We recently connected with Brienne Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Brienne, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I was an art kid and loved to draw and paint from a young age. I started private art lessons at age 11 and continued to take art classes throughout my school years. However, I had never planned on a career as an artist. I didn’t think I could make a living as an artist and I had other interests. I loved science and math and so I first perused a career in chemistry. My graduate education was focused on the sciences, but I still took an art class every semester. It wasn’t until I entered graduate school in chemistry when I found myself with no time to paint or draw. I was miserable. I realized that I needed for find a way to pursue a more creative path. I still graduated with a masters in chemistry and got a job as a toxicologist. However, I continued to make time to create. I know I needed it for my own emotional and spiritual health. Eventually, I quit my job as a toxicologist so I could stay home to raise my first child. I continued to make the time to paint. As I got my work out in shows and galleries, my art career started to take off. It has been the best thing doing what I love and what brings me joy, while still being able to make a living as an artist.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an artist. I am a landscape artist using both watercolor and oil as a medium for my work. When I paint, I learn more about myself and how I see the world. I find beauty in everyday life, the so called “mundane”. Ordinary people going about their everyday lives inspire me. I especially enjoy painting en plein air, where each painting reminds me of where I was, of the experiences I had, the sounds, smells, and the people I met. My paintings are always more about a moment in time than about a particular location.

I am most know for my watercolor plein air work. Plein air painting just means painting from life and on location. Every year I participate in several Plein Air Competitions, which are all over the United States. The events I participate in are either juried for acceptance or by invitation only. During these events, I travel to a location, paint for about a week at that location, and then frame and sell my work at the event. There are also usually awards given at these events. During the week, I can usually get about 10-15 paintings finished. Paintings that don’t sell, I can sell somewhere else. Or they become inspiration and reference for larger works in my studio.

As part of my career, I also teach watercolor and plein air painting. I usually teach about two art workshops a year through different watercolor art societies across the country or other art organizations. I also teach online art courses on my own. I really enjoy teaching and helping other artists find the confidence to improve their work. Teaching and sharing my knowledge and experience with others is very rewarding.

The other part of my business is the studio work I do to sell in some galleries that represent my work. In my central Pennsylvania studio, I enjoy painting larger works during the times I am not traveling for plein air shows or teaching. Right now I have galleries in Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Montana that sell my work.

As you can see, my art business has several different aspects and so can be a juggling act at times to keep up. However, I enjoy each piece and I am so happy to be pursuing a career doing something that brings me such joy. I couldn’t ask for more.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding aspect of being an artist has been getting to travel and meet so many different people. Because I go to many different locations and paint the landscape on sight, I have met many interesting people. For example, many times while painting I talk with local people. They are usually curious about what I am doing. I love hearing about the history of a place, especially while I am painting it. I makes what I paint mean more to me and the viewer. I love stories and as an artist I get to tell not only my story, but those of other people I meet on the road. I has been an amazing journey.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

It can be hard as an artist to share your work with others because it is so personal. It is not easy to put your work in front of other’s to judge. I had to learn to not let my emotions control how or when I shared my work. I had to learn that my job is not to please everyone. That is not possible. My job is to create work that speaks with me and there will be other’s that my work speaks to as well. You just need to learn how to find them. A few years after starting to sell my artwork, I took a community business course. It was so good. I wish I had taken some business courses before starting to sell my work. Once you try to sell your work, you are not just an artist, you are a businessman. It is good to prefect your craft, but you also need to learn the basics of running a business. These are different skillsets and yet both are essential in being successful as a professional artist. After the business course I took, I could more easily perceive some of my work less personally and as inventory. I learned how to try and find my market and focus on that instead of promoting to too wide a market. When I first started I had no idea how to sell anything, let alone my work that was personal. I highly recommend, especially for creative individuals, to gain some skills and knowledge in basic business practices before starting an art career.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.briennembrown.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briennembrownartist/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brienne.m.brown
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1q3rlK-I9JvFImVAwJiG-A