We recently connected with Brooke Major and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Brooke, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
Every child has dreams of some sort and children tend to be relatively unfearful of the unknown, seeking out new possibilities as an undiscovered adventure. As an artist, we have learned that not only must we think like children (anything is possible) but we must shy away from ever growing up. The thought that everything and anything is possible is my motto.
Some artists leave their “life’s diary” as albums and songs, a series of books, a fashion line, or a set of sculptures. I chose painting because I am attracted to the material, I love the fact that paintings are easy to transport and I was always mystified by paintings in museums or galleries, alike.
I created a vision as a child to live in France, raise European showjumping horses with the best bloodlines, paint them, and work with upper-level galleries, with the ambition to have my work collected in several major international museums.
Painting allows the artist to create specific work to our specific style, projecting our feelings in different stages of our lives. A very solitary practice, yet allows one to network in mundane circles of philosophical and spiritual minds alike. All of these qualities resonated with me and after discarding false beliefs of not making any financial gains from this practice, using my out-of-the-box thinking, I created the painter’s ideal life: Living in the French countryside while raising horses and working with international galleries.
I’ve used many techniques to obtain all of my life’s experiences, but the most important skills I have acquired to live my life’s purpose are hard work, passion, and dedication.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’ve developed skills in painting that are considered by art enthusiasts as unique and I’ve created my niche in the fact that I have mixed the practices of both sculpting and painting. People have nicknamed me “The sculptor of paint. I love Gothic architecture and I am obsessed with horses. I tend to use these two subjects as my primary source of themes. Today, my work is shown all over the United States in venues from North and South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Oklahoma. All gallery representation can be found on my website at www.brooke-major.com
My work has received many notable prizes in France as well as in the United States. The Grand Prix of Rene Clement Bayer, The Mayor’s Prize in Champagne sur Seine, the painting prize offered by Le Franc et Bourgeois oil paints, and the Young Talent Prize in Menton are some major accomplishments I’ve received in France. In the USA, I have been awarded the Grand Prize of Artfest in Clayton GA as well as an honorable mention at the Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Airport Painting Prize Awards
As a horse breeder, I am enthusiastic about older bloodlines of top Olympic and World Cup-winning show jumpers, descending from bloodlines of top European warmbloods. I have several broodmares, and this year, we are proud to say we are expecting two foals from the famous “Cumano Z”. Our bloodlines vary from top French Stallions such as Allegretto, Jalisco B and Incitatus, top German sires, such as Chellano, Air Jordan and Cornet Obolensky. All of my horses can be found on my website under the section named” Living Sculptures”.
My horses have also been a great success in the discipline of Hunters and Showjumpers. They have been awarded winners of distinguished titles such as French Young Horse Hunter champion, winners of numerous 5 star Grand Prix and one has been so accomplished that he has won the Nations Cup twice and placed third at Hermes Grand Prix in Paris.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Moving abroad was critical for my success. It taught me independence, survival skills, and foreign languages. I was introduced to ancient architecture, world-class museums, and especially European know-how to breed sport horses. The most important thing I’ve learned as an entrepreneur is that if you are passionate about what you do, you must train yourself like an Olympic athlete. This requires waking up early, exercising positive thinking, envisioning yourself already being successful, exercising your body and long hours honing your skills, and marketing yourself. You are what you believe you are, and anyone is capable of anything they desire if they believe in themselves.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
As an artist, I am enthralled with contemporary artists who are my role models, such as David Hockney, Anselm Kiefer, Ai Wei Wei, and Maurizio Cattelan. Their work ethic and fearless approach to what they love as well as what they firmly believe in and are passionate about are the type of work habits I try to instill in my daily practices. It would be a great honor to spend time with these artists to become outstanding. it is important to surround yourself with outstanding people, who make it a point of standing out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brooke-major.com/en
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brookeseeart
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-major-86356058?trk=people-guest_people_search-card&originalSubdomain=fr
