Daily Inspiration: Meet Lilly S

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilly S.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Demetri Martin once said, “Earth without art is just eh,” and I couldn’t agree more. It is in the inspiring talent of my peers that I find hope for an imaginative future. Returning from quarantine, my exposure to other students in my art class and their talent and diverse circumstances not only greatly inspired me, but also opened my eyes to the possibilities that I can fulfill.

I saw a lack of local art made by young artists in my school and the broader community, so I founded Young Artists of Boulder County to get their talents out into the world. The page had a very small following at first, so I had to reach out to local artists I admired in order to feature them. The artist’s reactions to the page are amazing, they seem so excited to participate! As more artists were featured the following grew. As of now, I hope to recruit more people to help with postings and social media presence.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There definitely have been some obstacles along the way. I am currently on a “one woman” team, so balancing my college life (and moving across the country) with the demands of running the page has been difficult. Also, in May, the account faced a security breach that locked the account for almost two months.

I was unable to log in and interact with the community, which was horrible! But overall I’ve met so many inspiring artists around the local area, many of whom are students, so obstacles don’t discourage me from running the account.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an artist myself, so running Young Artists of Boulder County is like an extension of my artistic hobbies. I am a mixed media artist, but I particularly love photography and drawing. I specialize in portraiture (in many mediums).

I am most proud of completing my Spring 2022 exhibition for the International Baccalaureate Higher Level Visual Arts program! Displaying my works in a public space was a beautiful experience that I feel validated my passion for art and created vulnerability when sharing such a private part of my life with others. I am currently going to university for Global and Public Health Studies, my other passion, so I am excited to continue making art as a hobby.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If you are a young artist from the Boulder County, Colorado area (or even the front range or metro area), Young Artists of Boulder County would love to feature your art! It is completely free, just go to @youngartistsofboco on Instagram. Thank you VoyageDenver Magazine for this amazing opportunity!

Contact Info:

• Website: linktr.ee/youngartistsofboco
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/youngartistsofboco/