily consider myself a painter, but I do dabble in the world of ceramics as well. My studio is a place for play, exploration, contemplation, and coffee consumption. I would describe my artwork as vulnerable but playful, and I use my work as an opportunity to express my own philosophies about life and existence. Currently, the main subject matter of my art is an alter-ego character named Pepper Plinkett, a clown who represents my lighthearted and absurdist approach to the human experience.
Right now, I’m working towards my MFA thesis exhibition, which will be on display during the first two weeks of April in the Studio Art & Design Center at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, AR. I’m extremely excited to share the fruits of my labor in this upcoming show!
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?
I would say the three most important things that have helped me get to where I am today are passion, good time management, and the cultivation of confidence into diving into the unknown. My pursuit of the arts as a career doesn’t stem from wise reasons like financial stability or job security, I would simply rather have genuine interest in my work. Art is fulfilling to me in ways nothing else has ever come close to, and I would rather spend my time painting, something that I’m passionate about, and live on a modest income than drive a new Audi to my desk job and sell office chairs for a commission check. I have simply too much existential anxiety to spend so many hours of my life doing things that don’t matter to me more than a paycheck. Time management is very important in building any career, and pertains to things we do outside of our work that allow us to thrive; make time to cook healthy meals (and eat them!), make time for adequate sleep, and take a day off here and there (I need to practice what I preach with this one!). I’ve seen both sides of burnout, and as exhilarating as being on fire in the studio is, it doesn’t last forever, so you need to pace yourself that you don’t run out of steam before the finish line. And finally, in all aspects of life, but especially when it comes to getting an education and building a career, I think familiarizing yourself with the outside of your comfort zone is absolutely imperative. There have been times in my life where I’ve felt crippled by the fear of the unknown, and that can only freeze you in place. I actively embrace discomfort and unfamiliarity these days. In fact, when I feel overwhelmed or scared of doing something, I take that as a sign that I MUST conquer it. I’m still in the process of building this confidence, but I’ve come a long way and it’s proven to be very liberating!
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Over this last six months or so, I have been absolutely obsessed with the Dune series, probably to an obnoxious extent. When I began reading them, I was amazed how many philosophies I share, and my studio practice shares, with Frank Herbert. Dune is this grandiose, thoughtful, but cynical analysis of human nature, evolution, religion, and power. I would say the fourth book in the series, “God Emperor of Dune”, has impacted me most, as it is so critical of the concept of foresight as a whole; our protagonist is thousands of years old and has virtually unlimited prescience, but the only thing that gives him any real joy is the occasional surprise. It’s a narrative that has calmed a lot of my worries about the future, and has helped me accept that “anything can happen” is a GOOD thing. Life gives you endless opportunities, you just need to acknowledge them. When you try to predict the future, you lock yourself into that future, and miss access to other, even better ones. “The mystery of life isn’t a problem to solve, but a reality to experience” is a classic Dune quote, and one I try to live by. I’m also a fan of, “The mind of the believer stagnates. It fails to grow outward into an unlimited, infinite universe”. There are endless juicy quotes in the Dune series.
Contact Info:
- Website: lilyhollinden.com
- Instagram: lilyhollinden
- Other: My work is also available at MIXD Gallery in Rogers, Arkansas. Check them out at mixd.gallery!
Image Credits
Lily Hollinden
