Today we’d like to introduce you to Pia Brannen.
Hi Pia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The exploration of both social media as a tool and my creative identity in real life occurred simultaneously. I’d been experimenting with what I wanted to communicate online and how to develop authentically as an artist. So naturally, there was some existential overlap and genuine confusion over how to separate who I am and what parts of me should be publicly available. This confusion hindered my artistic process and over time, I realized I was unintentionally creating through the lens of wanting the work to be palatable, easy to understand, easy to digest…
Most current art marketing materials stress the importance of a heavy digital presence and constantly churning out shareable work or intimate insights to the creative process. So while the idea of taking frequent social media breaks seemed counterintuitive to my goals as an artist, I chose to prioritize a healthy mind. Truthfully, time away from social media brings immense clarity to (me and) my creative process. It frees up my time and headspace, bringing me home to myself and the desires specific to me as an individual, away from the constant advertisements, comparisons, instant gratification and mental overwhelm.
I’m a big fan of peer-to-peer sharing and certainly appreciate the importance of digital connections. But I think there’s something to be said about digital sobriety – allowing yourself freedom from screens and “social” spaces that by design, keep you distracted and addicted. More effort toward digital sobriety has been one of the most liberating experiences for my artistic process.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve been working through new ways of sustaining inspiration. Like lots of budding artists, I mostly relied on visual stimuli to get the creative process started. When I began taking breaks from social media (and moving away from the overconsumption of media in general), I realized I couldn’t rely on the usual influx of imagery to motivate me.
Through trial and error I found creative inspiration was more sustainable through lots of unlikely sources – podcasts, abandoned hobbies, studying philosophy, nourishing close relationships, etc. By aligning my sources of inspiration more closely with my values as a person, I’ve been able to establish a creative process that feels well-rounded and certainly healthier than the manic amplification/devastating burnout cycle I’d been accustomed to for years.
Within the last year, I’ve started to create for myself again, making work for the singular purpose of satisfying my own desires. For a while, I was really interested in Art Marketing, reading books about how to make a living with art online and applying approaches I’d learned working in PR/Communications. I did all the things that promised greater exposure and a wider audience, treating myself and my instagram like a brand, which in all honesty did have a positive impact from an analytics standpoint. But I didn’t feel aligned with promoting myself as a brand and realized I wasn’t creating for myself, I was performing for an audience.
Since placing less emphasis on promotion and self-branding, I’ve felt so much more fulfilled by the process and am more proud of the work I’m putting out now than ever before.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
A fascination with portraits and the human body in general has been a consistent theme in my work. Some commonalities you’ll notice between pieces are bold colors, props that are usually meant to imply something about the subject’s personality, and recurring imagery (masks or flowers for example).
One element I think is a bit unique is my treatment of oil paint. Most oil painters are highly concerned with realism and tend to layer their paint delicately after mixing perfect fleshy tones. It’s how I was taught to paint and I really enjoy revisiting this approach from time to time. But when painting freely, I’ve been told that my oil paint is layered like acrylic – thick, unconnected, imperfect strokes more concerned with expression than realism. At showings, people often guess first that my paintings are acrylic and are surprised I’ve opted for the “more difficult” medium to achieve a similar effect. But I think it makes the work more interesting that there is some perceived fluidity between the two mediums and their usual styles. In actuality, I never paint with acrylics. I learned how to paint using oils and it is 100% my medium of choice.
I’d say I’m most proud of how much I’ve unlearned in the art space. I’ve read lots of art books, listened to every art podcast and initially took a very studious approach to creativity. I was overwhelmed by third-party concepts of what I “should” be doing. Over time I’ve grown less rigid with myself, and it has benefited my creative process exponentially. I feel less restricted by catering to an audience and less concerned about whether or not I’m following the rules. Coincidentally, my favorite work as of late has been centered around countercultures that aren’t typically enjoyed en masse – kink, horror, and western for example.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Stay open to what mentorship could look like. The idea that a mentor has to be someone with years of experience far beyond yours is dated and limiting. Don’t just network up, network across.
Peer to peer mentorship has been a wonderful source of growth for me. It’s allowed me to connect with people at my eye level, working through similar challenges at the same time. A 65 years old mentor may be well-versed in classical training, while a 25 years old peer may teach you how to find your audience on TikTok. Ask yourself if you’d benefit more from leadership or partnership, a coach or a teammate, a manager or collaborator, then proceed accordingly.
Lastly, and this goes for any type of partnership – if you take something, leave something.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pmb-la.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/pmb.la
