We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brook Proctor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Brook, we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?
My generosity comes from my upbringing. I grew up in a single-mother household with two siblings and experienced poverty firsthand. Living with enough to survive, along with the occasional treat, shaped who I am today. It motivated me to strive for something more and to seek the freedom that comes with success.
When you don’t grow up with much, you can relate to others who are in similar situations. Once you’re able to give back, you naturally want to help those in need and uplift them, showing that even when you start with nothing, you can create something meaningful for yourself. Life is too short not to be kind, especially in a world that already has so much “ugly.” What you give is what you receive.
I’ve helped people in many ways; financially, emotionally, and through encouragement. Another meaningful way to be generous is to use your gifts to help others. For the first time this year, on September 20th, I will be participating in a charity event. I donated a piece of art and will have a booth where a percentage of my proceeds will be donated.
Being kind is simple, yet there are countless ways to help others and practice selflessness!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
A couple years after high school, I kind of lost myself and stopped creating art completely. Needless to say, there was a big void in my life without it. I finally scratched the itch and got back into creating, and I haven’t stopped since. Nowadays, there’s no room for me to stop; it’s truly an addiction. The feeling of getting messy, expressing myself, seeing my thoughts come to life through imagery and color, the sense of accomplishment in finishing a piece, and the improvement that comes from practice. Creating brings me all of this and more. Art is something I will never let fall out of my life again.
That being said, I am fully focused on becoming a full-time artist. I want my art to reach people across the globe because it’s filled with such color, joy, and originality that it’s impossible not to feel happy when experiencing it. Art truly is healing.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve really hit the ground running to make this dream a reality; attending art shows, taking on commissions, participating in exhibitions, and posting consistently on social media. A couple of my upcoming events include the Wheels of Dreams charity event on September 20th and The Other Art Fair Chicago from October 30th to November 2nd.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The best advice I could give anyone is to be honest; not only with others, but with yourself. Don’t just say yes to something because it’s easier. If you’re working with a deadline and truly don’t think you can meet it, speak up. People prefer under-promising to over-promising.
Be confident! It’s easy to compare yourself to others, but you have to trust in what you do. If you don’t feel confident yet, “fake it until you make it”. Eventually, it won’t feel fake anymore.
Sometimes, you’ll need to sacrifice in order to make your dreams a reality. I like to say: sacrifice = success. Be efficient, stay persistent, and don’t give up just because something doesn’t happen overnight. Great things take time.
Lastly, stay positive! Maintaining a positive mindset will help you push through challenges and keep moving toward your goals.
Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?
My biggest growth has been with my art career; stepping out of my comfort zone by applying for and participating in “high-end” exhibitions. When I first started, I did small pop-up shows at local businesses and hung my art in salons, and recently I’ve challenged myself further by participating in exhibitions, applying to events, and being accepted for the first time. I’m also doing my first-ever charity event.
One area I’ve improved on, but am still working on, is self-care and slowing down. My mind is like a machine; it never stops running. I always want to create, but I’ve learned that even though I love creating, I also need to rest, relax my body, and put my mind at ease.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bnpvisualarts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bnpvisualarts/#
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