Meet Mary Brooks

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mary Brooks a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mary, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?

Self-discipline must come from within. I became aware early on that, although I have always had family, friends, colleagues, and so on, to rely upon, I know that what I need to accomplish is ultimately up to me and my own efforts. I once read a quote from a respected actress who said, “You’re either the kind of person who, when cleaning your floors, does the corners or doesn’t. I like to believe I’m the person who does the corners, so to speak. This can sometimes be negatively interpreted as “perfectionism.” I prefer the term “self-discipline.”

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m an artist whose medium is generally acrylic painting, although I sometimes venture into mixed media. Although I’ve been involved in some sort of creative expression forever, I only began answering the question “What do you do?” with “I’m an artist” for about six or seven years. I worked for many years as an editor and writer in the book publishing industry, primarily textbooks and academic books. On the surface, art and textbook publishing are two wildly different careers. But everything I’ve ever done, every professional mask I’ve worn, feeds into my art. This returns to the concept of “self-discipline.” My work in publishing often required long hours and always demanded attention to factual detail. Perfectionism wasn’t a dirty word; it was expected. As an artist, I call on that self-discipline that I perfected in my previous career. Even an abstract painting requires attention to detail; an upcoming show requires long hours in the studio. The one thing that differs now–that makes what I do feel special–is that I often hear that my art makes people happy.

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

Okay, I’m returning to the idea of “self-discipline” here. If you want something badly enough, you must put in the work. That is number one. Second (still related to self-discipline), skills can be learned. You must put in the time and effort to absorb and learn as much as you can about your chosen field. All the information you need is now at your fingertips. And this includes exploring what others are doing. Learn from them. Third, just do it. Nothing happens without commitment and passion.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

The one book I always recommend is “The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles” by Steven Pressfield. Not just for artists, this book is for anyone who has a goal in life and needs, as one review says, “a kick in the ass.” According to Pressfield, “resistance” is the enemy you must face and conquer.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marybrooksart.com
• Instagram: @mcbrooksart