If you’re headed to Basel later this week, make sure to catch Brent Estabrook in action. He’s famous for his large, colorful oil paintings of stuffed animals. He’ll be painting live at the Maddox booth AM219 on Thursday and Friday.
Estabrook is showcasing 12 pieces from his “cRaZy stuFFed aniMAL” series and a fun one from his “Quilt!” series called “A Little Overwhelmed.” This piece is a bit of a self-portrait, capturing the feeling of being creatively overwhelmed. Another standout is “After Party,” which features confetti and a festive vibe. He’ll also present “I LUV U,” one of his cutest paintings, and “Adventure Time,” the first from his “Quilt!” series to debut at a fair.
He’ll be live painting at the Maddox booth on Thursday and Friday from 11 am to 2 pm. He plans to create more pieces from his “cRaZy stuFFed aniMAL” series and will likely paint a bear.
Estabrook enjoys live painting because it inspires both him and the audience. It’s a rare chance for people to see the creative process and not just the finished artwork. He loves chatting with guests about their passions and feeling the excitement in the air.
Interestingly, Estabrook has a Doctorate of Dental Surgery. He graduated from the University of Louisville in 2014 and is licensed in California, but he never practiced dentistry. Instead, he dedicated his time to painting. He made his first big sale around his graduation and chose to follow his artistic passion— a decision he finds incredibly rewarding, second only to marrying his wife, Tara. He encourages everyone to chase their dreams and take risks.
His dental training influenced his art by making him a clean and organized painter. He sets up his workspace with the precision of a dentist. You’ll see this meticulousness at Art Miami.
What Estabrook loves most about Basel Miami is reconnecting with his creative friends and meeting other artists. He enjoys hearing their unique stories and experiences in the art world. Plus, he loves the food! Every night, his wife makes dinner reservations for six, and they end up inviting new and interesting people they meet during the day. Lastly, he’s always inspired by the art he sees at the fair—it pushes him to keep creating.