An Evolving Conversation with Brent Estabrook

“Pink Alligator” Timelaspe

Brent Estabrook (b. 1985) is an American artist known for his large-scale oil paintings of stuffed animals. Born in Arizona and raised in Seattle, WA, he holds a Bachelor of Studio Arts from the University of Arizona and a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Louisville. With a playful yet meticulous approach, Estabrook combines surgical precision with a childlike sense of joy, creating textured and vibrant compositions. His artistic journey began by turning frustration over student debt into paintings of enlarged currencies, leading to a career breakthrough. Through a series of colorful skulls, he developed his distinctive style, exploring brushwork and color palette. The series "Perpetual Recess," initiated in 2015, firmly established him in the art world. Since then, Estabrook has exhibited at notable art fairs across the United States, and the Long Beach Museum of Art hosted his solo exhibition, "Creature Comforts," in 2022. Currently based in Los Angeles, Estabrook continues to captivate audiences with his evocative artwork.

You Name it! WIP Photo by Brent Estabrook.

UZOMAH: Your large-scale paintings are truly unique. Could you delve into the process of infusing each commissioned piece or work of art for an exhibition with a distinct touch, making it a one-of-a-kind creation?

BRENT: Every single piece that I create is unique. I couldn't replicate it if I tried. I take inspiration from where I’m at in life, in the moment of creation, so all of my paintings are essentially time-stamped by the moment of their creation.

For example, “Dancing on a Cloud,” a piece that will be on exhibit at the Maddox show this August in Gstaad, Switzerland, was created after I spent a particularly beautiful morning in LA right after a big rainstorm on the roof of my Studio just watching the clouds morph and shift and pass by. I had never painted clouds before, but I was so inspired by what I saw that I knew that was the perfect background for what I was working on that day.

Block Party Mural WIP Photo by Ronald Perez.jpg

U: The majority of your works feature stuffed animals, a subject matter that you approach with a captivating blend of playfulness and seriousness. Could you enlighten us on how you masterfully balance these contrasting elements, inspiring us with your unique creative approach?

B: Positive emotions are so important to me in the creative process. Being an artist is full of challenges, complicated emotions, and lots of ups and downs, so being mindful of the joy is important. It’s a feedback loop. When my viewers and collectors feel the joy, happiness, and wonder that I felt creating the piece, that all gets communicated back to me, whether that’s in person or on social or through email or messages, which then injects more joy back into my creative process.

I’m also a big proponent of growth, both on a personal level and as an artist. I’m constantly seeking to challenge myself, learn new techniques, and improve in areas I’ve identified as weaker points that could make me a better person or artist. I think my dual focus on growth and positive emotions allows me to blend playfulness and serious art techniques in a way that both satisfies my Creativity and makes way for continuous evolution.

Photo by Darian Jovan

U: Your mantra, “It’s not what you paint, it’s how you paint,” is quite intriguing. Could you elaborate on how you embody this in your creative process? And how does it extend beyond art, becoming a guiding principle in your life?

B: Growth and change are fundamental parts of my art career, and my subject matter has changed quite a bit over the years. I’ve done skull paintings, hyper-realistic stuffed animals in my Single Stuffed Animal and Stuffed Animal Pile series, abstract squares and designs in Quilts and CRaZy Quilts, and now I’m in a really fun era with cRaZy stuFFed aniMAL and cRaZy stuFFed aniMAL Piles and I know soon I’ll be using flowers and gardens in my subject matter.

That focus on the how rather than the what allows me to explore whatever subject matter my Creativity is directing me to paint without disappointing collectors or limiting myself creatively. The what can change, but how is the cornerstone… cultivating positive emotions, surrounding myself with encouraging people, and focusing on color mixing and listening to my Creativity, no matter what, means I know I can’t ever go wrong. There are no mistakes in art, just infinite possibilities.

It’s become a guiding principle in my life in the sense that change is inevitable and the more we intentionally get uncomfortable in order to grow and change in a positive way, the more capable we are of handling the external changes that are beyond our control and embracing them as part of the process. The more I do that, the happier I feel even when I’m experiencing difficulties or challenges, and the more I am able to do to leave a lasting, positive impact on the world.

Photo by Darian Jovan

U: If art is life and life is art, what is the most critical part of creating art in your life? How have you evolved since your first painting and exhibition? How has your educational background in dentistry impacted your work?

B: I would say that the most critical part is cultivating healthy habits and great relationships that keep both the creative channel open and support me on a mental and emotional level. I’m able to create what I create because of that.

Since my first painting and exhibition, I’ve evolved in so many ways! But I think the biggest one is that I’ve let go of the need for my art to be technically perfect. I don’t feel a need to prove myself anymore. I’ve put a lot of effort into improving my craft so now when I see a drip of paint or an unintentional mark, I consider it more as a perfect expression of the moment of creation rather than an imperfect mark on the canvas. It’s both liberating and inspiring.

Dental school was academically challenging, and it taught me a level of focus and self-discipline that has contributed so much to my success as an artist. I knew immediately that if I was going to make it in the art world, I was going to need to be internally motivated. Some days, painting is very physically demanding, and on others, it’s mentally or emotionally challenging. The habits I developed in dental school helped me stay focused on what matters and finish the piece.

Photo by Darian Jovan

U: What is something you look forward to and are working on regarding the progression of your career?

B: I’m launching an art-inspired luxury plushie line this summer! One of the most special things about my art is that it really speaks to both kids and the inner child in grown-ups. It inspires joy and wonder and so many other positive emotions. So I decided to take my personal symbol, Smiles, a pink and green teddy bear with an upside-down face, and create a real-life plushie. I was heavily involved in the design process, and it was so much fun that I thought, why not create more plushies from other paintings I’ve done?

Smiles is the first, and will be released this July, both online and in person at a Pop Up at the Westfield Century City mall in LA, where we are going to have other Smiles collectibles, prints, and even a claw machine where you can get your own Smiles plushie! Smiles’s message is “Different is Good!” and each plushie that comes after will have its own unique and inspirational message. Plus, a portion of the profits will go to a nonprofit that I’ve personally vetted and decided to work with.

It’s exciting because it opens up so many possibilities for me to play with my creativity and at the same time to make a positive impact in the world.

For more information about Brent’s artwork, please visit his website and follow him on Instagram.