Meet Brent Bishop | Artist / Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brent Bishop and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brent, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I believe the Artist path has chosen me.  My family is full of very talented artists but most of them never pursued it professionally. It’s interesting, as I get older I realize what initially inspired me to make certain decisions in my life.  I remember sitting at my Dad’s drafting table drawing cartoon characters and dirt bikes when I was 7.  It was around that time we took a family trip to see my great uncle, Foster Hyatt, who was a working artist living in Santa Fe, NM.  I can remember seeing him in his studio at 80 years old, still producing mounds of paintings with a palpable zeal.  I didn’t understand it at the time but that experience had a profound influence on the way I see the world.  After high school, when I moved to Colorado, I found some house paints and some plywood in the basement of the house I was renting and it all clicked. It felt natural to paint, I didn’t know what I was painting but that didn’t matter, I was hooked.  Being able to express thoughts and emotions on the canvas when words do not suffice has been very therapeutic for me.  I am the happiest when I am in the studio creating, and get tremendous joy trying out new artistic processes.  I have always wanted a career where there is room for unlimited growth, both mentally and physically.  I feel this career will keep challenging me to understand myself on a profound level, and that’s exciting.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Lately, I have been working on a series of minimalist surreal landscapes painted primarily with acrylic on canvas or wood panels.  The series is titled Ephemeral Forms and it explores the relationship between the natural world and the existence of forms within our personal constructs.  When painting, I used to feel the need to fill up the whole canvas, but now I am just as curious on what to leave out.  A lot of times in conversation much more can be said by using fewer words.  That’s where I’m at with my artistic process and life right now, filtering out the noise to reveal what lies beneath.  

I’ve also been playing the keyboard in the band American Sound Lab that my wife and I started, and I play with her solo act Sarah Banker.  Painting and playing piano have always been two of my greatest passions in life and to be able pursue them professionally is a dream come true.  I stay busy with painting commissions, which is great because they entice me to go outside my comfort zone and try new styles and techniques.  For instance, I am currently working on a Hieronymus Bosch inspired triptych that is forcing me out of my box and igniting my imagination.  I am also designing the beer labels for Busey Brews here in Nederland, CO.

I think the most important aspect that got me to where I am today is trusting my intuition and holding on to my dreams.  I always say yes to opportunities and go for it, no matter how prepared I may feel.  You may never be fully ready, so just take that leap and you’ll be surprised with the results.  Believing in yourself is key, if you don’t believe in yourself then why would anyone else?  We all have to start somewhere, and the more you produce the better you get.  If you are not where you want to be at first, don’t get discouraged, keep at it and you will see improvements.  Persistence will prevail.

My art inspires us to slow down, take in the surroundings, and enjoy the world from a different vantage point.  Sometimes we get so familiar with our environment and we can start taking life for granted.  Wonder is around every corner if you choose to take the time and see, and I want to inspire that fresh view.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in the mountains, so naturally we would have to get out and explore the wonders of Roosevelt National Forest then go take some turns at Eldora Ski Resort. After working up quite the appetite, I would follow up with some BBQ and beer at Busey Brews.  I love taking in the city life and the light rail is a great way to explore Denver.  I like to park at 38th and Walnut area and walk around the RiNo area then hop on the light rail towards downtown.  We would go check out some museums and galleries then find a place to relax and eat some authentic tacos, then head over to Dazzle for some good quality Jazz. After all the action, its time to relax and take a day trip to Idaho Springs and soak at Indian Hot Springs, and then head over to Beau Jos for some Pizza.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom, dad, brother, mother and father in law have all been extremely supportive!  Dr. George Rivera at CU Boulder, for showing me the world and fostering a limitless artistic environment!  The late Astronaut/Painter Alan Bean for his steadfast advice, “if you want to be a painter, get to work, because nobody is going to do it for you”.  My incredibly talented and lovely wife/ soul-mate, Sarah, who encourages me to live my best life in every way! All my former bosses, but especially Lisa Faenger-Plank. Every single lovely patron!  And, anyone who has ever looked at one of my paintings for longer than 7 seconds!

Other: My business runs on word of mouth.  Email any inquiries to streamislandstudio@gmail.com