Joyful Energy: An Interview with Brent Estabrook

With a foundation in Studio Arts from the University of Arizona and an unexpected detour through dental school at the University of Louisville, Brent Estabrook’s journey shows that unconventional paths can sometimes help us find our true purpose.

Cover image: Jonathan Jovel

Brent Estabrook‘s artistic trajectory started when he emerged from the shadows of student debt by using paint and canvas to turn his financial struggles into vivid representations of enlarged currencies. Evolving his distinctive style over time, he now focuses on creating large-scale oil paintings featuring colorful quilts and playful depictions of stuffed animals. Through his practice, he delves into texture, color and emotion to craft vibrant pieces that blend childhood nostalgia with surgical precision.

In this interview, Brent invites us into his world, sharing insights into his creative process, the transformational power of art, and the continuous drive to challenge and redefine his artistic boundaries.

IG: Making the transition from dentistry to full-time art is certainly not something we hear every day. Can you share more about the moment you decided to pursue art as a career, and how your background in dentistry has influenced your artistic process?

Brent: I had this really profound moment about three months before I graduated where I realized I hated dentistry, just dreaded going to class. I remember thinking how positive a person I was and still no one wants to be there. No one looks forward to visiting the dentist. At the time, I was painting and creating with every free moment I had and in that profound moment I had, it was like this realization… Am I going to spend the rest of my life doing something I hate or something I love? That was it, the big moment when I knew with 100% certainty that I was going to leave dentistry and pursue art.

It did have a positive influence on me though as it gave me, and continues to give me a lot of discipline. I have routines and practices, and I put in the work. Sometimes the actual process of painting is real physical work, with many long hours on my feet or in weird uncomfortable positions. The discipline and focus I got from dental school helps me push past the discomfort and distractions to do my best work every day with every piece.

IG: What were your earliest influences in art, and how did growing up in Seattle contribute to your artistic vision?

Brent: Legos were a big deal for me growing up. I had a huge bucket and would just dump them all out and start building things. I credit that for a lot of my creativity. Disney as well contributed in a big way as I used to want to be a Disney animator, I just loved the hand drawn scenes. Even now, it is still a major influence for me.

As far as growing up in Seattle, I was about an hour outside the city, but the weather was, of course, always raining and I spent a lot of time inside, playing with legos, watching Disney movies, that kind of thing.

IG: You are known for creating pieces with thick strokes and a tactile quality. Can you describe your technique and how you achieve such lifelike textures in your work?

Brent: I was always influenced early on by the impressionists… Van Gogh, Monet… I loved work that when you saw it in person, you could feel it, you could sense each brushstroke and I really wanted to pursue that in my own art.

My technique is first, to use a ton of paint. The color mixing is incredibly important to my process. I cannot underestimate that, the color and color mixing. I never use a color straight out of the tube. But the texture is built from layering, building and building layer after layer of impasto, wet on wet. It creates a roundness and depth that is much more immersive than simply using shadows and highlights.

IG: The “Perpetual Recess” series has been a significant part of your career. What inspired this series, and what messages are you trying to convey with these pieces?

Brent: It happened on an afternoon with my niece and nephew actually, who were 5 and 7 at the time. It was a year after I graduated from dental school and they were showing me all their stuffed animals and throwing them into a pile. Artistically, I remember looking down and thinking, this is very interesting, the colors, the textures, etc. but what hit me on a deeper level was what they were feeling. There was so much joy, love, and passion just radiating from them, I could tell they were having the time of their life. It is that passion, that joy that I realized I wanted to instill in my art.

These positive emotions of joy, wonder, happiness, playfulness, passion, and love are so powerful and I think that as adults we tend to lose some of that, especially the joy, playfulness, and unfiltered wonder and passion for life that we had as kids. I wanted my art to remind all of us, kids and grown ups alike, of that passion. I wanted to create art that above all, inspired joy. That is the message… joy and wonder and happiness.

IG: How have your subjects and style evolved over the years, and what drives you to explore new themes in your work?

Brent: Everything I do is based on change. I never ever ever paint the same way twice, even if it might look that way from the outside, from an artistic perspective they are very much individualized. Every time I approach a canvas it is like I am starting completely anew.

I believe it was Philip Guston who said, “Every time I approach a painting, it’s as if I forgot how I did my last painting” and I resonate with that very much. There is such an excitement and a journey into the unknown when you adopt this perspective. The challenges, the joys, the roadblocks and hardships. It is what drives my evolution as an artist, a deep desire for living a life of constant growth.

IG: You’ve mentioned the importance of mindfulness in your artistic process. Could you elaborate on how meditation or mindfulness practices influence your creativity and work?

Brent: A lot of it is very simple but that does not mean that it is easy… meditation, breathwork, exercise, good diet, healthy body and mind, that kind of thing to make sure everything is in peak working order. That is what allows me to be a channel for creativity. The better I care for my body and mind, the more easily I can tap into that conduit for infinite potential. I see creativity very much like a divine force that I still do not quite understand. But I respect it!

IG: Could you walk us through a typical day in your studio? How do you balance the demands of creativity with the practical aspects of managing an art career?

Brent: I get up and most of the time I will put on a little music and dance with my wife, Tara, then we go to the coffee shop, usually Verve and we both write in our thankful journals for 15-20 minutes. Then I get down to business stuff, either on my computer to check messages from my team or attend a meeting for an interview. Sometimes I will spend that time editing photos that I have taken of my artwork, which I love doing, or editing or designing a book, checking in on social media… Lots of computer work in the morning.

I usually get to my Studio around 10 or 10:30 where I will usually photograph some pieces or prep canvas. Honestly, every day is a little different but I also paint for an hour or two in the morning.

Then around noon comes my mindfulness practice that I do on the Studio roof where I soak up the sun for about 15 minutes and relax, enjoy the moment, then start on the meditation and breathwork, and exercise, which takes about an hour.

Then from 1-5 is my highly creative time. I turn my phone off, put on some jazz music and spend the whole afternoon painting. After that, I usually talk a lot with my team, especially my business manager about ideas or I call collectors and just chat and catch up. Then I go home and hang out with my wife, cook dinner together, and relax.

IG: Given your unique path to becoming a professional artist, do you see yourself taking on a mentorship role for young artists, or perhaps returning to education in a different capacity?

Brent: 100%. I know that teaching is one of the great joys of life and I cannot wait until I have time to spend a day or two a week mentoring and teaching. Right now I am working on building out my art career and making sure it is more self-sustaining, then I would love to do more teaching.

I have recently started working with Inner City Arts here in LA, and I see more of that happening down the line. I could even see myself eventually building a school or an institute that helps young artists become professional artists.

IG: We first heard about your amazing work when we spoke with Matt Gondek, who recommended other creatives that were worth checking out. Are there any artists you believe are flying under the radar at the moment and deserve more attention?

Brent: The first one that comes to mind is Sol Summers. He is an incredible artist and though I do not know him well and we have not hung out in a long time, I just saw a piece he did on Instagram and I was just blown away.

Mikael Brandrup and Juan Rivas are two other artist friends of mine that I highly recommend people check out.

IG: Finally, what’s on the horizon for you? Are there any new subjects, mediums or collaborations you’re eager to explore?

Brent: I have an insane amount of creative ideas I want to pursue! The big one is the “Smiles” 2nd Edition plushie launch in July this year for my birthday. We are doing a big pop up at Century City Mall in LA and there will be plushies, paintings, prints, and other really cool collectibles that I have spent so much time spearheading the design and obsessing over the details. It is going to be great. I also have a show coming up in July and August in Switzerland with the Maddox Gallery in Gstaad.

But one of the big things I am really eager to explore is really creating just for the sake of creating. I know flowers and gardens will be subject matters that I explore soon because they have been a huge part of my life. There are also an endless amount of collaborations that I have been thinking about, from furniture to who I can collaborate with for Smiles. I have also been giving some thought to the digital world… no idea where that is going to go yet but it is exciting to think about.

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If you would like to learn more about Brent Estabrook and his fascinating world, be sure to take a look at his website and follow his latest updates on Instagram.