Meet Emily Bessette | Artist & Small Business Owner

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

Hi Emily, how do you think about risk?
Risk is a scary but necessary step to gain success. Risk is a chance you take doing something that could impact your safety, health, wellbeing, assets, etc. in a negative or positive way. It takes experience, logical planning, and your intuition to decide which risks could lead to something spectacular. The only way to find out at first is to take the risk and be willing to learn from the experience if it fails. As cliche as it might sound, the biggest risks often lead to the biggest reward, but you have to be willing to fail a number of times and still move forward after. You must have faith and continue to take risks as long as they align with your purpose and goals. It’s extremely important to listen to your intuition over what outcome your imagination is conquoring up. If you are willing to take any type of risk, then you have the courage and grit that it takes to be successful. Failure is an unwanted but necessary step to success. What goes up eventually must come down; this is the balance of our universe. It is when you fail, and fall to the earth that necessary grounding, rest and rebirth has the opportunity to take place. As long as you get back up and back to work, your refreshed and experienced self will reach heights you didn’t even think were possible. Being afraid is only natural, but if your soul burns a fiery passion for what you are trying to do, you’ll have the courage to take the necessary risks to reach your goals. In 2017 I took a risk and left my family and small town to go to college in Denver, eventually transferring to Digital Film Academy in New York City. Before this I did not know what my career was going to be, but living life in different places caused me to find my passion. My reckless and young self felt so ready to take multiple unnecessary risks which led me into questionable situations, but valuable lessons had to be learned. It was an amazing experience and even the mistakes I made caused rapid growth and ultimately pushed me past the fears and boundaries I subconsciously set upon myself growing up. I barely started the second half of my program when the covid pandemic started which was a blessing in disguise for my life. I moved back home and was so honored and lucky to spend my mom’s final years of life on earth right by her side as she fought a treacherous battle with cancer. This did not stop her from pushing and rooting for me as I continued to chase my calling. She and my mom supported me with the start of my brand in December of 2020: Bran New World LLC: Bran3world®. Investing in the equipment to screen print my designs on clothes, all the inventory, and business expenses has been a continual risk for the past two and a half years. This forces me to take more risks such as deciding whether or not to go to different events as a vendor all across Colorado. It’s tough sometimes when not every event I spend the gas money to go to has been worth it, but you never know which ones will pay off or what might happen. That’s why I will continue to take risks to ensure my dreams will be realized. I’ve come too far and been through too much to stop now. That’s how I know sooner or later it will all be worth it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Over the past six years my art has transformed into a unique style with a personality of its own that I genuinely was not predicting. If my younger self met me now, I think she’d be enamored with what I do which makes me proud. I like to create with a lot of different mediums such as motion graphics, cinematography, paints, watercolors, graphite, charcoal, colored pencils, ink, and more. The bulk of my physical work uses a combination of mixed media such as colored pencils, watercolor, and pens to create my own whimsical world. At times I use a free-flowing technique with a simple ink pen where I let my emotions lead the way. Rarely can I see how these scribble-like sketches will turn out, but hidden messages and ideas come to life in the end forcing you to look deeper. I can promise that everyone will see different things which is why I’m excited to introduce these kinds of works to the world eventually. I’m influenced and inspired by Jean- Michel Basquiat, Jean Dubuffet, Hayao Miyazaki and Salvador Dali and the general world around me. I am mostly self-taught in the fine arts with the help of my artistically gifted Aunt Pat and my art teachers in high school. Aunt Pat and I would spend all afternoon in the camper where she taught me zentangle, jewelry making, and colored pencil techniques when she and my Uncle Dick used to visit in the late summer. I’m so grateful for those memories; it was so much fun to create with Aunt Pat and spend time with Uncle Dick. Up until about 22 years old, I battled mental self-sabotage and extreme doubt in myself and abilities. In the past few years, life has tested me in many ways, and I’ve come to a point where I realized the why. I had no other choice but to accept everything about who I am and also accept that I am capable of greatness. Life is too short to be so hard on yourself all the time. Surrendering to ultimate self-love is the hardest part, but once you choose this, there’s no going back. Now I know that I am unreplaceable and here for a very important reason as is everyone else in their own way. Stepping into my power has led to clarity and self-discovery that I’m not sure I would have been able to experience the same if I had not chosen to follow my dreams. Creating is how I allow myself to feel my emotions, connect with my soul and the unexplainable so deeply. When I am fully in the zone, it is a meditative place of peace where satisfaction and bliss accompany me. Many times I don’t know the outcome of the piece when I start. The best feeling is doing all the small details to finish off a piece and step back and say wow I did that! I used to just work in my sketchbook and never commit to finishing a big piece. It wasn’t until after I moved back from New York that I pushed myself to actually finish the drawings I started. Today there are still more started than finished, but I have built a solid portfolio. As my work has grown, I have grown so much with it into a person full of confidence and determination. Now I can walk into any room or business with zero shyness and pitch my brand with professionalism and certainty that I’ve created a unique brand that has unlimited potential for growth and success.
