06/11/2026
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Behind the Hustle Thursday
Hi, I’m Brooke, the artist behind Brush & Bloom.
My journey started back in 2019 with wood slice Christmas ornaments and baby shower signs. At the time, I was working 12-hour shifts at Marion General Hospital, raising my girls, and squeezing art into the late-night hours after everyone else had gone to bed.
I’ve always been a creator. Even when life was busy, I couldn’t stop making things.
Then 2020 arrived. While the world was shutting down and I was working on the COVID unit, something unexpected happened—my little side business started growing. More people found my work. More orders came in. What began as a way to make a little extra money slowly became something much bigger.
Back then, I was known as Paintfully Perfect.
Pet portraits became one of my biggest sellers. Then came canvas paintings, large-scale wood pieces, custom signs, ornaments, and all kinds of personalized creations. Along the way, I met some amazing customers—many of whom still support me today. And every Christmas, those ornaments still make their annual return. It’s become one of my favorite traditions.
Life wasn’t always a straight line, though.
There were seasons when my dreams had to take a back seat while I navigated some difficult personal chapters. There were times I wasn’t sure who I was anymore.
But sometimes life doesn’t end a story—it rewrites it.
Today, I’m Brush & Bloom.
The name feels more like me. A little softer. A little freer. A little more hopeful.
I’m an artist, a teacher, a mom, a grandma, a dog mom to Arlo, a lover of wildflowers, old records, thrift stores, coffee, and all things creative. I’m a hippie soul with paint on my hands and a head full of ideas. I’m usually either creating something, dreaming about creating something, or accidentally making a mess while trying.
These days, you’ll find me living the downtown loft life with my youngest daughter and Arlo, surrounded by sketchbooks, canvases, plants, and more paint than any one person probably needs.
My dream now is bigger than ever. I want to paint murals. I want to create pieces that tell stories. I want my art out in the world where people can connect with it. I want to keep growing, keep blooming, and keep encouraging others to do the same.
What started as a side hustle has become a piece of my healing, my joy, and my future.
And honestly?
I think I’m just getting started.
