We were lucky to catch up with Brigitte De Marco recently and have shared our conversation below.
Brigitte, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
From a young age, like many creatives, I was taught that art was a hobby, not a viable career path. The message was clear: practicality and security outweighed dreams and passion. This belief led me to choose a responsible and stable career in education. Teaching felt like a natural fit—I was passionate about working with children, and the predictability of the profession was reassuring. I was objectively a great teacher, but the world shifted dramatically after the pandemic. Returning to the classroom, I faced a generation of students whose needs had changed drastically, seemingly overnight.
The year that followed was disheartening. A lack of empathy and social skills had seeped into classrooms, fueled by trends that encouraged destructive behavior toward teachers and classmates. Parents seemed resistant to accountability for their children, and administrators often bent rules to accommodate. More than once, I found myself asking, “What are we even doing here?” This constant erosion of the educational environment left me unsettled, and I came home one evening with the most terrifying thought of my life: “I needed a new career path.” But this realization came with another truth—I’d never wanted to be anything “practical” outside of teaching.
What came next was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken: I gave myself one year to prove that I could build a career as an artist. That summer, I committed to this goal, diving into the world of social media, creating an online store, and seeking out every opportunity within my community. I returned to teaching in the fall with an ambitious (and unsustainable) schedule: teaching by day, building my business by night. I didn’t know where this path would lead, what opportunities I might find, or if I’d even be successful, but I committed fully to not renewing my contract for the following school year.
Today, while this path is not for the faint of heart (there is no fixed schedule and no guaranteed income) I am more certain than ever that it was the right one for me. I have found personal and financial success every month in varying degrees and know that I can build a lifelong career for myself. Taking this leap has been transformative, proving that sometimes the biggest risks lead us to the truest versions of ourselves.
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.
My name is Brigitte De Marco. I am a former educator, hiking enthusiast, and constant daydreamer. After nearly a decade working in public education, I decided to pursue my passion in life and start my career as an artist, so in October of 2022, I opened my company Prickle & Pine Designs.
The name Prickle & Pine is rooted in my love for the natural diversity of Arizona. From the desert cacti of Phoenix to the mountain pines of Flagstaff, and the majestic red rock landscapes in between, Arizona’s beauty is unmatched. I often find myself in awe of these places, imagining how many stars have passed over the desert floor or how many sunsets the canyon rocks have witnessed. This connection is something I want to share with others through my art. Using bright colors, expressive movement, and bold textures, I aim to inspire a deeper appreciation for the Southwest.
Prickle & Pine Designs has three main focuses, each integral to my brand:
1. Community Art Engagement
I provide art education opportunities to my community through paint nights, partnering with local businesses and governments to provide creative outlets for adults. I also show up in local markets and art shows with the goal of interacting with people in my direct community. I even reserve some of my most popular pieces exclusively for in-person events, encouraging people to come out and experience art firsthand. Seeing someone arrive early just to claim a piece they loved on social media fills me with energy and joy—it’s those connections that make this work so rewarding.
2. Beautifying Public Spaces with Art
Creating murals has become one of my favorite aspects of the business. A mural transforms a space, breathing life and excitement into it. I love the sense of anticipation as people watch the work unfold, and it’s incredible to see their reactions to my color choices and themes. Murals are an invitation for everyone to experience art in their daily lives, and that’s incredibly meaningful to me.
3. Consistent Creative Practice
Maintaining a personal creative practice is at the heart of my career. I make time to create new work purely for my own growth and exploration, without focusing on sales. This approach has allowed me to produce some of my best work this year—more than I created in the past decade! This consistent creative practice keeps my love for art alive, and encourages my sense of gratitude.
Of all my accomplishments, I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built within my community through these three focus areas. I may not be a large or famous artist, but it’s deeply gratifying to meet people who recognize my work from murals, classes, or my online presence. I strive to be positive, authentic, and colorful, and I know that through these efforts, I’m building my best self. I wake up each day genuinely thrilled to start creating, and it’s an energy I’ve never experienced before. I believe this is how work is meant to feel, and I hope to pass on that sense of possibility to everyone I meet.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Many non-creatives often assume that because I enjoy what I do, it’s not “real” work—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. This is, without a doubt, the hardest work I’ve ever done because it’s so deeply personal. Creative work involves pouring out parts of yourself daily, and it’s challenging: It’s an unrelenting process of self-discovery that involves constant vulnerability, experimentation, and, sometimes, rejection.
Interestingly, I find this perspective is even stronger among those who are creative but aren’t living fully as their creative selves. For them, creativity remains in the realm of hobby or escape—something joyful and untethered to responsibility. I often hear from this group, “You’re so lucky,” or, “Must be nice.” They imagine a life of endless painting or sculpting, but the reality is far more complex: there’s content creation, website design, product development, advertising, taxes, community engagement, shipping, travel, supply restocking, and event planning, to name just a few. It’s a fulfilling but intense workload that requires constant learning and adaptation.
One of my hopes as both an artist and a former teacher is to help people see this reality—not to deter them, but to empower them with the knowledge of what’s truly involved in building a dream life. I want people to see that a creative career isn’t just a fantasy; it’s a blend of hard work, resilience, and joy. By understanding the scope and embracing realistic expectations, anyone can approach their dreams with confidence and thrive on this path.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I have two main goals driving my creative practice. The first centers on my community and is rooted in my background as a teacher. As an artist, I stay connected to my community through art education by partnering with local businesses to host community paint nights, creating spaces for art where they didn’t exist before. When I first launched my business, I assumed this venture would be my least favorite, as I was eager to focus on my own art. But it’s become one of my most cherished pursuits. Thriving communities are often those with strong arts and culture, and it’s essential to offer spaces for creative exploration and learning. Partnering with local businesses that are equally invested in our community has been so rewarding, and my ultimate goal is to create a space of my own that offers a wide range of creative opportunities for both adults and children.
My second goal is personal, for my own artistic journey. While my work primarily features nature, each piece has an underlying story of love and longing. It’s a desire to share the world as I see it—full of vibrant color, movement so alive it feels like a dance, and a hint of magic. If you’ve ever visited a place where even the smell of the dirt and trees fills you with almost overwhelming nostalgia, then you understand this feeling. I am continually working to convey this through my art, to visually capture this sense of wonder and create that connection with my audience. Although I may never feel that my portfolio is complete, I believe I’ll continue to grow in expressing this vision. With enough success, I hope that one day this path will allow me to move to the place that makes me feel like even the dirt is magic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.prickleandpinedesigns.com
- Instagram: @prickleandpinedesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prickleandpinedesigns
- Other: https://www.brigittedemarco.com
