Juliet King, Hijinx Mixed Media - April 2025

How and where did your art practice begin?

Like many kids, I was really into drawing and fortunately this was something my parents encouraged. I never really imagined I would be able to make a living as an artist before I took a graphic design class in high school, which I enjoyed. This interest led me to get a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from UW Whitewater, with an emphasis in graphic design. Turns out, a bunch of other young creatives had a similar idea… Oops! When I graduated, the entry level graphic design market was competitive, and I couldn’t find a job. I started selling my work online and I quickly realized that I prefer working for myself over designing for somebody else. With the freedom that being self-employed brings, I’ve had the opportunity to explore and play in my art making practices.

How do you plan your pieces and how do you decide when they’re finished?

For me, the artmaking process is fairly intuitive. I am constantly having ideas for new pieces, and I keep lists and pages of rough sketches to put those ideas into when they pop into my brain. Sometimes, I have a strong sense of where I want pieces to end up. Other times, when I feel stuck but determined, I search for reference photos, look at other works that are similar in style or content, or I will sketch variations of the same idea. If I have to force myself to finish, it’s an indicator that the piece won’t turn out authentically. In every piece, there comes a point where I step back and have a gut feeling about it being complete. Whether I like the finished product or not is a different story!

What draws you to your preferred mediums?

I am drawn to mediums that can create tangible products and pair well with my art style. For example, printmaking and rug making are what I would consider to be my two main mediums right now. Because I usually start with an illustration, I can explore various drawing styles that compliment the medium of my choice. Screen printing, which I do at Madison's local printmaking makerspace Polka! Press, allows for a moderate level of detail while also being able to apply my work onto things like apparel, flour sack towels, and sew-on patches. Punch needle rug tufting allows for more simple designs with limited but bold colors, and can create products like coasters, floor mats, or decorative wall hangings. I also use inkjet or digital printmaking, which I like because it efficiently captures more details and unlimited colors.

What result can a finished piece or your process yield that makes you feel rewarded or proud?

The act of completing a work of art is satisfactory in itself. What really brings me joy is when I have the opportunity to see how people react to my work at community events. Much of my art uses humor as a tool to break the ice on topics that may be difficult to talk about such as mental health, otherism, climate change, and consumerism. Obtaining the approval of others isn’t the most important goal of my art making but it is a privilege to see how my work can brighten peoples’ day and maybe even evoke some critical thinking.

Upcoming events/sales/where can your work be purchased?

I sell my artwork online (hijinxmixedmedia.com) and around the Madison area at local craft fairs, art markets, and community events. My regular market is every Saturday at the Dane County Farmers Market in the artist section on State Street, also known as Saturdays on State. This is where I will be vending beginning Saturday April 12th from 9AM-2PM and throughout the next nine months. Before the farmers market season begins, I will be at The Spring Crafty Fair at the Goodman Community Center on April 5th from 10AM-4PM.

What role do places like Art Hub play in having an art practice that is also a business?

Being an artist and a small business owner is a whole lot of work. I am endlessly grateful for any support I can get. Places like Art Hub are important because I provide the art and they provide the marketplace. I like making art before any other aspects of running a business, so it is a relief to have somebody else (another small business too!) do the marketing and the selling for me. Art Hub reaches an audience that I wouldn’t have reached on my own.

Come see more of Juliet's work, and their spotlight artist window display, at Art Hub.