Today we’d like to introduce you to Hollie Hibbert.
Hi Hollie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Sugar City, Idaho, as the eldest daughter of six children. Naturally, the role of the “responsible one” fell to me, and I tried to set a good example for my siblings. I explored many different interests, including sports, music, and reading, but I could most often be found sitting at the table with a box of crayons or colored pencils, happily doodling away.
I decided to pursue illustration while attending BYU–Idaho. My experience there was incredibly meaningful. I had professors and classmates who encouraged me, believed in my work, and helped me recognize that building a career as an artist was truly possible.
Shortly after graduating in 2010, I traveled to New York City to meet with publishers and share my portfolio. One of our final appointments was with an art agency. They reviewed my work and offered thoughtful feedback, and by the time I had flown home to Idaho, an email was waiting for me with an offer to sign with them. I was completely floored… and absolutely thrilled!
The projects began to trickle in, but there was more work to be done. In August 2011, I took a leap of faith and moved to Utah. I began searching for work, and it was an uncertain and sometimes frightening period in my life. At one point, I had only $17 left in my bank account. I took on a variety of jobs and freelance opportunities while trying to find the right path forward.
After several months, a college friend told me about an opening at Imagine Learning, an educational technology company in Provo. I applied, and after several weeks of interviews and waiting, I was offered the position. I felt incredibly fortunate. I suddenly found myself working alongside artists I had admired for years.
My colleagues generously mentored me, welcomed me, and became dear friends. Their encouragement and support had a lasting impact on both my career and my life, and I will always be grateful for them. It was exactly the opportunity I needed at that stage of my career, and I gained a much deeper understanding of illustration, collaboration, and the creative industry.
Many of us also pursued freelance work outside of our day jobs. I spent a part of each evening working with my art representative on a variety of publishing projects and children’s books, steadily expanding my portfolio and building my career.
In 2015, I began exhibiting and selling my work at art conventions. It was an important step in expanding my audience and connecting directly with people who responded to my art. I found some success there, and the experience also changed the way I viewed my career. I began to see my artwork not only as a creative pursuit, but as a business.
Before attending conventions, I had assumed I would never enjoy sales or feel comfortable talking with strangers. Over time, I challenged those assumptions and developed skills I never expected to have. Meeting customers, discussing my work, and learning how to present myself professionally helped me learn to adapt and my confidence grew.
Today, I continue to work full-time in educational technology while also taking on publishing projects and exhibiting at art conventions. Balancing everything can be demanding, but I’m deeply grateful that I have been able to support myself through a career in illustration.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most creative careers, mine has continued to evolve. The rapid growth of artificial intelligence has introduced new uncertainty for working artists and has encouraged me to think more carefully about how I approach the future. Rather than becoming discouraged, I’m choosing to remain hopeful, adaptable, and intentional. I believe there will always be a meaningful place for artists, even if the path forward looks different than it did in the past.
I know I can’t (and don’t wish to) compete endlessly for attention on social media. Instead, I’m becoming more selective about the projects I take on and focusing my energy on creating work that brings me joy and feels true to who I am.
I often think of life as a boomerang—the more kindness, goodness, and beauty we put into the world, the more likely it is that those things will find their way back to us. I’m trying to keep a long-term perspective on what success really means. It can be difficult when recognition or progress does not come immediately, but I trust that the work I am doing will return to me in its own time and in its own way.
Being single has given me the freedom to pursue work and travel opportunities that may not have been possible otherwise, and I am grateful for those experiences. At the same time, building a life and career independently comes with real challenges. In today’s economy, it can feel as though I have to work longer hours simply to make progress, and carrying every responsibility and financial concern on my own can become exhausting.
Still, those experiences have also pushed me to become more capable, resourceful, and confident. I’ve learned to step forward, make difficult decisions, and face challenges even when I don’t feel completely prepared. There is something deeply satisfying about looking back at an obstacle and realizing that I found a way through it. Although independence can sometimes feel heavy, it has also shown me how much I’m capable of accomplishing.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m primarily a digital artist and work mainly in Adobe Photoshop and Procreate. Even when I am working digitally, I try to maintain the mindset and techniques of a traditional painter. Digital tools allow me to work efficiently and make adjustments quickly, which is especially valuable for client projects. However, I do still love working with traditional materials like my travel journals and sketchbooks. They give me a chance to experiment, observe, and keep my foundational skills sharp.
Even though I specialize in children’s illustration, I’ve developed several distinct art styles that allow me to adapt to the needs of each client and project. I enjoy creating work that feels playful and accessible to children while still offering enough detail and visual interest to appeal to adults.
In recent years, I have had the opportunity to illustrate three Little Golden Books featuring Princess Diana, Dick Van Dyke, and Ryan Gosling. I’ve also created artwork for cards in Ravensburger’s Disney Lorcana trading card game and illustrated several children’s books featuring poodles and French bulldogs. Each project has offered a different creative challenge, and I feel fortunate to continue working across such a wide range of subjects and audiences.
It still feels a little surreal to know that my work sometimes reaches a global audience. A few years ago, I illustrated the cover of an international magazine. At the time, my younger brother happened to be in Fiji and spotted the magazine while browsing the shelves of a local store. The cover featured my artwork alongside text in Fijian. Until he sent our family a photo, it had never occurred to me that my work was being translated and distributed so far from home. Seeing something I created appear unexpectedly on the other side of the world was both humbling and incredibly exciting. It was a wonderful reminder that art can travel much farther than the person who created it!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
One of the things I appreciate most about Provo is its strong sense of community. Provo is filled with good people who are doing their best in supporting one another and contributing in meaningful ways. It feels natural to celebrate the accomplishments of others here, and I’
ve been fortunate to receive that same encouragement in return. I also have wonderful neighbors and appreciate Provo’s convenient access to airports, outdoor recreation, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
If I could change a few things, I would love for the area to be less vulnerable to wildfires—and street parking can certainly be challenging at times. Those concerns aside, I genuinely love living in Provo. I appreciate its history, its character, and the sense of connection I have found within the community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.holliehibbert.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/holliehibbert/
