Here And Now Artist feature: Holli Schulz Friley

Born and raised in New Salisbury, Indiana, Holli Schulz currently lives in Lexington, where she graduated from Transylvania University with a BA in studio art. Her main focus is in printmaking, drawing, and currently is learning how to work with animation. 

Holli's inspiration derives from old family photos, vintage magazines, old TV shows and movies, Pop-Culure, cartoons, and humor. Holli feels that she is more successful when she focuses on things that interest her instead of trying to be similar or mimic the style of other artists. Most her work starts out as a sketch: some take on a different life outside the sketchbook and some do not. 

LAL (Lexington Art League): What made you decide to become an artist?

HS (Holli Schulz): I don't think I purposefully made the decision to be an artist. It never felt like a choice. I always loved drawing and really treasured my crayons as a kid by keeping them pointy and trying to never tear the paper. When I was in grade school I always looked forward to art class because a place where I felt really confident. And that feeling continued into college where I graduated with a studio art degree. I'm still drawing, painting, printing now. I just never stopped. So as an adult, I'm an artist.

LAL: Why did you decide on drawing as your main medium? What drew you to it?

HS: Drawing has always been my favorite way of recording things. In a way, it replaces words that I can't get out because I'm never been a good writer, speaker, or storyteller. But I can draw anything I like in anyway I like. 

LAL: What went into creating your work for the Here and Now show?

HS: I like to focus my work on lighthearted and kind of humorous subjects. The two drawings I have in this show are part of a series of fast food and flowers. The decision to make these came from the realization that I was making things that other people would like. I was never really happy with the end result so I sat down and thought...what does Holli like? And I answered flowers and junk food. Which are two things that do not go together, but they do. Because I really like both things. So I began drawing my favorite things whether they "go together" or not. I'm personally happy with the result.

LAL: What inspires you to create?

HS: Inspiration can come from so many different places. Like, the random assortment of objects that end up on my desk, Maria Bamford, my dog, flowers, vintage magazines, kawaii, beautifully designed packaging, bar-codes, anything I like.

LAL: Does the rest of your artwork follow along the same lines as this one? If not, what themes are usually present in your work?

HS: My other work is similar in context. Which essentially means I have a catalog of things I love about us humans. It's all kind of silly and a little outlandish, but sometimes totally common too. I recently illustrated some dogs but gave them new, maybe more accurate breed names because people often ask dog owner what kind of dog they have. Does it matter? You can make up anything. So I did. I also make gestural monoprints that start with a basic idea or image and from there my only rule is add color! I love the resulting liquid movement given to the base image. 

LAL: What do you want the audience to take from your work?

HS: I want my work to give the viewer a little humorous lift. Our world is full of garden flowers and hotdogs and that's ok and everything will be ok.

LAL: Is there any advice you could give budding artists?

HS: My advice to budding artists would be: 1. Only create things you really want to be creating 2. There is no hurry to finish projects, give them whatever time they require to make you happy with the result 3. Keep it up.

Check out her website: www.hollischulz.com

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Garden Flowers and Hotdog/Garden Flowers and Cheeseburger by Holli Schulz