Today we’d like to introduce you to Brett Hall.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I always knew that I wanted to be an artist. And my teachers–from kindergarten through high school—knew it too. When high school graduation rolled around, I left a self-addressed envelope for my diploma and headed out two weeks early for the Colorado Institute of Art. At the end of that two-year course, I applied to and was accepted by the Rhode Island School of Design and Art Center College of Design.
But love brought a change in those plans. I returned to Denver with my newly-wed wife and jumped into commercial art. Newspapers, magazines, print shops, corporate art departments, and ad agencies all filled the next forty years. I progressed from Designer to Art Director to Director of Marketing to Sales.
Then, I woke up one day and realized that I hadn’t drawn anything in fifteen years. I began to draw again and soon entered my first show. The curator praised my work but said I needed to focus. He said, “If you do everything, people will remember nothing.” I took that to heart and began to think about what I was passionate about.
At that time, I had been selling yearbooks to Indian schools on reservations. I met some amazing people in remote off-the-map locations. And I saw that, despite a dark history of stolen lands and outright slaughter, they had survived with dignity and pride. It’s a story that has been repeated around the world—the demise of indigenous peoples, the destruction of their environment, and the social injustice they suffered.
I decided that this would be my focus—to tell the story of the Natives in this country. For forty years, I had been honing my skills in “telling and selling” with advertising images. Now, I had another story to tell.
My portraits are researched in the Library of Congress archives. Viewers often ask if the subjects posed for me. That’s when I know I have accomplished my goal—bringing Natives from 100-150 years ago to life. The viewer sees the stories in the eyes of real people, not an old photo that looks long ago and far away.
I was humbled when an elderly Native cried looking at my portrait of a young Hopi girl. It reminded him of a girl in Indian Boarding School when the government took them from their parents. “Kill the Indian to save the child.” They cut their hair, took their clothes and beat them when they spoke their Native tongue.
Art can disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. Maybe I can do that—disturb those who would like to forget, and comfort those who remember. My goal is to give a voice to those who have been silenced, give eyes to those who do not see and give a heart to those who do not want to care.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Artists run the gamut from hobbyists to passionate professionals and each much forge their own path driven by their art and their ambitions. You must find your personal balance between artistic achievement, recognition, and reward.
Think of a ven diagram of overlapping circles. One is the mastering of your craft, the other is awards and the third is sales. Which is the most important to you? How do you measure your success?
For me, it’s improving my skills and communicating my message… something of an artist/activist. For me, it is not about making a living… it’s all about living my passion.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
You can view my work on my website and you can support my work on my Patreon site. Patreon is a site where patrons can support artists and acquire their art with a recurring monthly donation. There are different levels of support starting at $1 per month and you can apply the amounts to the purchase of limited edition prints, canvas prints, and original paintings. Learn more and sign up at:
www.patreon.com/brettghall
We have been exhibiting in various art festivals around the country including Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico. In addition, I serve as the President of the Conroe Art League and often show my work in The Gallery at the Madeley Building at 127 Simonton Street in Conroe.
Contact Info:
- Address: 31842 Chapel Rock Lane
- Website: www.brettghall.com
- Phone: 713-557-2954
- Email: brett@brettghall.com
- Instagram: brettghall1954
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brettghallart/
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
