Brooke Condolora is an Ozark-based illustrator and storyteller.
I grew up barefoot on an Arkansas farm: drawing, writing stories, and generally waxing dangerous with a slingshot. After seven years in California and eighteen months as a nomad, the Ozarks drew me back.
My focus is illustration that intersects with story, especially where animation is involved. I do that full-time as half of Brain&Brain, a tiny game studio launched with my husband in 2012. We're best known for our folktale adventure Burly Men at Sea, which drew acclaim from publications like TIME and was exhibited in the Smithsonian, among other honors.
In the margins, I'm usually reading or wandering the woods somewhere. I’m still pretty good with a slingshot.
Select Writing
- “Game Design Deep Dive: Burly Men at Sea”
A breakdown of our narrative design process, written for Game Developer (formerly Gamasutra). - “End Where We Begin”
The process of turning Burly Men at Sea into a set of illustrated books. - “The Folklore of Burly Men at Sea”
The folklore origins of the creatures encountered in the game.
Select Interviews
- “The Quiet Adventurers Behind Burly Men at Sea”
Kotaku UK - “State of the Art: Burly Men At Sea”
Rock, Paper, Shotgun - “Interview: Brooke Condolora of Brain&Brain”
IndieHangover - “Interview: Brooke Condolora, Brain&Brain”
Game&Type - “Indie MEGABooth: PAX Prime 2015”
Twitch