Creator's Corner: Love Ludie | Jenna Hutchison
Love Ludie | Jenna Hutchison: Painter
Jenna is the painter behind the wildly successful brand “Love Ludie.”
Here she talks about her unique path for pursuing a creative career, the experiences that have impacted her as an artist, and what she loves to do when she’s not painting.
Tell us a little about yourself! Who are you and what’s your creative background?
My name is Jenna Hutchison - I am a full-time artist from Torquay VIC. I have a background of studying Interior Design & Interior Architecture. I then went on to do a bit of Fashion Design (without any real tertiary qualifications) I guess I have always been creative in some way!
What did the path to pursuing a creative career look like for you?
I guess - to where I am now (painting) it was a bit of a crazy coincidence. I was working and designing for a fashion brand in Melbourne and decided to start a candle company while I was there as a little something to do on the side (this was before candles were EVERYWHERE haha). All of the candle label designs were all hand-painted so I wanted to create my own box designs to go alongside that. I remember going to the art store and buying a lot of paint. I came home and shared the process on Instagram..(I had no idea what I was doing) I painted for about a week straight, trying to design corresponding artworks for the candle fragrances. People on Instagram absolutely loved them and kept wanting to see more. A few years on and I’m now painting full time. I absolutely fell in love with the process…..and the candle boxes never happened!
What influences your creativity?
It can be absolutely anything. From food to music, landscapes to thoughts. There will be nights where I lay in bed and create things in my mind. There are also days when I go into the studio with the intention to create something and end up doing something completely different. I never know what my mind is going to come up with.
Do you have any rituals that help you get into the zone before you sit down to paint?
Nothing too structured however i do sage the studio and burn incense quite often.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
I feel like my entire life has impacted the way I work. Even the name itself ‘LOVE LUDIE’ - Ludie was the name of my imaginary friend when I was little, and also huge aspects like losing my father, I definitely feel that monumental moments in my life have helped shape the part that i’m on and the work I create. My mood can definitely affect the way I create and what I'm creating.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed over the years?
The typical day normally starts with meditation. Then I'll always make a coffee and walk out into my studio and get started. I’ll normally work between 8am - 4pm. This is something I have had to structure over time. I used to work around the clock and it’s so nice that now I am working full time. I am able to have that structure but also so much freedom. On a summer's day, there will always be beers.
Do you have a favourite or most memorable piece you’ve ever created?
I do! And I can’t bring myself to sell it for any amount of money - yet haha
What do you wish to express or communicate with your art?
For myself - I would like to express everything that my mind wants and needs to create in all the vividness it needs to be. For others - I want to express that you can follow your heart and become whatever weird and wonderful person you not only want to be, but are supposed to be. Ludie was the name of my imaginary friend when I was little, so I guess the entire business revolves around my mind and whatever it comes up with and creates.
What are some of the challenges of running your own creative business? And how do you approach these challenges?
Self doubt is a huge one. I can go from loving my work to hating it, to loving it again and sometimes it all happens on the same day in the same minute. I think working by myself can be hard too.
Tell us about some of your partnerships and the products you’ve created in collaboration with other companies.
One of the coolest collabs I have done would have to be my ongoing collaboration and partnership with The Dairy. The phone cases are so fun to create and I love seeing them everywhere. They sell A LOT of them!
How do you see your art evolving over the next few years?
Sometimes my mind moves way too fast and I have so many ideas that I want to execute them all in one day. But I can tell you now, I will never be short of ideas. My style has evolved so much over the last 11 months so I'm excited to see where my mind takes me.
What’s one misconception about pursuing a creative career that you want to rectify?
I think a lot of people just assume that because you are creative or have ‘talent’ that it comes easy and naturally for you!
What is the proudest moment in your journey so far?
Oh my goodness there's been a few - so I’ll have to say 3
Getting invited to the Microsoft Dinner
Becoming a Full time artist
Selling an entire collection to one person...7 minutes after releasing it - I cried!
When you’re not painting, what can we find you doing?
At the beach, making pasta, or cooking something. I think when art became a full-time venture for me, cooking became that creative outlet that didn't have a ‘job’ title attached to it. Cooking became a new way for me to create with full freedom.
What do you look forward to each day?
I look forward to waking up and doing what I love. I have been painting full time for almost a year now and I couldn't be happier
What advice would you give aspiring women wanting to turn their passion or art into a career?
My honest advice would be to find your style. And gain knowledge in sales and marketing, because it is just as much about that as it is creativity!
Finish these sentences
My favourite place to travel is - I absolutely LOVE Croatia.
My current food craving is Oysters or fresh pasta… or anything with sour cream on it. I just love food!
These 3 adjectives describe my life right now: Freedom, Health, Rest
I can read Normal People by Sally Rooney over and over again,
I believe that good things come to those who work their butt off!
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