Hello, creatives! In another inspiring episode of Art + Audience, Stacie sat down with Brooke Glaser, an illustrator whose art has graced products for Target, greeting cards, and more. Beyond her impressive portfolio, Brooke has guided over 270,000 artists through her classes and resources. This episode is a treasure trove of insights on failure, strategy, and the journey to building a thriving creative career.
Brooke’s artistic journey started with handmade greeting cards—a small-scale venture that taught her invaluable lessons about scalability and pricing. Her initial efforts landed her products in seven stores across two states, but she soon realized that her work wasn’t financially sustainable. Reflecting on that chapter, she shared a favorite quote by Adam JK:
“Failure is just research unless you never try again.”
These early lessons pushed Brooke to pivot and refine her approach, leading her to the world of illustration and trade shows.
Exhibiting at an expensive trade show in New York was a pivotal moment for Brooke. Despite preparing diligently, she left without a single sale. However, she walked away with important lessons:
Brooke’s takeaway? Success often comes from perseverance and learning from setbacks rather than immediate wins.
One of Brooke’s most impactful shifts came when she adopted a strategic mindset in her art. Instead of producing work in bulk, she began creating targeted collections that aligned with her clients’ needs. She shared an example of designing a collection for a children’s apparel company, inspired by the calm, dreamy emotions of bedtime stories. By intentionally focusing on a specific feeling and theme, she created a collection that resonated deeply with the client and their customers.
“When you align your artistic voice with the emotions of your ideal audience, your art becomes irresistible,” Stacie emphasized.
Both Brooke and Stacie highlighted the importance of reframing failure as part of the creative process. Brooke recounted her initial missteps, from navigating trade shows to assuming she could simply restock her handmade cards in retail stores without proper protocols. Despite the embarrassment, each experience propelled her forward.
“You learn by doing, even when the doing doesn’t go perfectly,” Brooke said. “It’s all part of the process.”
Brooke’s journey offers invaluable advice for artists at any stage:
Brooke also shared a free resource for aspiring artists: The Beginner’s Guide to Drawing Anything. This guide focuses on foundational skills to help artists create beautiful, efficient art. Find it on her website, brookeglaser.com, and explore her YouTube channel for more free resources.
Brooke’s story reminds us that success in the creative world is a blend of strategy, resilience, and passion. Whether it’s learning to curate your portfolio, embracing failure, or thinking strategically about your audience, every step brings you closer to your goals.
To hear the full conversation, tune into this episode of Art + Audience podcast.
