Brenda Boylan

My approach to creativity stems from an investigational curiosity.  I embrace my art-making like a child without boundaries, questioning how I can do things differently. The joy of stretching rules allows new ideas to flourish while the push and pull of color, composition, and intention is held tight. My process allows immense freedom while artistic principles hold me in line. What if?  Why not? How fun!

When asked how and why I became an artist, I recall my youth expressing playful curiosity and imagination with crayons on paper, clay, paint by numbers, needle and thread, weaving bubble-gum wrappers, and anything else I could get my hands on.

Mix the hardships of my youth living on the edge of poverty, and a strong desire to move beyond my unfortunate circumstances fueled a raw determination within me.

With careful planning, discipline, and focus, I earned a B. S. Degree in Applied Art and Design at Cal Poly State University in 1986 and initiated my creative goals by designing for the Sportswear industry. Ambivalent with this path, I left the corporate life for the sake of my art and mind. I now work equally in Oil and Pastel and am deeply inspired by the Impressionists. My color-filled work has earned Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America and the International Association of Pastel Societies.

My work has been published in The Pastel Journal (cover story), Plein Air Magazine, Pratique des Artes (France), The Art of Plein Air Painting, The Best of America Pastel, and have assembled a Signature product line of Jack Richeson Pastels. Because I love nature, I practice painting and teaching en plein air, and have been a featured instructor at several artist conventions. My work has also participated in several group exhibits at nationally recognized art museums. Currently, my most satisfying accomplishment was filming two instructional pastel painting videos shared through Streamline Publishing’s video series.