Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie Brustad.
Hi Melanie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My story began in Sarasota, Florida, where I was born and raised. I am extremely fortunate to have grown up in a city that embraces the arts and in a family that encouraged it. I had grown up doing art and seeing it all around me. In fact, my grandma was an artist, and our time together was spent drawing, painting, and creating. I had always enjoyed making art, often keeping a sketchbook on me at all times, but I was unaware that it could be a career. I had always known that I would do something related to the arts, but when my high school art teacher introduced me to the world of illustration, my horizons were widened to all the possibilities of a career in the arts! During my senior year of high school, I was working as a painting instructor at a local art studio called Let’s Create Art and painting nearly every day! Looking back, my skills improved immensely during this time, even more so when I attended a summer pre-college session at the Ringling College of Art and Design. I was inspired by all of the illustrators I had met and really started to take the idea of being a professional illustrator more seriously. Yet, I still felt a little lost. The options felt endless, and I still wasn’t quite sure what would make me stand out among all the other amazing artists in my field. In 2019, I started my first year at SCAD after falling in love with the city of Savannah. Unfortunately, the year was cut short as COVID restrictions began. I decided to make the best of the situation by taking the time to open an online shop where I sold my art in the form of stickers and prints. For a while, I thought running my own business could be my calling, but quickly realized that I wanted to do more. It wasn’t until my 3rd year at SCAD that I realized my true calling was illustrating picture books. Picture books are a combination of everything I love about illustration: experimentation, storytelling, and the ability to connect with other people through art.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think most creatives can relate to the ongoing struggles of self-doubt. Especially in a world driven by social media, it can be hard not to compare yourself to others. I often see other illustrators who are very accomplished and successful and wonder why I haven’t accomplished as much as them or why my work doesn’t look as good as theirs. I have to remind myself that there are likely many people who think those same things when looking at my work. You can’t see the internal obstacles an artist is facing when you look at their work- you only see what they want you to see, and things aren’t ever as perfect as they seem! Apart from self-doubt, I have also struggled with finding my own unique artistic voice. Some days, I feel like I have it all figured out, and other days, I feel like I could be farther from it. I have realized the best I can do is continue to create and experiment until I find a way of working that I feel really suits what I am trying to put out into the world.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Since graduating in May, I have been working towards building up a freelance career in illustration. My current project is a series of paintings for the Savannah Children’s Museum! I also recently illustrated my first book with a self-published author and have since been building my portfolio in hopes of looking to join a literary agency sometime in the future. Until then, I plan to continue freelancing for other illustration markets, such as educational advertising and surface design. On the side, I still operate an online shop where I sell art prints and original paintings. I like to think that others associate my work with themes of nature and human connection. I like to incorporate fun plants and animals into almost everything I do, as well as the little joys of being human. My main goal in creating art is to inspire appreciation for the world we live in.
Alright, so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
I think there is a misconception that artists (especially those who freelance) work in solitude, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. We artists depend on the people in our community! I am always looking to make new connections with people, whether it be fellow artists, clients, or just those who appreciate art. To contact me, feel free to send me an email or message me via the contact form on my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.melaniebrustad.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/melaniegrowsart/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-brustad-314573189
