My Personal Art History

My Personal Art History

By: Brenda McCullers

Playing softball or soccer was not an option for me when I was a child. I had problems with my feet and I had to wear special orthopedic shoes.

Let’s just say I was not very athletic, so I spent a lot of time drawing and painting.

That was okay with me because I enjoyed creating art and people seemed to think I was good at it.

Mrs. Grandville, one of my elementary school teachers, encouraged my creativity.

She would spend time explaining different media techniques and art principles to me during recess while other students were playing games.

Pictures of my Art

Another person who influenced my creativity was my Grandmother. She was a teacher and she lived on a farm in Virginia.

During the summer I would spend as much time as I could on the farm. The closest neighbor lived almost a mile away so there were no other children to play with. To keep me busy my grandmother would save boxes, bottles, and cans and I would create little houses with them.

We would collect moss and twigs from the woods to string together and make furniture.

Oil on canvas, 1982 Grandparent’s farm Nathalie, VA

During high school I took as many art classes as I could. I wanted to pursue art.

Unfortunately I was told I should take a different career path so I would be able to support myself. I attended Christopher Newport College and became a secretary. It did not take long to realize this was a mistake.

It was during this time that I met my husband, Ray. Soon after we were married we moved to Florida. Thanks to his support and encouragement I began painting and attending art classes. I would go with my friend Joelle to A. E. (Beanie) Backus’ house/studio. He had an open door policy. If he was home, local artists were welcome to come and watch him paint. Joelle and I both loved to watch him work and would make mental notes of his color choices and brush strokes. Then we would spend hours painting landscapes and still life paintings.

Eventually I enrolled in the Interior Design program at Indian River State College. While there, one of my professors asked me to make drawings for a marine biology textbook he was writing. I also worked as a freelance artist painting everything from murals to driveways.

Having a family helped me realize how much I wanted to spend my time helping children to explore the gift of creativity that God has given to each of us.

I began teaching children art in 1996, holding small weekly classes for homeschool students. Â In 1999, I started working as the art teacher at First Baptist Christian School in Stuart, Florida.

To continue my education I enrolled in an online program through Moody Bible Institute and graduated with a BS degree in Biblical Studies. Â

In 2010 I was diagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma, a type of kidney cancer. I began researching ways to deal with the stress that comes with battling disease. It was during this time that I was introduced to visual journaling - a way to document my journey through art. It helped me look beyond my circumstances and provided a way to share my experience while receiving the therapeutic benefits of the process.

My visual journals

“Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.”

Pablo Picasso

Today I am still teaching art at First Baptist Christian School, creating visual journals, and continuing my education through University of Florida’s online MA in Art Education program. Go Gators!

In addition, I am researching how art can help children with cancer. My goal is to create an art lesson plan for children who have this disease. My plan would be to provide instruction to a group of these children. Upon completion, there would be an exhibition of their work.

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