Today we’d like to introduce you to Hollie Puterbaugh.
Hi Hollie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I was in middle school, I gained a wonderful group of friends that introduced little 11-year-old me to the vast and intricate world of animation and drawing. It was love at first sight, and I quickly became hooked on drawing ever since. Flash forward to high school, I was on the school tennis team. I remember bringing my sketchbook with me to every practice and match, asking people for drawing requests. When I started to take drawing more seriously, I joined the national art honor society, AP art classes, and spent almost all of my time drawing. My daily routine was: draw, go to school, draw at school, draw some more, sleep, and then draw some more, every single day.
Once I graduated high school, I attended the University of North Texas for my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting and a minor in Art History. After UNT, I studied at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia and received my Masters in Illustration in November of 2025. Studying illustration at SCAD is one of the best things I’ve done for my career and shaped me into the illustrator I am now.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My art journey has been insanely challenging yet exciting! I have struggled with generalized anxiety disorder since I was a child. I have always been the kind of person watches and observes with wide eyes, scared of the world. Now, I am significantly less passive and find myself taking risks and following the challenge, facing it head on. However, the ability to wholeheartedly delve into anything freely is something I’ll always struggle with. But I’ve realized that this delicate regard I possess is what makes me, me.
Before I even started my undergraduate program, I switched my major from Drawing and Painting to Japanese language studies because I was afraid of pursuing art as a career. From then on, I switched my major around 4 times before going back to drawing and painting. I tried photography, business management, and even integrated studies, but I could not get away from the itch to draw and create.
Fear has driven a lot of my academic decisions, but I’m finally at a point where I am confident in my voice as an artist and my ability to advocate for others who struggle to find their inner “boss”. Of course, I wouldn’t ever trade being a creative.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an illustrator that specializes in conceptual editorial illustration, however I also create work for children’s/young adult publishing, concept design, and surface design markets.
I am known for featuring whimsical themes, feminine characters, bright colors, and texture in my work. A lot of my work also focuses on escaping the anxieties of real life and traveling to made up, whimsical worlds. I love the ideation part of the creative process because it allows me to use my creative problem solving skills to the fullest.
I usually work digitally with a variety of textured brushes. I am a trained oil/acrylic painter and I love using that knowledge in my digital work. No digital drawing program scares me! I love working in Procreate, Photoshop, and Clip Studio Paint.
Currently, I am proud that I am trying new things and challenging my comfort zone. With my anxiety, it’s so easy to stay within my comfort zone. Since I’ve graduated from SCAD, I can see myself blossoming as an artist because of all of the risks I’ve been taking with my art.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My art teacher from high school, Mr. Baker, was the first person that had a huge influence on my art career. He is such a kindhearted and warm person to be around and encouraged me to pursue art as a career.
I am also so lucky to have parents that have encouraged me to chase what brings me joy and fulfillment. They drove me to every art competition, purchased all of the necessary supplies, and supported me in my artistic studies.
When I got to the Savannah College of Art and Design, I met Professor Ryan Sanchez as he was the professor for the first class I took. He quickly became a very valuable mentor to me and taught me everything I know about editorial illustration, conceptual illustration, and illustration in general. I have also had many other professors at SCAD I am so thankful for such as Mohamed Danawi, Britt Spencer, Gloria Felix, and Charla Pettingill.
Lastly, I am also so thankful for all of the friends I met at SCAD. When you go to art school and meet wonderful people like them, go through the same things as them, learn the same things as them, you create a bond and support system with each other that is so strong. I can’t imagine going through my masters program without them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hollieillu.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/acupofhollie
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hollieputerbaugh
