Hawthorne Art
Hawthorne Art: Building Community Through Creativity and Craft
Hawthorne Art is a Southern Illinois-based art design firm offering restoration and beautification services to businesses, organizations, and individuals. Their work spans murals, installations, commissions, signage, site restoration, and graphic design—all aimed at transforming spaces and telling stories through visual art. Looking ahead, the firm hopes to expand into a hub for skilled craftspeople and artists seeking the infrastructure and support to bring their work to the public.
Founder and artist Brooke Yandle was introduced to the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at SIU while restoring paint and concrete at Castle Park in Carbondale. A client mentioned the center could help with business planning and growth—so she reached out.
At the time, Yandle had completed several projects and had a strong foundation in her craft, but she needed guidance on managing and growing a business. She began working one-on-one with SBDC advisors and later enrolled in a 10-week Accelerator Program focused on business launch and development.
“When I began, I knew a lot about my craft and had some projects under my belt but didn't know anything about starting and managing an LLC,” Yandle says. “I was able to come to them with a lot of ideas for what I could do, and they showed me how to actually follow through on those plans.”
Through advising and mentorship, Yandle developed skills in business strategy, networking, and sales. “Each advisor offers different insights, and I have been very fortunate to have a team of people I can go to when I need to find a new opportunity or path,” she adds.
Today, Yandle is running Hawthorne Art full time and actively seeking new clients. With plans to move into her first physical space by the end of summer, she’s also preparing to offer fabrication services, art classes, and studio rentals.
“The result of the SBDC's mentorship is that I know how to strategize better, network effectively, and make sales, which have allowed me to take a real shot at working as a full-time commercial artist,” she says.
As Hawthorne Art grows, Yandle is keeping her vision rooted in community. “While I’m still working to create a career for myself, I continue to look to the future of Carbondale and commercial artists. My hope is to help more artists make a living from their work and invest in the Southern Illinois arts community.”