Check Out Mollie Jackson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mollie Jackson.

Hi Mollie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Sure! I was born in Illinois but spent much of my early childhood overseas—in Geneva, Paris, and Stockholm. My mom was an abstract artist and art professor, so the studio was like a second home. I grew up surrounded by her supplies, always making things. By high school, I was painting murals in the hallways and even running a small portrait business.

During college summers, I apprenticed with a sculptor and professor at the Art Institute of Chicago. He taught me to cast in bronze, weld, and—more than anything—truly see form and composition.

I earned my BFA from the University of Iowa, then moved to Colorado, where I’ve lived and worked ever since. Over the years, I’ve shown work throughout Boulder, in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, and at the Corcoran Museum of Art in D.C.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely had its bumps. Honestly, the hardest part has been making time. I have three kids, a busy design job, and like a lot of working parents, I’m usually painting late at night when the house is quiet—and sometimes I’m just too tired.
I love painting for the joy of it, and that’s part of why it’s worked—I’m not chasing trends or sales, I’m chasing the feeling. But at the same time, there’s a fear there… that if I tried to do it full time, it might shift into something transactional. That fear probably holds me back more than anything else, especially when it comes to seeking gallery representation or fully stepping into that identity as a professional artist.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is abstract and deeply rooted in process. I build layers using acrylic, pencil, and cold wax mixed with oil to create pieces that pulse with energy. I use a variety of tools—from squeegees to paper—to move color, pattern, and emotion across the canvas. I rarely begin with a plan—instead, I let intuition lead the way.
I usually work on five or six oversized canvases at once, spread out on the floor. It’s very physical—almost like a moving meditation. I get into a flow state where I’m not thinking, just responding. That’s when the real magic happens.
At its core, my art is about emotion and connection. I think what sets it apart is that it’s honest. I think people are hungry for authenticity.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
It’s easy to chase what’s trending, or to try to make the kind of art you admire in others. But the truth is, the work that resonates the most—the work people connect with—is the work that’s most you.
For me, that’s been a journey. The art I’m drawn to is often quiet, minimal, restrained… and what comes out of me in the studio is layered, emotional, a little chaotic, and full of color. I keep telling myself I’ll try to tone down—but never really do. Over time, I’ve realized I can’t paint any other way. It’s instinctive. And there’s something powerful about embracing that.
So my advice is: let yourself paint the way you paint. Let it be messy or loud or quiet or strange. Let it surprise you. You can’t force your voice, but you can honor it.

Pricing:

• 60″x48″: $1,200
• 48″x48″: $900
• Smaller sizes: $200-$500

Contact Info:

• Website: https://molliejackson.carbonmade.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molliejacksonart/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mollie-jackson-578b435/