So... How'd We Get Here?
We’ve got some new subscribers and followers recently, so I figured it is a good time to reintroduce myself!
I’m Brittany, the artist behind Unruly Wit. I’ve been an artist in some shape or form all of my life - whether it was art classes at Monart or the Art Students League of Denver, AP Art in high school, or majoring in studio art in college, I’ve always loved creating things.
As fate would have it, I graduated from college in 2009 (right into our last major economic recession), I decided to move to NY for a while, nanny for some family, and try to get my foot in the door in the art field. It was one of the hardest things I’ve done, for lots of reasons, but I am glad I did it. I ended up moving back to Denver after about 8 months in NYC.
Something else to know about me: I was also that kid who pretty much only wanted to play “school,” and of course I had to be the teacher - so when faced with a hard time finding a job or path in 2010, I decided to get my teaching license and become an elementary school teacher. I taught for 7 years, was an instructional coach for 2 years, and taught online for 4 years. During most of that time, my creativity was focused on writing curriculum and creating engaging lessons for my students. I didn’t find myself with much time to do the art that I loved so much, but I loved my job and my students. As the educational landscape shifted, however, so did my passion and energy for teaching. I found myself burnt out.
I’m sure this is shocking (/sarcasm), but my big career shift came as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic stay-home orders. During the lockdown at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was able to do more art more often - I created lots of things, but my focus eventually became custom pet portraits. I opened up an Etsy shop (B. Sundgren Studio, formerly), and began selling them, along with hand-crafted greeting cards. I decided in the late summer of 2020 not to return to my school that fall, and to focus on something I wasn’t burnt out on and that brought me lots of joy.
I love lots of things, as you might be able to tell - art, reading, teaching, baking, cooking… the list goes on. For a couple of years, I tried to balance running my art business while simultaneously running a cottage foods bakery, Sift Baking Co. I loved both things a lot, but as time went on & ingredient prices increased, I was less and less into baking. It felt like a chore, a constant stream of dish-washing, and I started to dread custom orders. I decided to take a break, and that turned into closing up shop after several years of running Sift.
Not long after that, I found an online community of crafty weirdos and started my journey with Dear Handmade Life, The Club, and Craftcation. I’ve been to Craftcation for three years now, and it’s a wonderful conference of creatives & small business owners in Ventura, California. I take craft & business classes and get to spend time with other folks who are as passionate about creating as I am.
This experience changed my business. I had resources, colleagues, and support in ways I hadn’t realized I was missing. In January 2024, I used a lot of what I learned from Craftcation to rebrand from B. Sundgren Studio to Unruly Wit. I revamped my website, tightened up my bookkeeping and inventory processes, and started selling wholesale. I refined my vision for Unruly Wit and defined our mission and values - processes inspired and supported by Craftcation and The Club.
So here we are, after 5+ years of running my own art business, having opened and closed a cottage bakery business, and with three years of creative small business professional development under my belt. I’ve done lots of things I am proud of as Unruly Wit has grown:
- Came up with a completely original idea (as far as I can tell) and have brought it to fruition two years in a row, and we’re in development for year three right now!
- Created two large-scale installation pieces for Craftcation
- Participated in a BUNCH of markets (I wish I’d been keeping better track of all of them - I’d love to know my market total)
- Created a whole-ass oracle deck and published it
- Learned SO MUCH about website design, marketing, and bookkeeping!
- Created and continue to maintain and refine my own website
- Started selling wholesale to retailers across the country
- Have several lines and collections that have repeatedly sold out, necessitating a reprint or restock
- Was featured in several art shows
- Illustrated a children’s book!
- Have continued to find and refine my style, point of view, and vision for what I want to put out into the world.
And now? I’m working on next year’s Book Tracking Desktop Calendar, crafting a new series of original pieces that bring me so much joy and feel authentic to where I am currently, and feel connected in ways that I haven’t felt in a long time. I don’t know exactly what the future holds for us, but I am confident that we’ll adapt to meet whatever it brings. And right now, I’m glad to have you and this incredible opportunity to express myself and bring some joy, color, and snark into the world.