Jean Holmgren
"Well, I've never been to Spain, but I kinda like the music." I'm a hometown girl and except for my college years in Columbus, Ohio at Columbus College of Art and Design, I have lived and worked in the Memphis area. My illustration work has traveled more than I have. I had an
artist's
rep handle my work nationally for about ten years in the 80's and early
90's and have done work for Prentice-Hall, Silver-Burdett, Coors Brewing
Company, Walmart, Marion Merrell Dow, Hoechst Pharmaceuticals, and various
agencies in the Midwest as well as local agencies and publishers, as a freelancer.Now I divide my time between my job as an illustrator, designer and sometime copywriter for Chauncey Johnson Printing and Advertising and teaching at Memphis College of Art. I enjoy the challenge and diversity- I've really never been able or willing to focus.
On my fortieth birthday I had my last review before taking my orals for a graduate degree in Studio Arts at Memphis College of Art. Graduation was a proud moment and I loved doing the work and the change in perspective it granted me. I had rediscovered painting and loved it. Someone asked me just recently why I didn't just quit my job and paint- I told them I would, except I keep leaving space for type.
Photo by Dianne Foster
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