Brigitte De Marco of Goodyear on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Brigitte De Marco. Check out our conversation below.

Brigitte, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My morning routine is actually something I reflect on regularly because it makes me feel happy with my life and is such a change from the days when I used to rush off to sit in morning traffic: When I get up in the morning, I still get myself ready, and choose an outfit for the day (I’ve never been a pj all day person), I make coffee for myself and my husband, and we sit and have “coffee time”- 20 minutes where we just sit together, chat a bit, and I write in my journal. Every morning, I write down three things I am grateful for. Once my husband leaves for work, I get up and start on my art tasks for the day. I find this sets me up for success, and days where I miss this routine feel rushed and unbalanced now.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Brigitte, I am an Arizona-based artist, former teacher, and the founder of Prickle & Pine Designs. After nearly a decade of teaching art in the public school system, I decided to bet on myself and fully pursue my creative career. I launched Prickle & Pine Designs in 2022.

My work is all about celebrating the magic in my everyday environment – the Southwest. Through bold color, expressive brushwork, and lots of texture, I reimagine Arizona’s natural landscapes in a way that feels both vibrant and dreamlike.

Today, my business blends fine art with community engagement — I paint large-scale murals, create original acrylic landscapes, and host paint night events in collaboration with local businesses across Arizona.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I was incredibly shy. I have an identical twin (who I am still very close with) and growing up in the same grade gave me a built-in social safety net. She was more outgoing, so she often made friends for both of us. In high school, she had a thriving social life while I mostly stayed home, and I carried that version of myself into adulthood. I believed I wasn’t a risk-taker, that I didn’t want attention, that I could never be someone who showed up online or took bold steps financially or creatively.

But that belief started to change when I started my business. Over time, I’ve learned that I’m not actually all that shy — and the world isn’t as intimidating as I once thought. I love to dance. I love expressing joy. I even enjoy making little videos and sharing them online. And surprisingly? It doesn’t scare me that people are watching.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
If I’m being honest, anxiety has held me back significantly. During the most difficult moments of my life (when I was teaching during and after the pandemic while also working nearly full-time on my business )it developed into a panic disorder that I couldn’t control.

The day I left teaching, I remember thinking, “Everything will be better now because I’m out of the situation.” But what followed was a horrific period of panic. It felt like my body was quite literally detoxing.

It took time, but the more I allowed myself to see the world through the colorful lens of my art, the less anxiety controlled me. The more I succeeded, the more I believed in my work — and the better I became.

I can’t say anxiety doesn’t affect me at all today, but I’ve certainly come a long way.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I have a single sentence “instruction” I often repeat to myself… sort of as a reminder of purpose, but also as a message to others: “Practice empathy and make art”. I am committed to this “project” for life. There is no end to this task, but I believe it to be the basis of my joy. The more we can empathize with those around us, show genuine love, pass on moments of joy and celebration, the better our community will be. And the more we “make art” or activate our creativity, the more meaningful and fulfilling our lives as humans are.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
I love this question because I’ve often reflected on the seasons of life where my daily routine brought me so much joy, I couldn’t sleep: like a kid on Christmas Eve, lying in bed buzzing with excitement over everything ahead.

The first time I felt this way was during my senior year of high school: everything just seemed to be falling into place. The second time was as a senior in college, living in Flagstaff and working as a florist at Michaels… they literally paid me to create flower arrangements! I loved my job, my friends, and my life.

And now? This is the third time. These days, I often (quite literally) dance while I work. The creative energy I feel is something I can’t always contain and I hope with all my heart that everyone gets to experience this kind of joy at least once in their life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.prickleandpinedesigns.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prickleandpinedesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prickleandpinedesigns/
• Other: https://www.brigittedemarco.com

Image Credits
Sharon Curran