HeART Friends; There's so much more to art than just painting a picture.

 A brief history of "HeART Friends": 

My good friend Charice Cooper and I have collaborated on art for several years....doing murals and faux finishes together, as well as fun mixed media pieces. We've had several discussions on "the purpose of our art" and "what can we do to make it more meaningful and to benefit others?" We decided that the mixed media art pieces we create together would be used to "give back" in some way.  We came up with the name "HeART friends, for a couple of reasons. 1) God connected us as friends and we've been able to support each other in our art journeys. 2) we both have a heart to use our art to reach out to others. The following is one story of how we were led to do this:

A few years ago,  my daughter decided she wanted me to “update” her room from “teenie-bopper” to sophisticated. I was hesitant, as I’d already redone the room at least 3 times. After a couple years of negotiating, I caved! I agreed, her room was very small, and currently caged a full size loft bed which took up practically the entire room. It wasn’t too practical when the grandparents came to visit.

We decided to look for a twin trundle, which brings me to the story. 

My husband, Tyler, found a beautiful white wooden trundle on Craig’s list (which I had planned to refinish to look Parisian-chic). He called the owners and they initially had said someone else was going to buy the bed. It turned out the other buyers fell through and we were next in line.

Tyler drove passed Cooks Children’s hospital in Ft. Worth on the way to pick up the bed. As he continued to drive, he felt an urgency to pray for someone that was in that hospital. He didn’t know exactly who, at the time. He found out within minutes.

When he arrived at the residence, the owner, Jimmy, mentioned that his wife Deanna had just left to go to Cook’s Children’s hospital to visit their niece, Lauren. He  proceeded to tell the story of how she ended up in the hospital.  As he described the incident, Tyler realized that he and I had been following this same story on facebook which had gone viral. This is the story of the Nevils; Steve and Katy, and their daughter, Lauren and son, Will, whom they call “Cowboy”.

The family had been traveling from Tennessee to Texas to visit their family for Thanksgiving. Tragically, just outside the Texas/Arkansas border, another car hit them, and they careened into a tree, which sadly took Katy’s life, and threatened the life of their daughter, Lauren. Their story is one of tragedy, but also of faith. Their family has touched so many lives, including mine. It’s been almost 2 years since the accident. (They just recently had the trial of the driver who hit them. You can read about it here): http://www.hopeprescott.com/nevil-family-hopes-to-begin-healing-after-coe-pleads-guilty/

 

I won’t go into all the details of the family here, but you can follow their story on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/PrayingForTheNevils

Star Telegram article from February, 2013: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/02/17/4626990/support-showered-on-family-after.html

Tyler told me about his visit when he got home. I felt the need to do something, knowing no matter what it was it would be tiny in comparison to what they had been through.  I contacted  Deanna, and told her about my idea to paint something for the Nevils. She told me that Steve, Lauren, and Cowboy had just come up with an idea in one of their counseling sessions to draw a family crest, and shared their drawing with me. 

Because my friend, Charice and I collaborate on some art pieces for benefits, I contacted her, and we went to work.  We decided to create a version of their family crest.  

It is based on the verse Ecclesiastes 4:12.  “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” The wings and cross represent our home in Heaven; the hand and heart represent helping others, which is strong in their hearts; and the verse is significant of their family as they work together through the tragedy. 

 Charice and I working on the Nevil piece. 

We presented the piece to Steve and the kids, and we got to meet his family; including several extended family members. I can’t even begin to describe the impact they had on me. They were all so kind, open, and caring.  We spoke with Steve at length, and could see God’s grace and strength poured out over him and how God was using this family and blessing them in so many ways in the midst of tragedy.  We also got to spend a little time with sweet Lauren, a true miracle. I feel that I received so much more from them, than they received from us.

It is the hope of Charice and I that we can use our art to benefit others in some, small way, although the blessings that return are astounding to me.

 

Flower Fairy Mural

This room was so much fun to paint, and the little girl we painted it for was a sweetie.

"Pixie dust" was sprinkled around all the flower fairies.

