Meet Artist Brook
Brook Powell is an experienced watercolor artist inspired by the wondrous nature of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Creating art since 1985, Brook has established a vast collection of abstract and expressionist watercolor paintings. He graduated from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Art and Design and a minor in History. Having always been intrigued by the enchantment of his hometown, Brook feels most connected to his creativity when he is engaging with his community and surrounded by Marquette’s lush forests, streams, and the great Lake Superior.
Brook’s work focuses on positive magic. Positive magic is energy through bright, powerful colors and subtle forms. He brings imaginative landscapes and images to life on the surface.
Having an extensive portfolio, Brook is successful in exhibiting at countless art shows across the United States. His work was highly praised in New York, entering the Icon Prize, a book cover contest for writer Lane van Herzen’s novel The Unfastened Heart. Brook’s work placed in the top five out of 5,000 entries worldwide.
Brook recognizes the challenges of persevering along a creative path. Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 1992, the pressure of college was brutal, and it was hard to keep up with other students because of delusions, even while medicated. Brook’s mind can find it hard to concentrate more than two hours, and his artwork was mocked as bizarre in the context of strict academic realism.
He was ostracized and suffered from alienation. From being on medication for over thirty years, he now suffers from the shakes in his hands. As he persists, he is motivated by master Zoltan Szabo’s words “It has to be an inner drive, or you should be doing something else.”
A statement from Brook…
Inspired by the world of Marquette, Michigan, my paintings are spontaneous and intuitive to my environment. Reflecting my mood, my watercolor and acrylic paintings range between abstract and expressionism styles. When I am process painting, my practice is chaotic, wild, instinctive, and exciting. It is pure creative joy. Control is for the artistically constipated.
Imagination and chance play a big part in my creative process. In this era of homogenous realist art, people might think I am a fool for snubbing tight compositional rules, but I feel the more risks I take, the greater the reward in the realization of the final image of a unique painting.
The themes of my work are varied. These include positive bold energy of nature and trees, dreams, nightmares, time travel, aliens, monsters, angels, maidens, knights, other worlds, the spirit world, motion of changing time and reality, dragons, Hell, and the bending of reality.
The artistic influences in my life and work started with landscape masters Zoltan Szabo and Nita Engle. Next, came the fantasy artists like Frank Frazetta, and later the greater influence of Jeffrey Catherine Jones whom inspires me all the time. Pierre Bonnard, and Vincent van Gogh are two of my favorite artists. I also garnish inspiration from the various illustrators from history, especially the 1980s and 1970s. I am fascinated by traditional art.
Shape rather than form is the mainstay of my paintings, and I hope that the viewer will appreciate the motto, “if you are going to show paintings, give the audience something different to look at.”
Artist Interview – Brook
Get to know Brook’s dynamic artistry—bold, expressive, and unafraid to break boundaries. In this interview, we dive into the people who inspire him, the ideas that fuel his work, and how he challenges norms within the art world.
“What is your latest project/what are you currently working on?”
I am currently working on in my watercolors a special splatter technique to create texture and washes full of energy and color. I learned it from a book written by landscape artist Nita Engle, who is a local hero and internationally known artist.
“What message do you convey in your work?”
The power of creativity through spontaneity that results in unique and powerful abstract or semi-abstract art. I hope the final presented image will entice the viewer to say, “Wow, that piece is beautiful and different…I didn’t think a watercolor or acrylic painting could be painted like that!” We live in a homogenous society where everything is the same in watercolor painting. Artists feel pressure to fit in and be accepted which usually means tight realism. One friend said to me that I think outside the box. Damn right. One rebel tops a thousand conformists.
“Who is your favorite iconic artist?”
My favorite artist is Jeffrey Catherine Jones. She was a fantasy artist mainly known for her unique work in
the 1960s and 1970s. I try to come up with ideas and concepts like she did in my own work. Jone’s
influence, even though she didn’t like abstract work, is a beauty I try to reconstruct when I try to come up
with a painting idea, especially unusual ones.
“Who is your biggest fan and supporter?”
My biggest fan and supporter is one of my best friends Jeff Verito. He is always encouraging me to keep
going and get my work out there. He is a geographical genius who is always trying to get me, with a
friendly push, to move to areas where me and my art will be accepted. After my divorce, he helped me
through the dark days and always kept my painting spirits up.
“Is there a word, thought, or feeling that helps you begin your process?”
I have trained my mind to seek ideas everywhere I go, and they just come to me. I tap into the spirit energy
of Native Americans who existed long before I was here in the world. I also use other artists work, things I
read and see on T.V., but mostly I recieve ideas from things I see, and what images arise in my imaginative
eyes and mind.
“In your studio, do you listen to music or a podcast while you create? Or do you prefer
silence?”
I listen to the radio or one of my CDs of 1980s or 1990s metal. Ratt, Dokken, Winger, Night Ranger, and
others.
“How can our audience keep in touch with you?”
By e-mail or comments on my website. Begin by commenting below!
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Brook’s art:
His work is stunning, love his backstory.
Thanks Nadin….the beauty of your heart and face is also stunning and like many women I know from models or friends, women in general inspire me to create images of them because they will always be my beautiful muses. Thanks for being you.