We recently connected with Brooke Callery and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Brooke thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Throughout my creative career I have had many bodies of work with a strong sense of meaning behind them. At the age of 18 my family and I watched as my grandmother fought and eventually succumbed to Alzheimer’s Disease. Seeing her slowly fade from the strong, funny and loving Polish woman we all adored to a confused, anxious and frail memory of who she once embodied was something we all struggled with. I turned to my art in order to cope with the idea of slowly losing her. I began making graphite portraits of my nanny that included bright drawings she had created in the midst of her battle with Alzheimer’s. To me, the portraits represented her anxiety while creating a conflicting feeling of her identity leaving her through her scribbly sketches. When looking at her drawings, she saw beautiful landscapes whereas to us, they were chaotic scribbles. I found myself both laughing and crying during the process of creating this body of work. Tears with the realization of losing someone I loved and admired so much paired with giggles as I reminisced on the beautiful lessons she taught me and treasured memories I have of her. This body of work was recognized worldwide with a piece being exhibited at the United States Capitol Building and even as the cover art for an educational textbook in China. Though I am very proud of the recognition these drawings attracted, I am most proud of the vulnerability and feelings that can be felt through this body of work.

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 began my artistic career with graphite and charcoal portraiture eventually moving into watercolor, acrylic and oil painting during my time at the College of Charleston. While majoring in Studio Art with a minor in Arts Management paired with a concentration in Women and Gender Studies, I found myself pairing my passions for social issues with my expressive art. Many of my works have an underlying meaning that relate to worldwide issues. I began an internship in Textile Design for a notable Charleston Based brand during my Junior year of college. Here I learned about pattern creation, digital art and how to make art that not only works well on paper but also on pillows, blankets and other household items. Realizing that I loved creating for interior spaces, I created my own wallpaper brand called Gable Ridge. Gable Ridge is represented through Bradley USA out of Atlanta and will be releasing its second collection come early 2023! Though I feel very lucky to have such amazing work opportunities through my art, it is very important to me that I continue making work that not only sells to consumers, but means something to me as the artist. I enjoy focusing on animals, landscapes and societal issues through my personal art. Because I have the fundamental training in classical art, paired with the knowledge of pattern creation and textile design, I have the skill to turn an individuals ideas into art that can be reproduced and repeated to make a flowing pattern for printing on any kind of material. I feel I bridge the gap between a sketch on paper and a marketable product while keeping the integrity of the original artwork. Though this is what sets me apart from other artists and gives me the opportunity to work with interior designers and other creatives, I thoroughly enjoy selling my original paintings and prints through my Instagram, website and local makers markets.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

There was a point in my creative career where I felt I was making art solely for the consumer and was losing sight of why I started doing all this in the first place. Art has given me the gift of being a personal outlet where I can express myself and channel energy and emotion to create something that’s a reflection of who I am and what I stand for. The days when I felt the most unmotivated were the days when I was creating art just to create. I’ve been fortunate to recognize that feeling and make a conscious effort change the path of my art and the reason why I’m producing art and it’s been great. Over the last year, I’ve felt more inspired and creatively driven that I have in a while!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Throughout my time as a creative I have often been assumed to be a “starving artist” . This is something that I had to learn to ignore. I do not feel that the idea that artists can not be financially fit is true. I believe that as an artist, you must market yourself, never stop learning new craft and continue an open dialogue with your creative community, I feel that if you put in consistent work and dedication while making connections you will see financial profit in your work along with growth in your career as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://brookecalleryart.square.site/?fbclid=PAAaZG0uHJlRZwe_n9d_af_bYLb0irvlVW8IcpaWY-Q1O6epQbyPrFa6Wm-yA
• Instagram: @brooke_callery_artt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-callery-artt/