“There are so many metaphors that happen in the process that parallel life—two being color working in unison to create a beautiful design, and embracing the element of chance.”
With her wild success and free spirited ap- proach to creativity, it’s not surprising that Jill Seale—artist and marbling extraordinaire—has dabbled in a bit of everything. The now Charlotte-based creator has moonlighted as a stand- up comic, owned a graphic studio in George- town and ventured into the gift industry, all before becoming entranced with marbling on a trip to Florence. Seale describes the moment as a “religious experience,” and one that satisfied her search for a voice in textiles.
“It was like we’d been waiting all our lives to find each other,” Seale reflects. “I was mesmerized by it.”
But Italy wasn’t her first encounter with the art form. Seale notes that she has always been captivated by the bespoke nature of marbling, with childhood memories of her mother’s creamy turquoise and silver marbled china. The set was designed with a sort of imperfection that allowed individuality—a concept Seale has car- ried into her own artistic methodology.
“It’s very therapeutic,” she says. “My guess is because it’s a water-based art. It has a flow and movement of the Golden Ratio in mathematics and speaks to us because we are most- ly made of water—the same as the ocean, waterfalls, lakes and fountains. Humans like water. Visually it is entrancing watch- ing the process of paints moving on the surface and intertwin- ing to form a pattern.”
This free-flowing approach doubles as a business strategy for Seale, who has curated a repertoire of well-rounded offerings— ranging from wallpapers to textiles and home decor in marbled, painterly, geometric and botanical designs.
“I especially love working with designers to create some- thing custom for their clients,” Seale says. “Because I am small
enough, I am nimble in my ability to create bespoke solutions and it also pushes my design in directions I may not have done on my own. The collaborative fusion always intrigues me.”
Her wide skill set and adaptability has allowed Seale opportunities many could only dream of.
“Right place, right time,” Seale laughs. “Friends of the Earth hired me to calligraphy a manuscript they presented to Sir Paul on his world tour. Right in my contract I put ‘I party with Paul” for when he came to Washington. I met him and Linda McCart- ney and they were absolutely lovely and engaging.”
While Seale’s portfolio includes multiple commissions for The White House and The Kennedy Center, perhaps her most meaningful project was designing the logo for the “Women in Military Service for America Memorial.” Situated at the entrance of Arling- ton National Cemetery, the memorial honors women, past and present, in all branches of the military.
But even after the completion of a monumental project, Seale doesn’t stop there. The artist says that her mind is constantly on the move, dreaming up the next best thing—whether it be a custom piece for a client, or a colorful new design.
“I tend to see life in groups of colors first, then shapes,” Seale says. “I am always looking for a creative twist to something to bring a look or idea that isn’t already out there. I’ve done a little bit of stand-up comedy and I truly believe it’s the same part of my brain at work. I love taking the time-honored craft of marbling and bringing my own creative dialogue to it with color choices and playing in the marbling tray. Sometimes the inspiration happens while being in the tray during the process, spotting something interesting unfolding and capturing it.
MOST CHALLENGING:
“I do a series of custom hand-marbled framed scarves designed espe- cially for Port 68, a home accents company. We picked 4 styles that I recreate closely, never exact—the charm of marbling. It’s challenging but a beautiful hand-designed prod- uct and worth the effort.”
PERSONAL FAVORITE:
“It’s hard to pick one favorite child, but my first design to make it onto furniture is called Tuscan Sun- set. It was created in Florence, Italy. That one holds a particular place in my heart.”
A MEANINGFUL EXPERIENCE:
“Walter Reed National Military Medical Center brought me in to expose their art therapists to marbling as a modality for art therapy. This is one of the most meaningful highlights for me.”