I added a personal touch by putting Abbie's name on the tree house.

View of the completed bedroom

Pam Tullos worked with me on this job. Here is detail of the cute little boy she painted on the beanstalk.

To view more murals, please visit my website at Creative Wall Designs. 

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Heidelberg Schloss

 

To view or purchase my original paintings, please visit Chris Brandley Originals

Art Show Fun

Paintings by Chris Brandley, Charice Cooper and Jane Metz

The Serotonin Sisters (see previous post for explanation about the Serotonin Sisters!) headed out last week to put some final touches on the art show for the "Meet and Greet" that we had Saturday night. We had heard that KVIL 103.7 (radio station in Dallas) was going to be broadcasting in our neck of the woods. Charice had this overwhelming feeling that we needed to be there. We stopped in and had coffee at the cafe' where KVIL was broadcasting. 

They were giving away prizes every 15 minutes, so of course we had to put our names in the hat. Jane's name was drawn immediately and she won tickets to a concert! As we were finishing up our coffee, low and behold, Charice's name was drawn! She won tickets to Cirque du Soleil. Wow! we were on a roll, so there was no question we needed a refill on coffee. Wouldn't you know it, my name was drawn after 2 others were called out who had already left the cafe'.  What a "Serotonin day" it had been!

Yes, the prizes were awesome, but what came out of the experience to us, was such a "God thing"! Julie, the radio show host, was so excited that all 3 of us at the same table had won a prize...what are the odds? So she asked if she could interview us. This was perfect, as we were able to promote our upcoming art show and let people know that a portion of the proceeds were going to benefit the ASPCA.

Chris, Jane, Charice, and Gene and Julie; KVIL

 The beautiful "Lancaster Theater Art Gallery"

Our "Meet and Greet" Saturday took place during Grapefest, a major festival held once a year. We had a lot of good traffic, and met some wonderful people. We were able to raise some money, and set up some prospective commissions. Thanks to those of you who were there and are helping us make a difference!

Our art show will be on display at the Lancaster Theater (300 S. Main)  in Grapevine, Tx thru October 8th.

To view more of my work, click on one of the paintings.

New Painting Inspiration

My sister and 17 month old niece are coming to visit from Florida! We've been running around the house trying to baby proof and clean. I see lots of inspiration for paintings in the near future! I can't wait to dive into the paints and capture the picture above. She so reminds me of "Boo" in Monsters Inc...what do you think? The paint brushes will have to be put on hold for a few days so I can enjoy time with my sweet family. Then I will tackle 2 different texture jobs for 2 different clients, and do a mural for another...then, maybe I can fire up those portrait brushes!

Here is a portrait I did of my baby girl (almost 13 now, how time flies!!) when she was about my niece's age.

To see more of my paintings, please visit Chris Brandley's online art gallery 

and: My Fine Art Prints 

If you are in the DFW area and would like an estimate on decorative painting for your home, please visit Creative Wall Designs

Painting Progression: Grapevine

Grapevine

The above is a painting I did the other day of some grapes. This is the progression: I begin by sketching the main shapes in, and then fill in all of the negative space with thinned down paint, about the consistency of watercolors. At this point, I don't worry too much about color as I will be building up layers of paint, getting thicker with the top layers.

  My main goal is to cover the white and use colors in the general color scheme I plan to paint with. I lay in thinned colors of the leaves and the grapes.                                  




Again, I'm not too worried about using the exact color tones. This 1st layer is painted very quickly so I can get the white canvas colored. (sometimes I will tint the canvas a solid color (light pink or sienna tones, or other depending on the subject matter) before I even start the drawing process. This way, as I begin to work details I don't have to worry about white specks of canvas showing through, and it gives the painting a nice glow. Now I can hone in on detail and color.

I want this painting to have contrast and I want it to illuminate, so I've decided to make the background a dark olive color. I continue to keep the olive color fairly thin, but not as thin as the 1st layer. I begin adding some of the details to the leaves and vines, and I create shadows and variations in color. It's important to think about light source and how it affects different surfaces to create  shadows.

