Meet Brea Weinreb | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brea Weinreb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brea, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I was actually thinking about this last night. I’ve established a much better work/life balance within the past few months. Last year I constantly felt like I was “behind” even though I was really pushing myself far beyond my limits. I was working around the clock, producing a lot of work and not taking any time for myself. This year I made a resolution to carve out time in the mornings and evenings for exercise, cleaning, emails, reading, cooking and other small things that make me feel good. It’s made a huge difference in my mental health, and I think that carries over into the work itself. I think artists have this false notion that working nonstop and neglecting your own wellbeing means being successful, whereas it’s really a marathon not a sprint, and the work/life balance is integral to the longevity of the work.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember and painting since I was 14. My career really started to take shape in the last few years, concurrent with moving to LA and pursuing painting full-time. It’s required a lot of sacrifices to get to this point, and I still feel lightyears away from where I want to be one day. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that everything takes time and commitment. One foot in front of the other, studio every day, day after day, and slowly things happen. The work has to come first – everything else follows.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This trip would definitely involve lots of outdoor activity – hikes at Elysian or Ernest Debs and maybe a trip to Redondo Beach (I love all the psychics that set up shop along the boardwalk there). We’d pick out wine and snacks at Dada Market and then go on the swan boats at Echo Park Lake. We’d eat at Night + Market, get spicy seafood soup at Hangari Kalguksu and tacos at El Gato Night Market. I would definitely take them to all the museums, especially the Getty Villa and Huntington Gardens. On our way up to the Getty Villa we’d stop at Broad Street Oyster for lunch and drive back down the 1 at sunset.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Mohilef Studios absolutely deserves the shoutout! Mohilef has been home to my studio for the past two years. The space itself and the community within it has been a sanctuary that has helped me grow and find balance.

Website: www.breaweinreb.com

Instagram: @breaweinreb

Image Credits
Artist portrait: Samuel Keamy-Minor