Today we’d like to introduce you to Nervous Giraffe Aka Hope Donovan
Hi Nervous Giraffe, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was nine I would make little trinkets out of construction paper and markers and play with them instead of my toys. After elementary school I started playing in an orchestra. I found a new joy in performance and followed the classical music path at Loyola University in New Orleans. Financing my own education, I sold ballpoint pen sketches on the weekends to supplement my income. Those doodles were $5 for 5 minutes but I’d make a lot! I immediately received requests for larger commission paintings. I later adopted the pen name Nervous Giraffe, a tribute to my childhood social anxiety. My mom used to say “Sweetie you’re not an outsider, you’re as special as a giraffe in the monkey habitat. You haven’t found the right crowd yet.”
I sold over 150 prints and commission slots in New Orleans. I began setting up art booths and shipping my paintings throughout the country and putting my work in galleries. I’m so grateful for the clients who kickstarted my career and ultimately my confidence as an artist. I learned that although I enjoyed music, I found my true purpose in art. Creating my art was motivated by intrinsic passion rather than external validation like I sought with music. During my awakening, I realized that I could pursue this passion while rejoining my family in Michigan by applying to art school at Western Michigan University.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, the road definitely had some obstacles. But I wouldn’t trade them, they made me stronger. At Loyola, I had to work 2 jobs while studying to barely afford my tuition and rent in New Orleans. I would wake up at 4am to open a Starbucks, attend class and rehearsals, then work night shifts as a bartender on the Mardi Gras parade route. I fell into the “bad” friend groups and unhealthy habits. I was alone in Louisiana with no family and a toxic roommate arrangement, stuck with cleaning up the damage on my own. Although it was the last thing I wanted, I took a leave of absence at the start of my Junior year to return home in Michigan. For most of my life, orchestra was all I knew about myself. I found so much of my worth in music, leaving New Orleans felt like burning the bridge to my lifelong dreams. I was completely crushed to admit those dreams wouldn’t really make me happy. That was the hardest breakup of my life, but I knew I had better potential ahead of me.
My first semester at WMU concluded with a painting to show my identity as a “music school dropout.” In it, a feminine viola-shaped figure lays atop a bed of the sheet music I played in my last semester as a music major, with vibrant mushrooms surrounding her body. Fungi are natural decomposers that feed on death and decay. I chose the title ‘Requiem’ since a requiem is typically performed at funerary services. I wanted to honor the piece of myself I’ve put to rest, but symbolize how much has grown from that history.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My creative path has been one of significant self development, where I’ve learned to embrace vulnerability, challenge myself, and connect with others through art. As an artist, I’ve often used my paintings and drawings to communicate my personal struggles, and this ability to express myself is something I bring to my curatorial process. Whether I’m finishing a painting or planning an exhibit, I find solace and purpose in sharing stories—whether they are my own or those of others—and in capturing the beauty of the human condition through art.
Outside the studio I serve as the president of Hillel for Jewish Students, work as an assistant curator for the WMU Archives, and spend time with my sorority Alpha Chi Omega. After graduation in December 2025, I look forward to applying my education to a career in art curation and exhibition management.
What does success mean to you?
That is a really good question! I tend to aim super high with my goals, so I track success according to achievement. But here’s my idea of success for future me: I’d be working in a Museum with Contemporary Art until I can start my own gallery. I’d love to stay in Michigan so I can see my siblings more (I’m the oldest of six) but I haven’t decided on a city yet. I’m a runner, so being in nature is a must. I would make time for marathon training and hosting Shabbat dinner parties. And I’d never stop making art!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nervous_giraffe
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558287793756
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hopedonovan
- Other: https://app.joinhandshake.com/profiles/r4hkqt
