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

Hi Bryn, how does your business help the community?
I spend most of my free time outdoors. It is a place where I can gather inspiration, feel connected, and reset. I want others to be able to get the same experience with their time outdoors if they desire. In an effort to do this, I launch a collection called Preservation Land.

Preservation Land is a series of art prints that depict the special places; places found off the beaten path. As a thank you to the land, 10% of this series’ proceeds are donated to organizations striving to preserve and protect the future of these areas for everyone to enjoy.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
There are so many challenges to overcome as a creative, with the most prevalent being imposter syndrome. While the internet provides a platform to share our creations as we wish, it also has the unfortunate possibility of tearing creatives down. The constant availability to compare ourselves with others is a balance most creatives have had to find peace with. It is vital to celebrate your unique creativity and recognize that it what sets you apart from the others!

It took me a while to take my own advise. I am very proud of my detailed and whimsical style, and love that it is recognizable as mine when people see my work in the wild. As an artist, this is the highest compliment!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When we have friends come to visit, I pack my bag for Desolation Wilderness. Desolation is area southwest of Lake Tahoe where the crest of the Sierra Nevada create steep granite peaks, turquoise lakes, and endless trails. It is one of my favorite places in the world, and I’m very lucky to have it in my backyard!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have George Bieker to thank for the connection to my first ‘official’ freelance gig. I met him while working in Alaska in 2014. Back then I was a closet artist, meaning I was too shy to share my work with the world, and definitely didn’t feel as though I was in a position where people would want to pay me to create. George had shared a few of my pieces to an Arkansas based company, Fayettechill, which then turned into my first freelance client. This was such a vital point in my career, and to this day I still feel all the support and encouragement from both George and the team at Fayettechill!

Website: brynmerrell.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brynmerrellart/

Image Credits
Wade Snider, Matthew Keiser

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.