Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aizik Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Aizik, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I first knew that I wanted to pursue a creative and artistic career professionally when I was in middle school. I used to spend countless hours drawing my friends and classmates names on a piece of paper with their favorite colors and cartoon characters. I was impressed and taken away by the reactions that people were giving me (they were stoked!). Then it made me realize that I can actually impact peoples lives through what I love doing.

Aizik, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a Visual Artist and Art Teacher based out of San Francisco, CA. I was born and raised in Sacramento, CA. I come from a heavily multicultural family made up of Black, Mexican, German, and Swedish ancestry. Growing up in Sacramento definitely had its ups and downs but overall had such an amazing childhood growing up with so much family around me. I grew up blessed to experience so much life by going camping, traveling (mainly just in California), and spending countless hours with my family (mainly my cousins). I knew that I always had a strong love for creativity, imagination, and art. I loved making things up on my own but also being so influenced by other artists, music, movies, and television.

When it comes to my creativity I find its rhythm in the honest, hands-on mediums of painting and drawing. These tools allow me to blend the raw spirit of graffiti, the playfulness of cartoons, the human experience and the grounding presence of nature in my work. As an intuitive artist, I create through channelling my spirituality, peace, love and vulnerability into every piece. It’s a journey where I embrace the authenticity of my emotions. My palette often dances with bright and vibrant colors, but I’m equally drawn to the depth of ink, pencil, and charcoal. My art is a reflection of my true self, an ongoing exploration of life’s profound moments, seen through the lens of my intuition and powerful creativity. I practice art as an act of play, in ways to reconnect with the pureness of my inner child.

As an educator with nearly a decade of experience, currently working with San Francisco Unified School District as a Visual Arts Teacher at two elementary schools. I’ve had the privilege of connecting with students from diverse backgrounds, generations, and communities, empowering them with the tools to unlock their creativity, nurture their imagination, and express themselves through the world of art. My teaching style is rooted in intuition, a method that encourages my students to expand their creative horizons through problem-solving, critical thinking, and the courage to take risks. I believe in creating a safe environment where my students can embrace their mistakes as valuable lessons, fostering growth and mastery of their chosen artistic mediums. My journey as an educator is a path of inspiration and transformation, as I guide the next generation of artists and art lovers to embrace their full creative potential.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal and mission that drives my creative journey is mainly my intuition. I want to create work, experiences, and education that is based around what is authentic to myself. I practice this every time I am in the creative state by doing it with confidence, playfulness, curiosity, and flow. Not second guessing myself but trusting the process that everything will turn out as beautifully as I want it to. I am very new to this style of practice but ever since I have done it I feel more free with my work. Creating from a more relaxed, meditative, and intuitive space makes my work feel like I am putting my full self into it.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes, honestly it was just recently when I had to have a major pivot in my career. The past two and half years or so have been tough for me. Going through therapy, coming out of a long term relationship, and dealing with money problems. I knew that I had to make some shifts in my life. I started looking for jobs to help supplement my art career and business. Over the Summer of 2023 I landed a job with San Francisco Unified School District as an Itinerant Visual Arts Teacher. When first starting this role it was incredibly challenging and took a lot out of me to make it work. After a full semester working in a couple of schools I feel that I have found my flow. I feel much better with the students, the community, the school, coworkers, and families. I know that I have a huge responsibility as an art teacher to not only teach my students but to impact their lives through art. To say all this is to say that the struggles that I had prior to this have allowed me to slow them down if not completely get rid of them. I feel more financially stable than I have ever felt in my life, I feel that I have an amaazing art studio pratice, and I feel more creative than I have ever felt.

I think that as artists we sometimes get caught up in our work having to make money for us. But when that is the only goal you’re going to get stuck in the sand very quick. Our role as artist is not suppose to make money, it’s to make art. The money is just the cherry on top. Now that I don’t have so much worry on my mind and heart, I can get back to what matters most and that it to be best artist that I can be and to make the best art that I have ever made.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.aizikbrown.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aizikbrown/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aizik.m.brown
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aizik-brown-75200975