Workshop Wisdom: Jack Holland

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 its 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 I have a hot drink and a podcast.