It’s summer in the Hamptons! Which, incidentally, is the title of Marissa Brockhoff’s work on our cover this week. And what does summer in the Hamptons mean? Good food, good drink, ocean beaches and parties. Dan’s Corona MonTaco Oceanfront Fiesta on Saturday, August 4 at Gurney’s Yacht Club Resort & Marina in Montauk checks all those boxes.

What was the inspiration for this piece?
My piece is based off of what planning a day in the Hamptons might look like. You have your healthy yet delicious breakfast, a map to plan all your destinations, postcards from the ones you’ve visited and plans to visit one of the most delicious events of the summer!

Looking through your website, one can see many different kinds of work, from oil paintings, graphic design and murals to needlepoint. Is there one medium you prefer over the others?
I love that I get to work on so many different jobs from murals, to portraits, to graphic design and that I’m not restricted to just one medium. Oil paintings have been a favorite of mine for a long time now. I love the way they blend so smoothly, but my favorite medium to use right now is watercolor—they’re so vibrant and fun to work with! I’ve actually been working on a series of watercolor paintings featuring places I love to visit throughout the East End.

What are some of those favorite places?
Wölffer Estate, Sole East, Tate’s Bake Shop, Gemelli Gelato, Flying Point Beach—just to name a few!

You also do commissions. How does the commission process work, if say, Dan wanted to commission you to create an original mural in our offices?
My commission process is usually based on size and the amount of detail that would be entailed. Depending on those factors and the amount of supplies needed I then determine a price accordingly.

As a recent graduate from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, do you have any advice for a young artist thinking about going to art school, or a young artist getting ready to graduate?
Yes! I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology three years ago now with a BFA in Illustration. My advice for someone looking to go to art school is never doubt yourself and never stop drawing or doing what makes you happy. And for anyone just graduating, it can be a little difficult in the beginning but don’t let that stop you from doing what you love. Never stop working towards your goal!

Why do you think art is important today?
I think, especially with everything going on in the world right now, art is a perfect way to come together. It’s a way of free expression and way to connect with others.

If you could sit down to coffee with any artist, who would it be and what would you talk about?
Hayao Miyazaki hands down. I love everything about his work and all of his movies. He has been an inspiration to me since I was very young. I grew up watching his movies and it would be amazing to see and explore behind the scenes of Studio Ghibli and watch how he works in person.

Where can our readers see more of your work?
You can find my most recent work on Instagram @BAM_Illustrations or visit my website, bamartanddesign.com, to see more of my work!