Meet Brooke Knippa

We were lucky to catch up with Brooke Knippa recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Brooke with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My strong work ethic was instilled in me by my parents. Both of my parents have been incredibly hard workers throughout their lives. My parents took over the family restaurant/motel, both making many sacrifices in order to make it work for our family. The restaurant was seasonal, located in the mountains which was an hour drive from our home. My dad would move up to the mountains in May and would live there all summer, not returning until October, often only getting a few hours of sleep a night. In order to spend time with him we would drive up there and stay the weekend with my grandparents while my mom helped out at the restaurant. Once we were old enough – I was 12 and my brother 14 – my parents put us to work and we began bussing tables. We would get tipped out by the wait staff based on how well we did and how hard we worked, teaching us the importance of working hard and earning/handling money. I continued to work in restaurants for another 20 or so years, waiting tables and managing. You have to have a strong work ethic in order to work in busy restaurants, as well as being a self-employed creative!

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I make nature-inspired ceramics. My most recent body of work incorporates tiny animal sculptures nestled into nooks of mugs, bud vases, and perched atop bowls. Nature has always been a major theme in my art, which makes sense. I have been fortunate to have spent most of my life in beautiful settings. I grew up on the Front Range of Colorado, spent several years traveling, and for the last twelve years have resided on the banks of Merrymeeting Bay, a tidal estuary and migratory stopping point for a large variety of birds. With each passing year I seem to gain a deeper love and appreciation for the natural world around us. I love being able to share that love with others.

After graduating from high school I had no idea what I wanted to do. I loved making things, but my interests were vast. Being a businessman, my father told me to go into the business school – it was easier transferring out than transferring in. So I heeded his advice and ended up with a marketing degree as it allowed the most amount of creativity. I spent many years working and saving money, but didn’t really know what I wanted to do “when I grew up.” At least not until I began taking pottery classes at a local pottery studio. From there I took a leap of faith, which landed me a job with a successful ceramic artist who turned into my mentor. Several years later I took another leap of faith and am going into my seventh year full-time with my art. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has been very fulfilling.

I have dabbled in a variety of mediums, but ceramics captured my heart and allowed me the deepest connection with nature, literally sculpting mud into art. Over the years my art has evolved and morphed, similar to that of a meandering river. My art allows me to connect with similar, like-minded individuals. The more time I spend outdoors in nature the more inspired I become.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

My dad will be happy to hear that having a foundation of business has been very useful and incredibly important in being a self-employed artist. Art skills are obviously important; but if you don’t know how to sell and market your work then it’s very difficult to make a living doing so. You don’t have to go to business school to learn about it either. There are plenty of classes and organizations out there that focus on teaching business, and many that are either free or very low cost.

Another great piece of advice I got was to find a mentor. When I first started selling my work I realized how much I didn’t know. Not just about running my own business, but about setting up systems for production, efficiency, and tools for success. My mentor, Alison Evans, became a good friend and role model. I learned so many things from her and am so grateful for the knowledge, skills, and support she offered me. Having someone to learn from that has already been through it all and is willing to help and answer your questions is incredibly valuable.

And finally, social media. I have a love-hate relationship with it, but utilized well, social media is a really powerful tool. Never before has an individual had access to such a large audience, and all without cost barriers. When I was just getting started I dedicated a lot of time to posting on Instagram and it has allowed people to discover my work and build my audience.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Overwhelm… unfortunately it’s a feeling I know all too well. I’m still not an expert at handling the emotion, but when I do feel this way I find it helpful to first – take a few deep, centering breaths. And then break the task down into smaller, more manageable tasks. I do this by making a list. There are few things that make me as happy as a good list! I start each day by making a list. The most important thing about making lists is to not make them too long, otherwise you’re back where you started! Learning to make realistic goals and action items is so important! If there is a big task at hand that is overwhelming you, just break it down into sections, and then break those down again if needed, until the actions feel manageable. Then focus on each individual task instead of looking at the big picture. Focusing on smaller tasks seems to make the daunting task feel doable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.apcuriosities.com
• Instagram: apcuriosities
• Facebook: /apcuriosities

Image Credits

Artist Photo: Christina Wnek