Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Kirchoff.
Hi Brian, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always had an eye for what I think would look great on a wall somewhere, and based on my many careers (and there are many), most were in a creative field, from programming, to broadcast, on and off camera, writing, graphic development and more. My wife, Betsy, and I had already accumulated a decent number of abstract paintings from local artists, so I decided it was time to try it myself.
The abstract is my passion, although I have a tremendous amount of respect for art and artists in every discipline. I started out with a curiosity to simply see if I could do it. As it turns out, I can, and after accumulating a decent number of works, my wife Betsy and a number of friends suggested it’s time to consider selling it. That was just three years ago.
The thing is, in my opinion, many of us have great artistic skills, but many are afraid to give it a try because they think they’ll fail. My advice is to just go ahead and jump in. You have nothing to lose.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Because I don’t have to rely on art as a money-making endeavor, I haven’t really struggled, per se. I can say the marketing part is the most frustrating. With so many wonderful artists out there, customers have so much to choose from, so the competition is fierce. Getting work in front of my eyes is the most challenging aspect of the business of art.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m mostly known for my decades of voice-over work (and a past on-air radio life here in St. Louis). My clients are worldwide, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to small mom-and-pop shops. While the bulk of my work is US-based, a good 15% comes from Canada, Europe, Mexico, China, and countries in the Middle East.
Regarding voice work, my specialty is medical/technical narration, as I can pronounce complicated medical and scientific terms quite well. I have numerous clients that hire me regularly for medical and technical animations, including surgery demonstrations/animations and medical product demonstrations.
In my artistic endeavors, I specialize in abstract painting. I’m inspired by everything I see around me, and by the millions of posts online of others’ works. So much talent out there, it’s breathtaking! No, I don’t copy what I see, but I do take inspiration from things like composition, color palettes, use of negative space and so much more. Not having any formal training or education in the art field, I soak up as much as I can from online sources.
One facet of my painting stands out a bit from other painters in that oftentimes I don’t use a brush. I apply paint with bottles, spray paint, brayers, rags, and fingers. Sure, I use brushes, but probably for less than 30% of my work.
The simple fact that others see my work and are captivated enough to compliment it and even spend their hard-earned dollars to purchase some, is what I’m most proud of. It’s very satisfying.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Persistence is key. In both the voice-over business and the business of art, seeking out opportunities as well as working (painting) every day are key to my success.
Contact Info:
- Email: briankirchoff@gmail.com
- Website: www.briankirchoffabstracts.com, www.vo-pro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brian_kirchoff_abstracts/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianKirchoffAbstracts
