Since the fifth grade, when she meticulously copied her best friend’s handwriting, Jillian Schiavi has harbored and developed a passion for hand-lettered text, calligraphy, and the evocative nature of pulling ink across the surface of paper. In 2010, after spending four years writing critical English essays at New York University, and then another two working within the publishing world, she finally gave in to her artistic impulses and moved to Chicago to pursue her MFA in Creative Writing from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Working in prose-poetic and short short fiction structures, Jillian used her time at SAIC to experiment with language, form, and, ultimately, the visual translation of text in two-and-three dimensional iterations. While in school, she founded her paper design and illustration company, jilly ink, and provides custom hand-drawn text and designs for anything from personal and wedding stationery, to installation wall art, personalized tattoos and logo design. Jillian is an advocate for positivity, individual expression, for cultivating creativity in the way that feels most natural. As a teacher, artist, business owner, and friend, she exudes an optimistic attitude towards every situation and challenge that comes her way.