Meet Appalachian artist, Brian Serway!

Tell us a little about yourself!

I am a watercolor & pencil illustrator hailing from southwest Virginia and currently calling Johnson City, Tennessee home. Thanks to my mom's knack for impressionistic oil painting, I caught the creative bug early on. Growing up amidst the beauty of dense forests, expansive mountain hollers, and forgotten towns, my heart became intertwined with the natural wonders of my Blue Ridge Mountain roots. As I navigated through life, I wove together my love for folklore, the cosmos, and wildlife, creating a personal artistic mythology that taps into the ancient, otherworldly, and mysteriously magical vibes of Appalachia.

In the professional realm, I wear many hats – illustrator, printmaker, curator, and gallery owner. I am the founder of HollerHouse, a NeoAppalachian art gallery and gift shop celebrating the curious contemporary works of regional creators, aimed at building community and sustainability around Appalachian art.

What drew you to your craft?

My mother was an oil painter and my biggest hero - I wanted to be just like her as a kid and gravitated towards drawing when I was 3.

Describe your studio space. Where do you like to create?

My office functions as both a studio and a printmaking space for me, but I can often be found creating on the couch, at the gallery, or sometimes even in bed!

What is your favorite thing you have ever made?

Oof, it's difficult because I see my work in chapters throughout my life. I have favorites throughout each time that feel like they achieve a new creative benchmark for me… like I've unlocked some new way of viewing the world. But I think probably the most evocative piece I have ever created is called "Cut Joint Sinews & Divided Reincarnation" - it’s an abstract surrealist portrait of a nameless figure in space and nature.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

An astronaut.

How would you describe your creative process?

At its best - spontaneous, free-flowing, and electrifying. At its worst - messy, overthinky (a new word), and obsessed over process.

What advice would you give yourself 10 years ago?

Build a stronger infrastructure for your art business; make a business card; make an email list. These things are essential and social media vitality is fleeting.

Why do you love doing what you do?

I have aphantasia, which is the inability to create mental imagery, so I have a difficult time conjuring ideas in my mind; they work out to little more than vague shadows and potent feelings. I like to think I am transmuting my mind's (lack of) visual language onto paper.

Why is it important to support local artists and makers?

It's essential to the human condition that we foster a sense of community around artistic endeavors, however vague it may sometimes seem. It's what inspires people to stay rooted in the real world and encourages blooming creators to keep making stuff!

You can find a variety of Brian’s prints, postcards, stickers, and more in the shop!