In simple terms, Bran3world reflects the challenges that we face in our own minds as human beings. It is a metaphor for my journey facing these challenges and having come out the other side with the knowledge that I and anyone is capable of realizing their personal dreams. The brand is about freedom of expression, embracing the weird, and different. It’s about finding light within yourself even in the darkest of places. I want people to wear my brand and be inspired to be their most authentic selves physically and internally. I want them to wear the clothes or see the stickers and know they are capable of anything they set out to do. Bran3world is also about the harmony of the world and our existence which is why some of my pieces are full of light and happiness while some express pain and hardship. Some of the work seems dark, but actually has a feeling of serenity and calmness that represents life, the beauty and strength that still flourish in the darkness. I believe that because I decide to use my gift, the Universe helps me bring what this planet may need. I think everyone is born with a gift even if it takes time to discover. It’s important I use mine because it may inspire others to answer their calling and follow their dreams which brings alignment and happiness to the planet.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would like to start the day early and go to Union Station. I love the classic look and feel to the building and the bustle of energy you experience inside. Coffee is a must, so it’s only right to stop at Pigtrain Coffee Company for one of their delicious pastries and a world class cappuccino. We wouldn’t be able to leave without stopping at Snooze AM Eatery for their mouth watering pineapple upside down pancakes and their parmesan- panko crab cake benedict. While we wait for a table, we’d need to wander into the Tattered Cover Book store for a peek at the best sellers. To walk off our breakfast I would take them for a meander across downtown Denver. I’d have to stop and show them the beautiful CU Denver campus and one of my personal favorite spots on campus, the Tivoli Brewing Co. We would of course have to sit and have one of their delicious draft brews and the sharable wings. We would make our way south to stop at the Museum of Modern Contemporary Art to enjoy the fabulous pieces and capture memories on the rooftop while enjoying refreshments. One of the best places to experience a perfect combination of nature and city is Commons Park where the activity makes it an interesting and unique place to watch the sunset after an eventful day. We would definitely have to spend a full day exploring Denver’s wide collection of shops. Starting out in Larimer Square we’d head down to Garage Sale Vintage. It’s so fun to look at the many vintage fashions they offer while being able to have a cocktail in the same space. The Common Collective is another great store that I love to stop into. Be sure to check out their Instagram for the many special events they host. Next, we’d head down to Rino to grab a bite to eat at The Denver Central Market. The wide variety of delicious cuisines offered have something to satisfy everyone in the group. Rino is a great place to hang out and explore all the different lounges, shops, and fabulous murals all over the neighborhood. If you are craving some sushi, Denver’s Sushi-Rama is a fabulous place to try different sushi varieties served on a conveyor belt. On Friday nights, Rino hosts the Friday Bazaar to showcase boutiques, small businesses, food, and drinks and it’s an excellent way to connect with the community. To end the day, we would either have to go to a baseball game or have a fun night of dancing and live music at the Larimer Lounge. When the late-night weekend hunger hits us, we’d head down to Sam’s No. 9 for top tier late-night diner style food. One night would have to be spent at the Pepsi Center to enjoy a concert or an Avalanche game where we’d stop into Brooklyn’s before and after for some great food and drinks.
