Artist Interview Series: Brooke Fischer

May 29, 2018

This week we interviewed Creative Action Network artist Brooke Fischer, who shared insights on her creative process, self-promotion and recent success in marketing her work. Please join us here each week for a new featured interview and as always, let’s hear it for artists!

Q: What marketing approaches have worked best for you and why?

A: I don’t know that I am that great at marketing but Instagram has been a major platform for me. Also, being selected by the Amplifier Foundation for my Women’s March poster has given me great exposure, and people find me through “Let Equality Bloom” which I just found out is going into the Library of Congress. I am so grateful for such a wonderful honor.

In these photos, this first piece was a submission for REI’s in-house magazine which they call their ‘ZINE. It was selected for their upcoming issue. It is all about women’s empowerment. They call it the Force of Nature. It is about making the outdoors the greatest level playing field for equality. I sent them the black and white process piece and then finished piece and they wanted the process piece so sometimes sharing your process is good thing!

Q: Does marketing yourself and your work make you feel uncomfortable?

A: I feel like every artist I have spoken to says they are not big at self-promotion because they feel uncomfortable 'bragging' about their work. There is a strange uncomfortable line there when you’re not an egotistical person, where you feel funny 'bragging' about your work. We need others to brag for us, ha ha! Then there are the shameless self promoters who have no problem with this. Sometimes, I wish I were more shameless.

Q: How do you get past that discomfort (if you do)?

A: I guess just confidence. I think the more confidence and pride you have in the piece, the easier it is to self-promote. When you feel secure with the work and you are really happy with the result it’s easier to share it. Some pieces you’re just more excited or proud of while others you may always look at and wish you would have fixed this or that but you have to sometimes abandon the work ,or let go and move on to something else. It is all apart of the process.

Q: How do you make money from your art (full-time job, freelance work, selling things online, in what balance, etc)?

A: I make commissioned paintings and I am a freelance graphic designer. I get work mainly through word of mouth. I also submit work through different artist networks and public calls for art and that has been extremely helpful with exposure.

Q: How important is making money from your art?

A: It is really important if you are sustaining yourself with your art only. You always have to hustle to keep the work flowing. I have been on the in’s and out’s of this my whole life. Trying to make it as a freelance graphic designer or artist can be very challenging if you are not hustling consistently. That is why I spent most of my early career working for agencies. I didn’t like struggling and needed a consistent income.

Q: How often do you share your work and on what channels?

A: Instagram mainly, I am off Facebook because I don’t like their reaction or their irresponsible handling of the Russian meddling in the election. But I do believe that every artist needs to be on a social media platform to self-promote. I like platforms like Creative Action Network. I like your mission and your politics. I use the @ellonetwork and I submit to various publications call for art.

Q: Do you share in process/finished work vs more salesy promotional content?

A: Sometimes I share process images via Instagram. I think people like to see your process and know your story and how you create. I know I find it fascinating when I follow various artist on Instagram and get witness the process of how they create.

Learn more about Creative Action Network artist Brooke Fischer and checkout all of her CAN work.

 

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