Photography provided by Spoonful of Faith
Jena Holliday is a Minnesota-based illustrator and author, and the founder of Spoonful of Faith, her studio where she creates joyful drawings of women, florals and hand-lettered inspirational quotes. Her work is inspired by the many women who surrounded her while growing up and the beauty she sees in the women around her today. We chatted with Holliday about her artful background, her latest Target stationery collection, and her vision for Spoonful of Faith.
When did you start creating art?
I’ve loved creating since I was a little girl. I vividly remember some of my first art classes; I loved hearing I could create whatever I imagined. In high school, I would make comic strips for friends about our teenage drama. I started Spoonful of Faith shortly after I became a mother in 2014. It started out as a blog and a space for me to share some of the doodles and illustrations I was making in my spare moments as a new mom. Then in 2017, I started creating art full-time.
How would you describe your style?
Joyful, whimsical and hopeful.
Do you have a favorite project to date?
I got the chance to create some illustrations for Target’s Black History Month social media campaign this year that was centered around Black wellness and affirmations. I created a series of illustrations that centered around affirmations specifically for Black women. It was fun to dream up how we could encourage and inspire others and also come up with creative ways to showcase that art through social media.
What inspired your latest Target stationery collection?
I am a big advocate for diversity and unity. One of my designs for Target includes a group of all types of different women, and it’s one of my absolute favorite illustrations that I’ve ever created because so many different women can connect to it and see themselves. I really wanted this image to be on the shelves at Target this season because after everything the Twin Cities community experienced last year with the civil unrest, this was a way for me to share an image of hope with others.
How do you hope Spoonful of Faith impacts the Twin Cities community?
I want Spoonful of Faith to be a source of hope and joy for others. I love to seek out opportunities where I can connect with local organizations and help support their initiatives through illustration. In the past, I have created artwork that serves local initiatives that align with my values, including Wayside Recovery Center, Nexus Community Partners and the Racial Justice Network. It’s my mission to use creativity to empower women to believe in their purpose and to live impactful lives. I hope that through what I create I can give someone a little bit of that.
