We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Holly Brocato a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Holly, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I’ve had to make a conscious decision that I belong in this space. Being an artist opens the door to plenty of criticism that can feel personal; and doubt creeps in hard and fast. And being self-taught brings about a whole new level of insecurities. But I truly believe that everyone is a creative if they allow themselves to be vulnerable. I follow other artists on social media that are open about their journey which helps validate my feelings – good and bad!
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?
My journey as an artist began in 2016 after being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I learned that flares can be triggered by stress so I wanted to explore an activity that could be beneficial. I purchased some supplies, created an Etsy and Instagram account and started painting and sharing. After creating on and off, I’ve been consistently painting since welcoming our first daughter into the world in 2020 and becoming a stay at home mom. Our dining room doubles as my art studio and you can oftentimes find our family eating meals amongst artwork and art supplies.
My style has evolved over the years, but one thing has remained evident – that I don’t want to pigeonhole myself into a specific style. I’ve enjoyed learning and continued exploration!
My hope is that my artwork brings happiness and joy to all those who have invested. What an honor it is to hold space in people’s homes.
Stay tuned for a Spring Collection release later this April and a Meryl Design brand revamp.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience
What you’re doing won’t be for everyone and that’s what makes it special. Brush off the negative criticism. Always remember your people will find you and your journey is yours and yours alone. As hard as it may be, try not to compare yourself to others!
Consistency
You won’t have a chance at “making it” if you give up. Try to create every day – even if it’s just writing down a new idea to execute later.
Willingness to learn and try new things
Keep an open mind and don’t try to copy anyone else. However, appreciate what you admire about others and try to incorporate it into your work in your OWN way. Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes that others are willing to share. The internet and social media are certainly the best and worst of things – but a great learning tool!
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I’ve got to give it to the Instagram community of artists! Learning from others on the platform, whether they realize it or not, has been incredibly helpful. I’m proud thinking back and realizing how much I’ve learned since I started. Im grateful to those I’ve reached out to personally who have graciously provided guidance!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meryldesign.com
- Instagram: @meryl_design
Image Credits
Lauren DelBene Photography
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