You cannot come to Denver without experiencing the Denver Art Museum in all its glory. It’s an extremely intricately designed building that serves as a modern and futuristic backdrop to all the wonderful works that fill the rooms and walls. It would take longer than the day to fully soak in each of the different exhibits and has a lovely cafe to take a break. It’s important to note the Denver Art Museum free days each month are a fantastic way for everyone in the community to be able to enjoy the fine arts. After an intellectually stimulating day at the DAM, we would have to check out the invigorating Denver music scene. I love going to shows that support local community artists such as Variety Shows hosted by DeEtta Jain. Red Rocks Amphitheater is a bucket list destination as far as concert venues go. It’s a special place with energy unlike anywhere else you can hike around and participate in yoga on the rocks during the summer. The rocks surrounding the amphitheater bring the sound to another level and the stars and city lights in the background make it all the more special.
The Sante Fe and Broadway areas are also great places to explore the delicious food, coffee shops, and stores. I love going to Vixen and Angels to shop fashions that align with my over the top and spunky personality. I would shop for an outfit there before heading down to Spectra Art Space for an out of this world adventure. It is an immersive art experience catered toward letting your imagination run wild and exploring the mystical worlds inside. The space is hand crafted by local artists and they are always creating new immersive exhibits, hosting art shows, and events. It’s a great place to shop merchandise that support local artists. My friends would also have to witness Meow Wolf and its enchanting rooms that lead you through a scavenger hunt to remember, hopefully ending our time there at one of Meow Wolf’s raves. To end this fantastic week of exploration I would take my group to the Botanical Gardens to watch the sunset and relax in the peaceful company of the many plants that grow in the gardens.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the many ways my parents’ support me and their belief that I have what it takes to make art my career. I could not be more grateful for their love and trust. The mentorship of Mama Lin who always stayed up late talking with me and helping me plot my next moves, and her overflowing love and faith in me amongst infinite other things will remain in my heart forever keeping me going. Mama Kim is always there for me to create different spaces and builds for my screen printing studio. I thank her for always being there for me, helping me at my events, giving me the necessary and logical advice I don’t always consider, your love and confidence in me, and endless ways you support me. I’m so lucky for everything you do for me. I will forever dedicate my journey to you and Mama Lin. Thank you to all my closest friends for being an extended family and the support you’ve shown my family and I throughout the years. I’m so grateful to you all for the fun times, conversations, laughs, pool parties we’ve shared being in eachothers lives. My family in Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Grand Junction, and Florida, thank you for your love and belief in me. To those that take the time to talk and be there for one another, thank you and I love you. To all my friends near and far, I appreciate you all immensely. I have eternal amounts of gratitude for my family, friends, community, customers, and strangers on the internet who show love by buying something, sharing my page on social media, or using their beautiful voices to encourage me to never stop chasing my passions. I’m so grateful for my job that allows me flexibility and for the support of my coworkers. I want to thank the teachers I had throughout school for challenging me and being generally awesome human beings that really care about what they teach and the students they teach. You are all highly valued to the community and I. I want to thank the great Paulo Coelho for his wise words and the beautiful stories he tells that currently serve as inspiration and confirmation that I’m on the right path. Lastly, I want to thank the vast and magnificent valley in which I’ve occupied since birth: home to the Ute Nation. Where I’m from has influenced my art greatly. An eternal thank you to Mother Earth and all the infinite ways that she provides for us. I hope we all can give back to her as equally as she gives to us now and in the future.

Website: https://www.bran3world.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bran3world/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bran3world/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqa98Q-GMe62h9rwrC6MHXA

Other: https://www.etvpes.com/