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

Hi Bill, thanks for joining us today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

For a large enough part of my career to be embarrassing I lost my joy in art, but I have rediscovered it. All through graduate school, teaching at a small Southern university, and becoming an arts professional I didn’t notice that I wasn’t happy making art. I was dedicated because art had brought me great joy, but in hindsight I had developed expectations about what my art could be, highly intellectual somehow at the forefront of human thought, that was unrealistic and not who I am. My art can be great when it connects with my experience in a full and honest way, but not based upon things I admire in others art. One day I was standing in front of a canvas, painting, and realized I was miserable, I was dedicating my life to something that made me miserable! Life is too short, so I dedicated myself to pursuing joy, not necessarily silly shallow happiness, but deep joy. Aiming myself and my output towards things that bring me joy even if I am thinking about sorrow, loss or other deep subjects.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I went to Slippery Rock State University of Pennsylvania, where my Father, Glen, a Master Printmaker taught and made art for 40 years. I also studied painting at The Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava in the studio of Daniel Fischer, Slovak Republic. After that I lived in Portland Oregon exploring careers in art. Eventually going to graduate school at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas, awarded a M.A. and M.F.A., since then Bill has worked as an art handler, art salesman, wearing many hats in both commercial galleries and major museums. I was for a time a visiting professor at Allegheny College in Meadville Pennsylvania, and now is working again in the professional art world.

For me art is about education, building community and improving the lives of the artist and the viewer. I have explored many ideas and intellectual concepts with my art over the years, but have found the most satisfying thing is to play and explore with paint, use it to let him translate my world, memories and feelings as a tool to communicate with people.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Having a venue to share your experience of the world, while at the same time trying to understand it as well. Chuck Close said that amateurs wait for inspiration while professionals get to work, I would amend that statement to say that professionals don’t wait for inspiration they demand it. I go through my days seeking, draining, demanding inspiration. This gives my mind things to think about beyond traffic and bills. When I go to the studio I can focus on timeless beauty and hopefully the deepest connections and thoughts of the human condition. I have a young son and my routine is that after he goes to bed I go to my studio. After I am done focusing on him, my wonderfully supportive wife, and the rest of the world I go into the studio and focus on me and the inspirations I have found around me throughout the day. I was an only child and growing up I would spend large amounts of time exploring, just walking around looking at things, now I have found a way to communicate that experience.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Social media, being able to share my art with the world has changed my practice. I’m so thankful that I don’t have to continue working in nearly complete isolation, showing my creations occasionally to a few people, now I can share with the world from the little town I live in. I’m a little fish in a big sea, but I’m out there. Gatekeepers can be so frustrating that I’m thankful I can build an audience and share art that they may not be able to understand. Often as an artist you have visions or ideas you can’t explain with words, and that may take time to develop and gatekeepers are often too quick to dismiss, but with social media I have been able to bring a few loyal people along with me and briefly connect with people all over the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.brunkenart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brunkenart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brunkenart
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/brunkenart