Beauty in the Mundane: Hillsdale Alum Brings Her Passion to the Community

Written by Lauren Hearne

On Saturday mornings, May through October, the Hillsdale County Courthouse parking lot bustles with shoppers, farmers, craftsmen, and artists from all around the county to form the Hillsdale County Farmers Market. Nestled in this commotion is 2021 Hillsdale alumna, Caroline Greb.

Greb is a blooming studio artist and graphic designer who resides in Hillsdale with her husband Ethan, a ’19 alumnus, and their new daughter, Thea. 

“I loved the market as a chance to share my passion for finding beauty in the ordinary,” says Greb. 

The art major decided to promote her own artwork at the market as a way to contribute to the culture and life of the Hillsdale community. At her booth this past year, Greb sold fine art prints, hand-painted greeting cards, postcards, and original watercolors, most of which reflected the landscapes, townscapes, and natural beauty found in the county. As an artist and business woman, Greb is unique because she made these impressions easily available to the people who live amidst her inspiration and subject matter.

Concerning the decision to sell original artwork at the farmers market, she says, “I wanted to make fine art accessible to a wider audience and in a casual market, rather than in a gallery setting.” 

For her, this process involved working one-on-one with a printer in Ohio to produce her prints, gathering supplies for her table display, and painting greeting cards and original work to feature throughout the market months. Greb found herself painting more often than she originally planned, due to her work’s increasing popularity.

About the product, she says, “Over the course of the summer, I increased the amount of smaller original paintings I created because they seemed to be a cherished favorite among customers, despite the higher price,” says Greb. 

By the time Greb graduated, she knew that creating art would characterize the rest of her life. Since her niche and style will undoubtedly become more refined with time, Greb is embracing this season of exploration to paint and produce whatever interests her. 

Concerning Greb’s work, Hillsdale art professor Julio Suarez says, “I am not surprised that Caroline has been able to show and sell her work. She was an ideal student who cared deeply about her artwork and learning as much as possible while at Hillsdale. Her kindness, perseverance, and entrepreneurial mindset are a recipe for continued success.” 

About her business, Greb says that she has been both humbled and encouraged that her work continues to sell and be appreciated.

In Greb’s own words, the future of her business is “to keep painting, painting, painting!” Greb plans to continue applying to galleries and edging her way into the art world. She has recently partnered with Birdie and Howell, a new store located in downtown Hillsdale, as a way to sell her well-loved prints. She also markets her art though her personal website, carolinegreb.com. 

Besides sharing the appreciation of fine art with the ordinary person, Greb’s favorite part of the market was being able to connect personally with the community. She says, “Meeting strangers who then became familiar-Saturday-morning-faces was the highest joy.”

Most Hillsdalians treasure the concept of community, whether they’ve called this town home for many years or just a few months. An unexpected friendship manifests itself from this simple routine, and it becomes a rare gift to have a conversation with the person who painted your newly beloved piece of artwork.


Lauren Hearne, ‘22, studies history and business. She is from St. Louis, Missouri, and is the biggest fan of Midwestern thunderstorms. If she’s not up the quad chatting with friends or cheering for Chi Omega, you can find her in the art studio painting, or running along the back roads of Hillsdale county.


 

Published in November 2021