Today we’d like to introduce you to Bair Da Bru
Hi Bair da Bru, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
If you asked me how I became an artist, I’d love to sit here and say that I’ve had a lifelong passion for painting- that is was a childhood dream that was brought to life by dedication and practice. As inspiring as that story would be, the truth is, I was suddenly knocked off my feet 3 years ago and in the sudden scramble to gather what I’d dropped, art picked me up.
For most of my life, I never even considered art as a career, nor was it a hobby of mine. I worked as a bartender, a restaurant manager, a receptionist at a nail salon, or a mechanic- jobs I took far more seriously than the idea of being an artist. My real passion was fitness, running, and a comfortable certainty of my chosen career path. I worked long hours as a mechanic and spent my free time running and training for a marathon. In a blink of an eye, that all changed.
My health took a massive sudden decline and I was left unable to walk, much less run or go to work. Bed ridden, I picked up as many sedentary activities as I could find to keep myself occupied- reading, writing, knitting, painting. At this point I bet you could guess which one stuck.
Painting filled the void left by my love for running. It provided a new avenue when I reached the end of my career path. It brought me peace when I needed it the most and a passion to create I’ve never before experienced.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course not. There was a huge adjustment in transitioning to self-employment. I was used to a routine and that familiarity went out the window. Creating your own schedule and having the self discipline to accomplish self-made goals isn’t easy. It is something I continue to struggle with. Another aspect of “being your own boss” comes with wearing many hats. Having to be a photographer, an accountant, a social media manager, a planner, all in addition to being an artist can be overwhelming sometimes. I confess that I’ve grown to absolutely love the circus that is entrepreneurship, but I can’t deny it took me a while to get used to all the juggling.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Bair da Bru?
I started Bair da Bru back in 2022 when I expanded my art venture from local events around Charleston to an online platform- changing the name from one that was previously self-titled. I specialize in acrylic paintings on canvas, taking pride in having a fluid style and indiscriminate willingness to paint anything and everything. One of the aspects of being an artist I cherished the most was the personal connection I made with individuals who stopped by my art booths or whom I met for coffee to plan their commissions. With the switch to an online gallery and shop, this human aspect seemed to disappear for me. For that reason, I decided to omit my personal identity from my business and introduce my art under the name”Bair da Bru” (deriving from the Scottish Gaelic translation of ‘Poet of the Brush’). Keeping my anonymity online allows me to encourage and cherish in person connections with my clients, while putting the emphasis of my online presence on my art. Whether I’m hand delivering paintings in New York City, Puerto Rico, Los Angeles, or while grabbing a drink with a Charleston local, these are the moments that drive me to keep Bair da Bru going.
I am an artist who splits my business’s mission into 2 goals. Firstly, I prioritize maintaining a gallery of self inspired pieces that will one day ignite a connection with a viewer. Most of the pieces in my personal collection are inspired by my travels and experiences, thus it is truly something special to me to have individuals find a connection to my work and share in that experience. My second goal is being available and open to paint the ideas of clients who come to me with their own vision. My commissioning process is one I take incredible pride in from start to finish. My #1 priority is ensuring that my clients feel heard, well informed, and happy with their final piece- in return, I find myself painting the most extraordinary ideas for some of the most incredible people.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite childhood memory would have to be that of the summer days back in Wisconsin, spent planning imaginative adventure games with my neighbor friends in the grass of our backyards. For me, setting the rules and guidelines of these pretend worlds we were building was my favorite part.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bairdabru.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bairdabru?igsh=aTdia3V1dW40ZGUx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17pjyV4RgK/
- Other: https://bairdabru.com/shop
