Workshop Wisdom - Jack Holland

Workshop Wisdom: Meet Jack Holland, the Artist Behind the Patch

For this launch, we teamed up with illustrator Jack Holland, whose bold, cartoon-inspired style has given our Zimbabwe leather patch a unique twist.

Jack’s work turns the everyday into something playful and full of character, and when he’s not drawing, you’ll find him making flat whites in the coffee shop he opened inside a florist.

As part of our Workshop Wisdom series, we asked Jack a few questions about his creative process, his favourite tools (spoiler: it's not all digital), and what fuels his imagination.

Tell us about your work.

My work involves taking the mundane and making it ever so slightly less mundane through bold shapes and colours, with a heavy cartoonish aesthetic that mostly depicts hands holding different kinds of drinks 

How would you describe your workshop?

Although I would love to have a beautiful light filled studio, my current workspace consists of my counter in the coffee shop I opened in my friends florist, drawing in between making flat whites 

What is the usual day in the workshop like for you?

Get up early, walk to the cafe to set up and sit down with a flat white, deal with the morning rush and then get out the pens and pencils and start doodling whilst chatting with my regulars. 

How do you best like to work? Music, podcast, silence?

Loud music! Although recently I’ve started listening to DnD campaigns whilst working… 

If you could recommend one podcast or YouTube what would it be?

Currently obsessed with an improv interview show by Dropout called Very Important People 

Who inspired you when you were starting your creative career?

I was very lucky whilst at uni to be surrounded by some unbelievably talented artists that always inspired me, but I always refer back to mid-century designs, old jazz album covers and even old establishing shots from The Simpsons for inspo 

What themes, inspirations or concepts drift into your work?

It’s quite subtle, but coffee always seems to find its way into my drawings, along with music and food

What is your favourite tool to use?

I hate to say it, but it's my iPad, the more AI seems to be taking over, the more I drift back to physical mark making for textures, oil pastels and Indian ink. 

Do you have a quote or motto that you say to yourself? Do you have any rules or rituals when working?

Everything’s a lesson, nothing’s a mistake

Ritual-wise, I have to have a big tidy before sitting down to draw. Always start in a sketchbook and make sure you have a hot drink and a podcast.

What advice do you have for another maker?

Just keep going - and get off the internet.

Find out more about Jack Holland here - https://www.instagram.com/jckholland/


To sign up for early access to the Zimbabwe Cotton launch, click here.