Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Brown, a local illustrator based in St. Augustine, FL.
Hi Caroline, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Since I was little, I’ve always doodled.
In second grade, I wrote and illustrated my first short story — about a dragon and a princess “loosely” based on the Spyro video game. Art has always been important to me as a means of enjoying, understanding, and sharing my passions and my experience in life. In high school, I took art classes, but I actually studied English Literature when I went to Northwestern University.
I’ve always loved both writing and drawing, and for a long time, I thought I had to choose between the two. And while I always loved art and was good at it, I think I didn’t realize that I could make a living from it (I already had plenty of people asking me what I was going to do with an English degree).
I was still drawing throughout college, especially in the notes of all my classes, but it wasn’t until my senior year when my dad recommended I listen to the Tim Ferriss podcast where filmmaker Robert Rodriguez talked about his days making comics in college, that I thought that I could actually give art a try. (I’ve been blessed to have parents who have always told me to find what I love to do and pursue it).
That podcast helped me decide to stop saying “I doodle” and to start calling myself an artist. I found that when I chose to affirm my identity as an artist, I saw how abundant the opportunities were. I started by making a couple of portraits for friends and creating webcomics for some online publications.
I worked other marketing and communications jobs while doing my art on the side for a while, but now, I’m a full-time freelance illustrator. I take commissions, work with clients on projects, sell products in my Etsy shop, and paint murals. It’s awesome!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think my biggest struggle has been in overcoming myself and my own insecurities.
It was hard for me for a long time to say I was an artist because I didn’t go to school for it (even though I was creating all the time)! As I said, I’m blessed to have a family that’s been very supportive of my dreams, and they’ve encouraged and supported me in the moments where I needed it most, especially when I struggled with my mental health.
As far as advice for other artists, I’d say take care of yourself first and foremost – the basics matter! Make sure that you’re eating well, exercising, and getting good sleep. Spend time with the people you love and pet lots of animals. I also find that journaling helps; I try to do Julia Cameron’s morning pages, where I just unload all of that chatter in my head onto the page.
Clearing out space in your brain, nourishing your body, and putting good things into your mind (like podcasts!) will help keep you creative and from listening (too seriously) to all of your doubts.
I think it’s also important to show up every day or as much as you can. A routine of creating develops a habit, which forms a strong foundation for your identity as a creator. I highly recommend reading Atomic Habits by James Clear for anyone who wants to develop better habits (around art or anything else).
The War of Art and Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield are also excellent.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I do traditional illustration (watercolor, pen and ink, colored ink, and colored pencil), as well as a digital illustration with Procreate and the Adobe Suite. I also paint murals. I’ve always loved magical realism (movies like Big Fish and Forest Gump and books like Howl’s Moving Castle and One Hundred Years of Solitude).
Because of that, I like to draw the extraordinary in the everyday; that is, I like to depict everyday moments with some fantastic twist (like witches flying over Flagler College, or mermaids hanging out at the Fort). I also love to draw anthropomorphic animals; I’m a big animal lover, and I’m very proud of the little animal characters I draw; they feel like my children.
I want my work to be enchanting – I try to include cute little details that people will enjoy finding and that will make them smile or laugh. Mostly, I just create from my experiences and things that amuse or interest me.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
No risk, no reward. And, on the other side of that, the greater the risk, the greater the reward. Choosing to be an artist is a huge risk – no doubt about it. Each day you feel kind of vulnerable and raw; will people like my work? Am I good enough? But I try to be brave; I’m a Christian, so my faith is a big part of that.
I feel that I can take risks because if I’m listening to God and I’m on the path He intends for me, I know I’ll be OK. Anne Lamott wrote in Bird by Bird that “The Gulf Stream will flow through a straw provided the straw is aligned to the Gulf Stream and not at cross purposes with it.” I try to be aligned.
Plus, I’ve definitely realized through experience that it’s important to believe in your personal power – to take ownership of your life and not feel like a victim. I think that taking risks is a part of that. As humans, we all have this aversion to the uncomfortable, but if you’re always comfortable, you’ll atrophy.
You need to be seeking out the things that make you just a little bit scared, and over time, you’ll be able to handle those things and they won’t be so scary, and then you can push yourself to tackle a bigger challenge. Life is art; we’re supposed to try, learn, refine, and repeat. Trying is a really important part of that cycle.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.cjinwonderland.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjinwonderland/
Image Credits
CJ in Wonderland
