HeyMill is the creation of Millie Hodgson-Berry, a pop-artist from the town of Riverstone, North West of Sydney. Riverstone is a small town, and so it was up to Millie to create her own fun. “I think living on a few acres in the bush really allows you to develop your creativity and gives you plenty of time to figure out how to express yourself. It also makes you a bit mad which is a totally healthy attribute in any artist.”
We caught up with Millie to talk about her unique, satirical (and kind of crazy) style, how it came to be, and what the future looks like for HeyMill.
When were you first inspired to try your hand at pop-art?
Well, I did watch a lot of TV and movies growing up. The first drawing I ever published was of talk show host Maury Povich wearing a turtleneck with the caption “I completely love turtlenecks”. It was so shit that it made me laugh, so I thought other people would laugh too. It was also a good distraction from the uni work I was meant to be doing at the time.
Your work has a particular focus on celebrity. Can you tell us why that is?
I think anything focused on celebrity brings people together. You can all laugh at a drawing of Kim Kardashian crying because it’s more entertaining to look at versus one of her selfies. We are forced to see celebrities in a certain way every day, it’s nice to see a different representation of them, especially when it’s taking the piss. We are all thinking it anyway; I just have a vehicle to express it.
What is the basis for the style your work takes?
When you look at my first drawings through to my current, the style has evolved as I’ve gotten more comfortable with drawing. The common theme is that they all have a sarcastic, very Australian style humour. The humour is a part of the style as much as the drawings themselves. The drawings are just a way for me to communicate the random funny thoughts I have.
What is your favourite piece that you’ve created?
Kim Kardashian crying still makes me laugh, she has the most hilarious crying face. Kramer riding a taco smoking a ciggy whilst drinking a beer also makes me feel pretty great about life.
Do you see yourself as a career artist?
Not really, actually. I think everyone needs a side thing to keep you sane. My art keeps my spark lit. If I were to fill my days with loads of commissions and people directing my style and themes, I think the freedom that I get from creating is almost lost. For me, that freedom keeps me living. Integrity is really important as an artist. Unfortunately, in this undervalued industry, it’s often the first thing to go when you make it your full time career. I’ve always created to make people laugh, it’s quite possibly the best feeling in the world. Inspiring people to create and pursue a side thing will make most workplaces or even people in general a lot more bearable.
In terms of the industry, what’s your opinion on pop-art vs high-art? Is there cause for distinction?
At the end of the day, there’s an artist sitting in front of a blank canvas, about to express themselves and lay their soul down for all to see. They want to connect with the viewer, they want to move them. Whether that’s through humour, beauty or whatever emotion is evoked, it’s the same desire to connect your artistic expression to a bigger audience. We are very lucky to be able to see so much different art. The distinction needs to be there the same reason why you watch a comedy when you want to laugh, and a soppy drama when you want to cry into a bucket of KFC.
You’re currently in Japan, where you produce a video series. Tell us more about that.
One day, I thought “if I quit my advertising job, move to a cool country I’ve never been to, and give myself a lot of time, what could I create?” I had so many ideas for short videos, once you start you can’t stop. Japan is so rich in culture and experiences, the possibilities are endless. The content I’m producing sits in the space between being informative, satirical and slightly nuts. I also just take the piss out of a lot of video styles I’ve seen on Youtube.
What kind of response does your work generally receive?
Well, I haven’t got any hate mail yet, so that’s great! Mainly people tell me I’m nuts, give me suggestions etc. I feed off people’s feedback. Ideas come from everywhere and everyone, my creative process is not really a solo one. My mum loves commenting on everything I post, which usually adds to the humour of it all.
Which other artists do you recommend for people who like your work?
There are A LOT of brilliant illustrators and creators out there. The problem is that they are hidden gems waiting to be discovered. I love the crude work of Aussie illustrators David the Robot (NSFW) and FilthyRatbag (NSFW). They are unapologetic about their style and topics, always taking it slightly too far for most, but fantastic in my opinion. Chris (simpsons artist) is pure genius also.
What does the future look like for HeyMill?
I’m currently setting up my own content agency based back in Australia, but will work globally. My aim is to connect up-and-coming creators with small-medium businesses for inspired content and strategy. As a consumer, you want to see better content. As a business, you want to connect with your audience and be memorable. As an artist, you want people to know your work without losing your integrity. I think I can help all three but at the end of the day, I’ll always be creating; whatever form that takes is anyone’s guess.
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