We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Will Brown. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Will below.

Will, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

Art has always been a focal point of my life. I have vivid memories of spending countless hours lying on the floor drawing and coloring, with 90’s baseball on the tv, my brother playing a Gameboy next to me, my Mom preparing food in the kitchen, and my Dad in the backyard barbecuing. When I was 5 my family enrolled me in afterschool art classes where I practiced drawing from references with step-by-step instructions from a teacher. Art stayed in focus throughout my schooling and brought me to the University of California, Berkeley for college.

College was incredible, but sort of abstracted my idea of what being a “creative professional” meant. Berkeley’s art program was research based, so I felt my education giving new meanings to things and expanding my idea of art; but it was not pointing me toward a career in art. I can relate it to a swimmer in a pool who is racing in their lane toward the finish, but before that finish, knowledge transforms the pool into an ocean and then the swimmer is lost and throws their hands up like: “Where do I go?”. The ocean is incredible and way more interesting than the pool, but there was no longer a clear destination.

I worked some design jobs for quite a while after graduation which allowed me to grow, pay rent, and get married.

I would say the moment that really propelled me to pursue art as a profession was when my wife told me that I was going to be a father. I thought back to “little me” lying on the floor coloring for all those hours. I thought about the energy I gave to art and the energy it gave back to me. Remembering my past gave me clarity on the example I wanted to set for my child in the present. I believe that we can be whoever we want to be, and by pursing art professionally, I’m working to prove that for myself and for my family.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am an artist from the Bay Area in California now living and working in Portland, Oregon.

My primary medium is paint. I mainly work on canvas and murals/large scale installations. My work brings into question perspective between collaged elements from the natural world and urban textures. Through color shifts and layering, my work explores themes of time and attention, focusing on the value of moments and objects that are either over romanticized or overlooked. My practice involves carefully observing and documenting materials, landscapes, and colors, that impact day-to-day life.

Overall, I am proud of the work I make and I am always looking forward to the next body of work or opportunity ahead of me.

Anyone who is interested purchasing work, commissioning a mural, or contacting me can reach me through my website (willbrownart.com).

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I find the greatest reward in the feelings I get while I am creating work. Process is such a beautiful part of creating something and there is this super blissful state I can tap into when I’m completely focused on what I am making. There is no better feeling than being in that zone.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I’ve found that the greatest resource is community, and I wish I sought out a professional art community sooner.

Art can be such an individual and reclusive thing. It’s easy to put on headphones, obsess on your own work, and ignore what else is going on. I’ve learned how important it is to get out and meet people, talk about my art, and not feel self-conscious asking for advice or critique. Building and learning with others has become integral to my process as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://willbrownart.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/willbrown.art