Brenda will be at our Showroom TOMORROW, February 26, from 10am- 2pm for her book signing! 309-C Cameron Street, Old Town

Where are you from, and how does it affect your work? 

I am from Dallas, Texas, born and raised! I am lucky to live on one of my favorite streets in Dallas, where my house overlooks a 50-acre undeveloped park and is inside a natural setting. A little fun fact - it used to be an old dairy farm. The road getting to my house is lined with huge trees that reach out and touch each other’s limbs across the street. Every time I see them, it brings me back in time and lowers my blood pressure. Being here, it’s easy to see what my daily inspiration is. Just last week, we had two huge owls in our yard. We are seeing so much wildlife daily, so I am drawn to animals, trees, and the architecture of the forest. Especially the leafless trees in the winter. I have always been fascinated by trees. The shadows, the structures, the wildlife. In the winter, you can see the black of the pecan and oak trees against the white branches of the sycamore trees. My love for nature and animals is a theme throughout my art - a forest is my favorite place to be. My property doesn’t feel like it’s in Dallas, but it’s right in the middle! 

Describe how important art is to society.

Art is beauty, and beauty can be healing. Art can ignite something inside our brain that we physically respond to. It can open up different channels of creativity - make you think in a different way. Art can trigger a memory, relax … it evokes an emotion. Art as a whole is very important to society. 

Did you paint first or collage? 

I painted first! I started in oil painting and then moved into collaging. 

How long does it take to create a collage? 

It takes a lifetime. I am constantly thinking about my work and looking for paper. I can find paper in a fancy bookshop or cast aside on the sidewalk. Wherever I am, I am looking for materials. Given to me, found, purchased. I mix new and old pieces of paper. I find something so interesting in that contrast - I will put a 200-year old piece of vintage paper next to a shiny article photo from Vogue magazine. 

How do you decide what to collage next? 

It seems like one thing will build on the next. I have done a whole series of “Trees of Life,” which have then led to smaller animals. I ask myself, “What would live in these trees?” It’s a natural progression. 

What has been your favorite paper find? 

My husband and I went to Lowes on a cold, rainy day. As we were driving away, I noticed a chartreuse paper fertilizer bag in a muddy puddle. I had my husband turn around, and he went out into the bleak weather to retrieve this dirty bag and bring it into our clean car. The color was perfect - I made so many pieces from that bag! Another memorable paper find - I was in Washington, D.C., standing in line at the Supreme Court with my family to hear a case. I got out of line to throw something away, and I saw a large chunk of paint peeling off the trash bin. There it was, just flapping in the wind. I took that piece off and put it inside my bag with high hopes of how I would collage with it. Next thing I know, I am surrounded by the District of Columbia police, asking what I put inside the trashcan and had subsequently taken out of the trash. It was a scene. My family pretended not to know me. Luckily, I didn’t get arrested, but I was asked to return what I took. I only gave the police part of the paint chip back and used the rest in a collage. It was just the perfect Army Green color paint chip! 

What was your first collage piece? 

My daughter was home from college, and she was collaging herself for one of her classes. I thought, “this looks like so much fun!” I had just taken a figure drawing class, so I took that figure and collaged it 50 different ways. I sold thousands of small collaged figures - that was my gateway drug to where I am now. 

What would you tell a first-time art buyer?

Buy what you love! The things I have bought from emotion (rather than investment), I still love them so much.