Meet Brenda Pinnick | Painter, Visual Artist and Instructor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brenda Pinnick and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brenda, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
As an artist, the idea of risk taking may seem silly to some people. I mean, I’m my own boss, right? I’m not going to fire myself for a failed idea. In fact, I have stacks of risks in the form of paint on canvas. That’s what creativity is all about, trying new things. It may mean pushing color beyond expectations or perhaps an unusual composition or subject matter. I think in terms of expanding my creativity instead of it being a risk- that’s a much more comfortable idea. At or near the finish of a new work, I step back for few minutes so I can see with fresh eyes. I then ask myself, what is one bold thing I can add or change? Then I do it.

In terms of risk taking on the business side, I’ve learned to be open to new ideas of marketing, employing my other skill sets. I love giving demos to groups so that has opened up some new opportunities for me and it helps educate people on the process of painting. I find that many people believe it’s just simply something we artists are magically born with. It’s work- real work. It requires concentration, decision making with every stroke, And skills don’t just happen, they are are developed and honed over time. I will always be student.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The first time I took my easel outdoors was a game changer. I’m a plein air artist, in the tradition of the French Impressionists. My passion revolves around the full sensory experience of being in front of my subject matter, using natural light or atmosphere to convey a sense of time and place. The smell of the air, the feel of the wind, the sounds of nature – all of this adds to my emotional response to a scene. It doesn’t matter what I paint, really. If the light is nice, if I see beautiful shapes and interesting color, I can pull a painting out of it. It could be a back alley or a pastoral scene- it really isn’t about the subject because light is the subject. I enjoy a city scape as much as a country view as long as it evokes an emotional response in me. I love florals done in open air because they offer the opportunity to use bold color and luscious brushwork to convey the energy of living things. I discovered a wonderful bonus to being out painting. It’s the connection to places and people. I’m often approached by people who have a story to share. Sometimes it’s about the place I’m painting. Sometimes it’s about their loved one who painted or how they themselves have always wanted to try painting. I really enjoy this aspect of my work. I once painted an old, abandoned house in a small GA town. I posted it on line and a friend informed me that was her Grandparents home! She then shared all kinds of stories about her time there as a little girl, hunting Easter eggs under the big oak tree and playing in the yard. I have many paintings of old homes and barns which are now gone. I’m glad I captured them before the bulldozers came.

My biggest lesson learned is to paint what excites me. If I feel a connection to a scene, chances are, it will be a good painting. My biggest regret is spending too much time painting what I think people will accept as “good”. I’m listening to my heart much more these days and it shows in my work. People respond to authenticity and genuine passion. I tap into my emotional response regardless of what I’m painting. When I’m feeling down, I crave yellow. I pay attention to that inner voice. If I need calm, I’m attracted to big sky or water scenes. When I need to feel grounded, I’m attracted to rural scenes like where I grew up. These are heart tugs so I go in the direction I’m being called to go.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a big fan of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. They are always welcoming to artists, as long as we don’t trample on the plants or block the walkways. I love going to just walk and sit with the beautiful views, have lunch in the restaurant on the patio, take lots of photos and maybe do a few sketches. It’s fun to simply park the car in an intown neighborhood and walk. So many beautiful homes with exquisite landscaping. I find the different neighborhoods very interesting. Grant Park is a great place to paint. I really love it all!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family has always been supportive of my work. My parents were always just fine with me turning the kitchen of our farm house into my silkscreen or batiking studio. They bought me the supplies I needed and made sure I had the space and time to explore art in whichever form it took. My husband is also very supportive, building me storage, booking travel, making space for what I need. He’s creative too so he understands.

I’ve had some great mentors in my life for whom I’m very grateful. They seem to come along just when I need them. I find it’s good to put my needs out there. I continue to take workshops from master level artists and they are usually very generous in sharing their knowledge in both art making and in business.

Website: http://brendapinnick.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendapinnickfinearts