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Brian Herrick (He/Him/His)
BIO
I am an artist, teacher, and parent. I found art as a child in the form of comic books and Russian Icons. Born in South Dakota, and raised in Alaska, I was formed by two completely different cold and beautiful places.
I have a strong connection with the mountains, the sea and the woods. In 2005, after a year and a half of training, I plopped into the water near Shakespeare Beach, England and swam to France. I ate a Flake Chocolate Bar upon completion. After 24 years in San Francisco, I recently moved to Montpelier, Vermont where I live with my wife and two children. We are enjoying the birds, the trees, the clean air and the rolling green hills.
ARTIST STATEMENT
At the core of my art is a simple concept: to commit to a daily practice of making art. My goal is to draw, paint or make prints every day in order to connect with the world and to myself. This mindful practice allows me to be present and to be my best self. In that practice I aim to be a thoughtful person of service to my family, my friends and the people I encounter. This means that some days I work for hours and some days I get a few marks down. No matter what, I always return to my work, like a compass, so that I might find my way.
The subject matter that I come back to again and again is nature, and my place in it. Nature is simple and simultaneiously complex. What moves me about the natural world is that at first glance it appears static, while in fact it is always in flux. The natural world is often reduced to scientific explanations, and while science is helpful, I am lured by nature’s magical and mystical qualities. In making art I seek to commune with nature and be in it, not just an observer of it. Therefore, taking walks, a cross country ski, or a swim is vital to my process and in those experiences discovery happens.
As artists we are always chasing something. We look for inspiration, that notion, that spark which inspires us to create. We show up in our studio and we practice, we make things in a hope that we encounter flow. Time stands still and expands simultaneously and we are onto something unnameable. This process of seeking becomes just as important, if not more important than the thing we seek.
In my artistic process I look for surprise, I search for the unusual and the unexpected. I find the balance between chance and choice until the work defines itself. At the center of making things is my desire to understand a subject matter, figure out a problem, solve a puzzle and make sense of the world. This challenge is based on asking questions and seeking answers.
My work and practice is created on a foundation of mistakes. Allowing myself to take the risk of making a mistake opens up possibilities. Mistakes are where I find surprise, and it is at this point that I become a collaborator with my art, not simply the one calling the shots. This can be messy and at times unsettling, but always rewarding.
Finally, it helps me to think about my work using this analogy: making art is like crossing a river. I cross the river by hopping stones, making my way one stone at a time. There is often a point at which there is no next stone, and I have to either jump in to brave the water, or make my way back to find a different path. Either way, I am moving forward.
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ebbsandfloods at gmail.com