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

Brooke, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Yes I’m so grateful to be making a great living from my art. Over the last 15 years it’s been quite the journey to not just survive but to thrive. I started my jewelry business more as a hobby and organically and slowly it has evolved over the years. When I truly started to commit more time and consistency to my business I saw the steady climb financially. In some ways it feels effortless now.

I have a good balance with my personal life and my work. It doesn’t feel like work. I truly enjoy what I’m doing. I get excited to create. I’ve been doing custom work for clients for years but a few years back I learned a new medium of lost Wax carving and started hand carving my own pieces, then casting them into metals like gold, brass and silver with gemstones.

It is added a whole new dimension to my jewelry.

It’s important to keep challenging ourselves to keep evolving in our craft too…It’s easy to get complacent.

I’ve been a part of an artist collective with my jewelry on the weekends at a pop-up on Abbot Kinney (next to butchers daughter) and there are many other jewelry designers, so it keeps you on your toes to keep growing and evolving and creating fresh new designs that are unique.

The best thing is seeing how people react to my pieces. I see how it makes them feel special, beautiful and unique because I put my love into it and people can feel that.

They have a timelessness to them, an ancient feel with a modern twist.

I believe we channel our art and creations. They come from a divine source. We all have our own unique mission to contribute to society.

I feel that if I just committed more time and energy earlier on and trusted myself more, it would have sped up the process. It’s so important to not compare ourselves to others, to just create from an authentic place that feels true to you.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I never planned to be a jewelry designer. I actually am a trained actor and grew up acting since I was a young girl. I graduated from UCLA Theater school and was always passionate about performing, which lead me to writing poetry, then developed into performing spoken word poetry and singing, perhaps from reciting Shakespeare for so many years.

I was passionate about activism and topics that I wanted to shed light on. I started performing and producing shows integrating music and poetry, bringing the community together and performing alongside renowned DJ’s and musicians.

I released an album in 2019 with world class musicians called, “I am the Sun,“ integrating Jazz, soul, rock, hip-hop and bluegrass. I was over the moon with the reviews that I received and that people got what I was doing. One review described me as, “A brilliantly unique artist and a really well-captured album. Absolutely worth discovering.” – Stereo Stickman

I’ve had the honor of performing and writing pieces for a few people I greatly respect, including Marianne Williamson when she was running for Congress a few years back before she ran for President.

I’ve always been very creative and never limited myself to just one art form.

As far as jewelry, I originally many years ago started making these beaded bracelets with natural gemstones and people were immediately asking me to buy them. I went to a few stores and sold them right away! I loved the fact that I could generate income by creating these pieces and doing this thing that I loved.

I always enjoyed going treasure hunting for various gemstones. It kept growing over the years, and I kept evolving by learning different techniques like lost wax casting. This added a whole new dimension to my line and feels very organic and raw.

The people that are drawn to my jewelry really resonate with the ancient and handmade organic feel to the pieces. I integrate a lot of spiritual and celestial symbols like moons, stars, lotuses and eyes which symbolize protection and awakening. Looking beyond
the mundane into the realm of infinite possibilities. My lifelong practice of Buddhism also greatly inspires my creativity.

I’ve been told that people feel the love that’s channeled I’m into each piece and the reaction to my jewelry is usually very positive and strong. I consciously allow my own creative joy to infuse the work that I offer and I believe that comes through.

My clients say that they have been looking for a certain piece of jewelry their whole life and finally found it! I see them light up and they tell me how special the pieces are to them.

The weekend artist collective pop-up on Abbot Kinney in Venice allows me to have one on one interaction with my clients.

In a world of technology, I feel so grateful to have in person connections and I get to meet travelers from all around the world. I can also customize the jewelry for them right there on the spot, so that’s an added benefit which people really love. I also
do custom work for many clients including engagement, wedding rings and special bespoke gifts. I’m also featured in several retail stores.

Now that I’ve gotten to a certain place in my business I’m excited to work more with different organizations to give back and spread awareness of the humanitarian causes that I’m passionate about.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is creating and living in a way that feels free. Being my own boss and supporting myself for the last few decades feels like an accomplishment. I have built my business slowly and steadily throughout my creative journey.

I did it on my own with very little capital. I would take part of my profits and reinvest it back into the business. I was also very fortunate to have a supportive family who encouraged me.

I had to have a lot of faith and belief to continue because it wasn’t always easy and I was just making it by the skin of my teeth for many years.

I’ve always been a bit of a rebel in the sense of not being able to conform to the status quo. Art is radical rebellion. If you are a highly creative being then you become determined to make it work. There is no other option.

All of my press and the actors who have discovered my jewelry have found me organically, either through word of mouth or stumbled across it at a store or at my pop-up shop. I’ve had my jewelry featured on many TV shows and movies. One of my highlights was getting to adorn one of my favorite actresses, Kate Winslet in my jewelry after she stumbled upon it on Abbott Kinney. She even was so kind to pose for a photo wearing my jewels.

Allowing inspiration to channel through me and getting to share it with people who resonate with my art is very gratifying. My goal is to create beauty in all forms and have my art, whether it be jewelry or poetry/songs inspire people to be the best version of themselves and create a more humane world. To create a space that reminds us of our unlimited wisdom. My jewelry and songs are about truly feeling beautiful on the inside and the outside and activating our highest potential.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I hear a lot of my clients say they they love to support my art. I think if more people would shop locally from artisans rather then big business that would be a way to have a thriving creative ecosystem. I see more people leaving corporate jobs. We need more artists and healers right now as we see more and more people suffering from feeling isolated from technology and the polarity of politics and Climate change and War. Art touches us in a place that is beyond rational thinking and aims straight to the heart. We are all hungry for connection. We are all connected. Art binds us to our common humanity. We feel resonance when we see a beautiful piece of art or hear a beautiful song or poem or experience a piece of art or jewelry. We become Inspired to create change.

Contact Info:

• Website: Brookebensondesigns.com, brookebensonmusic.com
• Instagram: Brookebensondesigns

Image Credits
Nurha de Souza (first photo) Cara Cockrum (music photo)