Join us in congratulating Bree Friesen on becoming one of our newest Unraveled Expert Artists! Bree is such a force within our community. She has a strong artistic voice and slays our monthly creative challenges. Her Artistic portraits constantly leave us wanting more. Bree has a rad editorial vibe and creates magic underwater. She is the epitomy of an artist who has put in the work of a creative unraveling and produces work with a strong artistic voice.

Bree is a quiet contradiction of light and heavy, serious with a sense of humor. Her work flows with an unpredictable peculiarity. You can find her swimming in a stream of ideas on her farm in Alberta, Canada. She is a wife and proud mother of two beautiful daughters, and photography is the tap from which she fills her cup.

Welcome Bree! We are so thrilled to have you in our community and NOW a UEA!

For more inspiration from Bree check out her social links below:

Here is Bree, Unraveled…

What inspires your art?

I am heavily inspired by water, and you will find it in much of my work. I also love to keep my viewers guessing, to give you something new and unexpected. But mostly, my creativity inspires me. I am bombarded with ideas from everywhere and everything - even a brown paper bag.

What do you shoot with? Camera body and favorite lens?

On land, I shoot a Canon R5. Under water, I shoot a Canon 5D Mark IV. With an Aquatech Elite housing. My go to lens has been my 24-70mm. Before that I was a 35mm devotee. I also have a 85mm that I use once or twice a year.

What other ways do you express your creativity?

I wish I could say I had an other artistic talent, but no such luck. I did sign up for a beginners painting class, I'm looking forward to it! I'd also like to try making pottery! I'm definitely not a writer, answering these questions eloquently out is incredibly difficult for me!

How do you de-stress at the end of the day?

I take photos. Because I'm not in business, its pure enjoyment for me. Photography really is my true love, and I will have this love until I am a crazy old lady, taking weird pictures and not giving a crap who likes it. It makes me happy when I think about it.

What kind of music do you listen to while editing?

Florence and the Machine is my favourite. Also love Greta Van Fleet, Rural Alberta Advantage, Fleetwood Mac. I love all music (except new country, gross)

What is your favorite book?

I read for enjoyment, I don't really want to learn anything (lol), I just want the escape. I adored The Fault in our Stars. I love a sweet 'young adult' novel. When I find a good one, I share them with my teenage daughters, it's our own little book club. I also loved My Sisters Keeper. I read it a million years ago, but the story and its message still haunts me.

Name one movie that inspires you.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. I remember I didn't think I'd like it. But it was quirky and cute, and reminded me to always be myself, and to live life on my own terms. (I liked to so much I had a tiny crush on Ben Stiller after that, hahaha!)

How do you handle self-doubt or creative slumps?

I have a creative lull every year around February or March. I think it is because we've been stuck inside so long. It becomes so hard to think of new and clever concepts when stuck in the same 4 walls for 6 months. To combat this, I usually take a little break and use the time to re-edit some old photos. Or I rent a pool or studio space for some fresh inspiration. Those slumps used to feel catastrophic. I felt panicked that my creativity would never come back. All these years later, I have the luxury of knowing that it always comes back. Just ride the wave.

What has been the most difficult part of your creative journey?

The most difficult part of my journey has been the (much needed) realization that I would never be the artist I wanted to be. I loved a specific style and I tried a million times to emulate it, but it never worked. I finally faced the facts that I was not born to make those kind of photos. That was not the talent God gave me. He made me this quirky, creative, artist and there is a reason for that. I believe I will find out that reason someday. I have given myself permission to be weird and wacky, and to embrace the artist inside of me. Giving that gift to myself will make me a better artist, I have no doubt.