I want the painting to have movement and interest, so I pick up some of the colors I will be using in the grapes and add subtle touches into the background. This also creates hints of other leaves that might be behind the main subject. Creating lights and darks on the grapes will give them the illusion of depth. You don't always have to highlight with warm colors. As you can see on the grapes that will be more in shadow (lower grapes), I've used light blues and greens to highlight.

I want the top grapes to be illuminated so I use much warmer tones, but to create consistency I still use touches of the surrounding colors.







Final results:

To buy prints of this painting, click here: prints of "Grapevine"

To buy the original painting, click here: Grapevine Original Painting

Bathroom Transformation: From Mediocre to Medieval

I went to Florida to visit my dad, a retired Air Force Colonel,  a few months ago to help him with his bathroom renovation. He had recently returned from a trip to Germany, and was inspired by the beautiful, Medieval Castles. He decided to take his master bathroom way back in time by giving it a Middle-aged, European ambiance. When he decides to do something, he doesn't just take it half way. I guess this is partly where I get my creativity from. 
By the time I arrived, he had already gutted the entire bathroom.

Dad's bathroom;  Before renovation

Dad's custom cabinets

My job was to transform the white bathroom doors and the cabinets he had just custom built out of mdf (medium density fiberboard, an engineered wood).

The goal was to make them look as if they had been around for centuries. I used layers of products to get that "aged", dark rich wood look, and added an embossed design, highlighted in luscious golds and silvers. Dad had purchased some unfinished beams that were made of condensed Styrofoam, that my step mom and I  faux finished to look like real wooden beams for the ceiling.
 

condensed Styrofoam that I transformed into aged ceiling beams

Dad transformed the rest of the room by hanging fabricated stone on the walls, laying new tile, and adding exquisite lighting and fixtures. We worked long days but managed to take a refreshing break once or twice.














                                                                 

The results... 

                                                         

To see more of my decorative art or hire me (Dallas/Ft. Worth area) to faux finish your walls, ceilings, cabinetry, etc., please visit Creative Wall Designs
To purchase original oil or acrylic paintings, click on Chris Brandley Originals

Runaway Canvas

During one of our "Serotonin" meetings recently, my friend Charice and I walked out onto her back deck and realized what a beautiful day it was to go and do some Plein Air painting. We quickly threw our things together and headed for Grapevine. I set up my easel by the vintage train, on a slight incline in the gravel between the train tracks. I couldn't resist the colors and rusting metal on one of the train cars.

Charice parked several feet away, deciding on another train car to paint. As soon as I set up, I knew what a challenge this would be. My easel wasn't exactly stable, sitting on the gravel on a hill, and suddenly the wind decided to pick up. If you've ever been to Texas in the spring, you know it can feel like a wind tunnel. The sun began bearing down and it was getting hot. As soon as I dipped my paint brush into the paint, it dried in the heat and wind as quickly as I moved it to the canvas. I had to work fast. I glanced over at Charice, who was close enough to see, but too far away to have a conversation. She was smart. She had parked on the level platform in the shade, and seemed to be peacefully whipping up a masterpiece.

It may look like fun, but looks can be deceiving!

Charice working on her masterpiece

I drudge on. Paint fast, grip the canvas tightly for fear it would blow away; let go momentarily to grab a runaway paper towel, and off the canvas goes, like a kite in the wind,  rolling down the tracks. I run after it only to come back to a collapsed easel. After 2 or 3 repeats, and a sunburn later,  I get the majority painted,  enough to finish up in the studio. I desperately glance Charice's direction and see that she's chasing her canvas down the platform. I feel bad, but it actually makes me feel a little better that she's sharing my pain. I run over to help her. As I take off my sunglasses, she bursts out laughing b/c I have two white rings around my eyes outlined by the sunburn. We agree it's time to pack up and go home. We chalk it up to another one of our adventures.

Grapevine Vintage Train

I did my final touch ups to the  painting in the studio. Hopefully the next outing won't be as windy!
To view and purchase other paintings, please visit Chris Brandley Originals