We recently connected with Briana Gilbert and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Briana, thanks for joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
I was gifted the talent of being an artist, along with the other creative individuals in my immediate family, for as far back as I can remember. Art has always been a part of who I am, whether it be through song writing, singing, rapping, fashion, or drawing. In elementary, I was selected along side 4 classmates to paint a mural on the side of our school, Alton Elementary. Although I always knew that I could create, my interest in taking art seriously begun my junior year of high school. With the push of my then art teacher, Mr. Pearson, I began exploring the different mediums of my craft. At that time, 2008, I was working at Popeyes, doing my peers school work for extra money, and living out of my back pack. Being a kid on my own, art had become the only escape for me. Soon after I found my love for art I found another love for psychology and behavioral science. My passion for both of these things would soon allow me to create thought provoking pieces that address mental health. After graduating in 2011, I didn’t begin creating again and selling my art until 2018. After years of sales, art exhibits, art galleries, auctions, finding my style, and wanting to give up, I’ve finally found my purpose in having this gift. Now as an advocate for mental health I express awareness through my paintings.
Briana, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I, Bri Marz, am a self made Artist and Entrepreneur. My business includes, but is not limited to, painting both faces and canvases alike and my main medium is acrylic paint. I’ve sold over two hundred pieces and prints, shipped to over 10 states and 1 overseas region, been in 6 galleries, sold 1 piece in auction at a royal ball, and painted over 100 faces since I started my business in 2019. Art is everything to me and I see the art in everything. I pride my brand on allowing any and everyone to purchase my art. The prices on my pieces vary from $50-$700 and prints $5-$100, Thus being affordable to all art collectors. The feeling of being able to express my emotions and opinions through art that people want to buy is unexplainable! That in itself motivates me to, not only create, but to grow my knowledge and brand. My pieces show my take on mental challenges with hopes of raising mental health awareness, while providing good quality work.
One of my most proudest moments I’ve had was when my work was exhibiting in a local gallery next to the work of the very first person that bought a piece of my art. After years of seeing this person successfully creating and selling their own art, she then expressed to me that after she bought that piece from me, she went and bought paint and a canvas and that is how she begun her own art journey. She expressed her gratitude, not knowing that her buying my first sold piece gave me the confidence to eventually sell hundreds more. At that moment I realized how much art can connect and bring us together.
I believe what sets me apart from the rest is my passion for giving back to the community. I’ve volunteered my time to community events, supported local small art businesses, donated pieces for good causes, and have donated a percentage of my profit to a suicide prevention foundation and Cancer Research through St. Jude Children’s Hospital. I also volunteer my time at the Houston Food Bank three times a month. I am excited to do way more for the community as my business grows.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
My first piece sold at an art show that a friend of mine curated. After that I began selling most of my art through social media. I grew my audience by following art related hashtags and supporting other artists through sharing and commenting on their posted work. I’ve also found a word of mouth approach by getting everyone I meet in person to follow my art page and “spamming” their posts with likes and comments through that page. This and consistency has helped me find majority of the homes that my art resides.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
There’s been so many times that I’ve wanted to give in but kept steady. One being in 2020 during the covid pandemic. I lost my job and barely had funds to feed myself, let alone buy the material needed to paint. I felt so lost and depressed at the time and ended up stressing so much that it caused me to have seizures. I felt like this problem set me so far behind that I couldn’t see myself going back into selling art. Although the people around me expressed their concerns for my lack of interest, I knew only I could pick myself up. with everything being shut down and not being able to get a job, I then started creating with the materials I found around the house and covering old pieces. Once I posted my first piece since the year before, it sold within 24 hours, as did the next two. That then taught me to keep going and that my art will sell, but it’s up to me to continuously create and share it with the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: Brimarzart.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebmarie_
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/easelonmarz
- Twitter: @brimarzart