Meet Jill Soukup | Artist

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

Hi Jill, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
I firmly believe cultivating balance in our daily lives is essential to maintain sanity. And, for me, prioritizing is the key. I’ve narrowed my priorities to health, family, and work, in that order. A healthy lifestyle comes first because wellness is essential to attend to the other two. Since my health is good, I can dedicate the remainder of my time to family and work. If an opportunity or situation presents itself, it must support one of these priorities. If not, then it’s an easy “no.” We are all busy, constantly bombarded with possibilities and distractions; prioritizing the few most important elements of my life has helped me eliminate the unnecessary. I used to agonize over almost every opportunity that came my way — I was afraid I might miss out on something important — but that blurred what was essential to me.

When I zero in on my work, I apply the same three-tier system, prioritizing creating art, teaching art, and maintaining a healthy business (marketing, exhibitions, accounting, etc.). Balancing these can be tricky because each category is complex and demands time and attention. When I get stuck, I default to my number one work priority — creating art. After all, without the “product,” the other two lose relevance.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m most passionate about exploring complementary opposites: the yin and yang of art. In essence, it’s the idea that two opposing components are also defined by one another, walking a fine line of resonance and resistance, growing and evolving from that dissonant harmony. In my work, I rely on this idea to thoroughly investigate the elements of art, by applying it to the balance of dark and light value patterns, warm and cool colors, soft and hard edges, and so on. I’m observing and playing with the extreme ends of each contrasting element — and everything in between — to discover the outcomes of various combinations and proportions. When they are in balance, beauty is achieved.

The curious excitement of this exploration has extended itself into everyday life for me, from the most minute of observations to contextualization on a humbling scale. Our entire reality participates in this dance of duality — day and night, birth and death, joy and sorrow, hot and cold, good and bad — the list is endless.

Finally, while my artistic journey has felt easy because I’m doing what I love, it has also required an incredible amount of work, effort I was happy to exert. It’s as the saying goes: “nothing worthwhile comes easy.”

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m an unapologetic homebody, so my favorite experiences involve engaging conversation and good food at home. That said, were I to venture out, my ideal city day would involve a visit to the Denver Art Museum, a meal at Sushi Den, and a hike through Denver’s front-range, open space trails.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Thankfully, that’s a long list: my family, galleries, exhibitors, instructors (both living and deceased), my students, and various services have all been integral to my success. But, if I must be specific, I’d like to give a shout-out to Ranchlands (ranchlands.com), a conservation-informed ranch that has provided me endless inspiration through visits and activities at their properties over the past 20 years. They have also been wonderful partners in our annual “Painting Horses Workshop.”

Alyson Stanfield’s art business consulting and instruction (artbizsuccess.com) has also helped me immensely in defining and running a successful company: She has been an essential resource for me over the years.

Website: jillsoukup.com

Instagram: jillsoukup

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

Youtube: Jill Soukup Studios ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp_3KcG7JTjnpnbnfG99FM)

Image Credits
Bio picture: Elk & HAMMER Art Images: Jill Soukup