Meet Brie Spiel | Artist

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

Hi Brie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Like most artists, I grew up constantly hearing that I shouldn’t be an artist, that I would starve and there was no stability. I played it safe for a while doing what I thought I was supposed to do. I took small risks here and there but I always had a safety net. I’ve never had the patience for calculations but I had a hunger for more than what was provided to me as options. So when push came to shove, I took a leap of faith.

In early 2017, I got a call from my brother-in-love that he had just been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and needed to start treatment immediately. In order to receive his life-saving surgery he would need to travel to New York and stay there for what ended up being about six months. All of this happened 8 months after welcoming their second child.

At the time I was beginning to bring in various freelance projects while being employed full-time as a textile designer. I was unhappy and seeking a different job to get away from the abusive management I found at that company. I could see my sister needed help with the kids as this health situation developed so I gave my boss a month’s notice and decided I would live with my sister part-time while I helped take care of the kids and continue to freelance to make up the extra cash to pay my bills. I was making decent money with freelance projects for the last year, why would now be any different? Well, I had miscalculated my financial position upon leaving my job. In a pinch I picked up part-time work from a local artist and then picked up two more part-time jobs while I did my freelance work in between diaper changes, putting the kids to bed, and train commutes. I was making ends meet but I was unable to save much. I was constantly on the move and, while I was emotionally and physically drained, that risk showed me what I was capable of and how good I was at what I did. The only thing missing was business sense.

Six months later, my brother-in-love came home and everything dried up. I learned I had been charging far too low for my work and thus taking on more work than I could handle. I was backed into a corner with $13,000 racked up in credit card debt, student loans, collections calls, and begging for extra work as I maxed out my hours at my other jobs. The result was immense burnout.

I couldn’t slow down now though, I had no cushion, and every small project counted. I kept bringing in work but because I wasn’t confident in charging more with taking on too much and dropped the ball several times, thus losing clients. And as the freelance continued to dry up, I began looking for full-time employment once again.

I applied to several jobs locally while my partner was experiencing being relocated or let go from his job. The relocation would take him to New Jersey so we hopped on a plane to entertain the idea but while we were there I got an email that the team I had been interviewing with that they wanted to meet me for an in-person interview two days before I was set to return and that this coming Tuesday was the only day they could all meet for the next few weeks. I liked this team and didn’t want to miss this opportunity for whatever it was worth so I spent my last $300 to fly back to San Francisco for the in-person interview. I was hired on the spot with a salary much higher than I could have imagined.

It’s been almost four years since I took that risk and since then I have moved to Brooklyn on a whim and opened my first studio there, now here I am living in Nashville with the same partner I checked out New Jersey with. I have a new art studio here where I am now proving to myself what I am worth and opening the door to work with bigger clients as I navigate my full-time employment as an Art Director and keeping in mind that if it feels scary, I must be meant to do it. I’m happy to say I live each day pretty fucking terrified.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Having spent my youth feeling rather disconnected and lonely, I turned to art to communicate and work through understanding the world around me with comics and illustrations, but always being drawn to a humorous perspective. As time went on I drew comics for the school paper and made contemporary pieces in class. This lead me to a fruitful freelance career and personal practice through defiant willpower to do what I felt I was put on this earth to do – create.

The art I create aside from my client work is what I’d like to call playful editorial. I find myself often observing the world and reflecting on how we can leave any situation either better than we found it or celebrating the joy it has brought. With this my work tells stories by depicting facial and body expressions, moments in time with questioning social commentary using symbolism and different materials, and celebratory depictions of what is currently affecting me and possibly others while using bright and bold colors with strong lines to bring a sense of clarity, humor, and play.

I don’t need the world to know anything about me other than I hope that anything I create leaves people in conversation with one another and building community. Whether that be how we can create a better place for all to be included, ways to help each other within our communities, or discovering a new kindred spirit or close friend.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visiting I would plan most of our week around different spots to eat. Starting with some Nashville hot chicken at Princes Hot Chicken so they could check out the insanity that is Broadway then take a trolley tour around the city. We’d finish the night at Wild Cow for vegan dinner then probably catch a show at The 5 Spot and just walk around 5 points. One of the days I’d pack some light sandwiches, snacks, and beer to float down Red River on some inner tubes. Perhaps catch a show at the Ryman or Ascend Amphitheater if someone we like is in town or go to one of the various restaurants that house local groups playing. We’d definitely have breakfast at Shugga-Hi Bakery and Cafe for their Catfish and Waffles accompanied by live music. Maybe go up to Lovers Circle and watch the sunset over the city. There’s also some amazing Venezuelan food at Nashville Venezuelan Food off Nolensville Pike and theres excellent Egyptian food at King Tuts, or Thai at Deg Thai, or Ethiopian at Gojo Ethiopian. If we were feeling Indian we’d go to Amaravati or Bombay Palace. For an interesting take on chicken and waffles if we want comfort food we’d definitely do ConeHeads for their waffle cones filled with chicken strips and sauce and grits on the side. So so so many options!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to give a shout out to the global community of incredibly beautiful and supportive people that I have met over the years in all walks of life that have continued to be my biggest support network. These are the people that when we meet it feels like we have been thick as thieves all our lives and despite not having spoken in a while we know we can rely on each other for anything. The list includes but is not limited to Melina Kemph, Jillian Knox, Sarah Sakeena Marshall, Javier Olazabol, Cat Schmitz, Steven Yu, Denis Kwan, Anna Aranda, Stephanie Wubben, Craig Elliot, Alessandra Maria, Alex Chelini, Casey Desilets, Tori Davis, Jenni Williams, Dominic Del Bene, Renée Vargas, Victoria Simpson, Kelly Wyllie, Tim McGregor, Jaide Simenoux, Mikiko Sasaki, my family and many many more. I want to give a special shout out to my sister for her guidance, love and support in watching me grow. Most importantly I want to give a shout out to my partner, Marc Atkinson, for his patience and cautious enthusiasm that has since turned into emphatic enthusiasm as my number one co-creative pilot. I never thought anything could be stronger than loving someone but I was wrong, it’s creating with them. The life and art we create together is more powerful than the love I could have ever dreamed of.

Website: www.briespiel.com

Instagram: @briespiel

Linkedin: @BrieSpiel