Art in the home: Arkansas designer, Andrea Brooks

We love working with designers—whether they need art for a client or their own home, it's always a treat to connect with fellow art-lovers. And through social we've recently connected with designer Andrea Brooks based in Arkansas! It's funny how through social all you need is common ground—starting with our shared love for Hunt Slonem's bunnies—you can quickly became friends from afar. With her walls covered in original art, here's a few peeks at her home and some of her most recent gallery finds!

AB: It’s a physical expression of me. It brings up questions and stories and memories. It brings out parts of my personality that I might not otherwise be able to express. It inspires color palettes in my work. I think it brings the spirit, magic, creativity, emotion from the original artist into the space. It’s the #1 thing guests in my home comment on and what sets my home apart from everyone else’s. It’s the most important element I use to connect my design clients to their own home.

AB: I’ve been a fan of Hunt’s for many years. I love the simplicity of it but the color packs a punch! It’s also one of the only art purchases I’ve made with long term investment in mind. I’ve watched his art gain in value year after year. I know it will be a treasured piece to pass on to my children and on down the line. 

AB: I was first drawn to Kit’s art when searching for a client who was a new collector. Original Art purchases can be intimidating at first and I just felt Kit’s work had such a lightness and joy with simple shapes mixed with happy color.  The longer I followed Kit, I learned her of health journey with cancer. As someone who received an early breast cancer diagnosis, and watched both my mom and sister go through their own journeys, it added an extra special connection to her art. The one I purchased was different from what I used to seeing from Kit – that uniqueness and over-scaled modern element to it completely spoke to me and my home.  

AB: I most enjoy art that the color palette grabs you first, has a touch of whimsy to it, doesn’t take itself too seriously.  I own a mix of watercolor, oil, acrylic, mixed media, sculpture and photography – don’t make me pick a favorite! 

AB: My first “real” purchase was 20 years ago in my early 30’s around the same time I started my own Interior decorating business. It’s by a local artist (now in her 80’s) from my hometown gallery South Arkansas Art Center in El Dorado (an “oil-boom” town with a huge focus on the arts) – she just received a “glow up” last month with new framing and is still a favorite piece of mine.  

AB: I’m always looking at new, emerging artists and love following Instagram accounts with that focus as well.  I’m drawn to artists that are thoughtful but don’t take themselves too seriously – basically my own design philosophy. Ideally, I prefer a mix of vintage and contemporary works. I recently discovered Katelyn Taylor, who creates these amazing paper flower sculptures and would love to have one of her orchid pieces.