Meet Hilary Wilson | Artist & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Hilary Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Hilary, what’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?

It was most definitely choosing to leave my job and life in Copenhagen, Denmark to return home to my family in the U.S. and start my art business.

Prior to being an art entrepreneur, I worked in international education with American students, and I took a job in Copenhagen, where I lived for two and a half years. I was also a self-trained artist and painted occasionally in my free time. Unfortunately, after about 10 months of living there, COVID struck, and our industry was rattled because no one was traveling. During my time in isolation, I lost a very close family member and there was generally a lot of stress for study abroad professionals. On the other hand, I was painting all the time, and I was completely in love with Copenhagen. I had a wonderful group of friends, I rode my bike to work every day, I had free healthcare (a big plus for me because I have a chronic illness), and the city itself is so beautiful and provides so much inspiration for artists. It’s still the best place I’ve lived, but all of that just didn’t quite make up for the stress I felt in my job and being so far away from family. I didn’t think I could go through another instance of not having access to the people I loved because I was across an ocean. So, I made the tough decision to come home and use some of my savings to be a full-time artist!

Honestly, I still second guess this decision, particularly on the difficult business days. I took a big risk, and I have and will continue to have fears around finances, whether my work is good enough, and if people will like and invest in my work, but I also practice recognizing these mental stories and putting them in their place. I remember why I wanted to come back to the U.S. and how much I wanted to be a full-time artist. I work on my mindset by writing down my fears and then reframing them. I’m constantly improving my business practices and time management, which aren’t always perfect (and shouldn’t have to be). I’m always trying to expand my artistic skills. Every day I choose the path that I know will lead me to what I’m capable of and the life I want rather than remaining in my comfort zone. Even when I’m questioning my decision, I also know it was a good one.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a self-taught painter and designer focused on exploring vibrant colors and patterns, primarily through watercolor, alcohol ink and acrylics. I often use photos I’ve collected on my travels as inspiration for my watercolor paintings, and I have a great love for flowers and food, which regularly make appearances in my paintings. More recently, I’ve been exploring abstract paintings with alcohol inks and acrylics. I paint happy artwork as a way of connecting with others. I want to inspire, bring joy, provide an escape, and give others a little hope and a reminder of the beauty and goodness that exists in this world.

My journey to being an art entrepreneur has not been very straightforward. I didn’t go to art school, but I did grow up painting and drawing with my mother, who is a professional artist, and I have a degree in art history, so creativity is in my blood. Over the past decade, I built a career in travel and education, and somewhere in there became a certified life coach, but I found that creativity was missing from my life. In January 2020, I picked up my watercolor supplies once again, and have been painting consistently ever since. When I moved back to the U.S., I decided to go all in with my art business.

I am now a full-time artist, which has been so wonderful and so challenging. I love painting, but I don’t get to paint as much as I’d like. I have been immersing myself in learning the business side of entrepreneurship, and I have to work through the fears and risks of starting my own business and showing my art to the world every day. Mindset work is a must to keep myself from running back to my career comfort zone because I know things may not go as I planned, but this work is essential to who I am and what I want for my life.

In terms of what comes next, I’m planning to expand my product line to include more surface pattern design and paper products in the next few months. My dream is to combine my experience in education abroad and art to offer an art retreat in Copenhagen.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d love to give a shout out to mom, A.B. Huddlestun, who is an incredible artist and taught me most of what I know about painting and design.

Website: https://www.hilarywilsondesign.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hilarywilsondesign/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hilary-wilson-28760047/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hilarywilsondesign

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Hilary Wilson