Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Summer Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Summer, thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
My optimism comes from believing in the philosophy that we cannot change the things we have no control of. This thing we call life is filled with ups and downs. There will always be ebbs and flows. Whenever I face adversity, I give myself a short period of time to go through my emotions, I then move on, and look for solutions on how to make my situation better or how I can improve.
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 have been working within the art field for over 20yrs. I started as an Exhibit Designer working in design firms and museums. I also did art curation and teaching grade school, middle school and high school. I’ve been working in higher education for a little over 10yrs now and I love it. I love teaching my students art and watching them grow from their Freshman year to Senior year.
I’m also very active in exhibiting my work. It’s very important to me to keep up with my craft and share my work with others. I also have two small businesses, “Art with Summer” where I teach online and in person classes, sip and paints and do commissioned work for clients. Also, I’m the Co-Founder of Mahogany Darling, an online apparel store. (links are below).
Art with Summer:
http://artwithsummer.org/
Mahogany Darling:
https://mahoganydarling.com/
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?
Three qualities, skills or area of knowledge that were most impactful in my journey are: to mentor or intern with companies within your field, network, and never stop practicing your craft. Some advice I have for folks who are early in their journey is to never give up on your dreams involving your career path. I’m a strong believer that if you find a job that you love, you will never work a day in your life. Be passionate about what you do, always strive to be better, and have fun in the process!
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was to always encourage me in all of my endeavors. I knew from an early age that I wanted to do something within the arts. They always encouraged, nurtured, and supported me to continue within the art field. They are and have always been my biggest fans. For that, I am forever grateful for the both of them.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://artwithsummer.org/
- Instagram: artwithsummer_
- Other: Mahogany Darling https://mahoganydarling.com/
