Sophie Brenneman Presentation

Sophie Brenneman she/her

USM ‘15 Assistant Teaching Professor of Visual Art Studies, Penn State Altoona

What led you to where you are now?

People Family, friends, professors, mentors, other artists and writers

Places Mississippi (USM) Pennsylvania (PAFA and Central PA) Academia in general

Things Nature/nurture, education, affirmations, opportunities, luck, timing

While at USM Learned the foundational skills, like 2D design, color theory, and figure drawing Most importantly, learned how to see; could recognize the potential for two-dimensional design in everyday life Began merging technical skills with conceptual interests toward my senior year, but mostly just followed the rules

Images from the A&D Senior Show, 2015

While at PAFA Learned how to explore meaning through materials and making work, continued honing craft and skill Questioned everything, experimented with new materials, got extremely lost When in doubt, kept returning to the practice of seeing the potential for two-dimensional design in everyday life Began taking inventory of themes in my work

We Made Our Own Lascaux, 2016 Rinse, Repeat, 2016

On Falling Into Place, 2017

Taking Inventory Began taking a look at the themes I saw in my work If I have the technical skills, then I can make whatever I want, right?

So what do I want to make?

What’s important to me?

Themes/What’s Important The double, the copy, mimicry, the shadow, the doppelganger (the uncanny) Being both/and Poetics of imagery, visual paradoxes Sharing space, physically and emotionally (empathy) Maintaining and strengthening foundational and observational skills Humor

Sharing space, physically and emotionally (empathy)

Twin/bed 2018 5’x5’

On Being In Between 2017 8’x9’

Touch, Touch, Touch 2018

The double, the copy, mimicry, identicals in other forms

Vija Celmins, To Fix the Image in Memory, 1977-82 Rene Magritte, Not To Be Reproduced, 1937

The Poetics of Imagery turning the mundane into the poetic

Catherine Murphy, Snowflake

Catherine Murphy, Snowflakes

Meditations on Duality on-going series

The Martyrs, 2020

The Menders, 2020

The Double Negatives, 2018

The Utilities, 2018

Optimism & Pessimism, 2019

Coming & Going, 2018

The Rulers, 2019

Icing on the Cakes (I Love You Between the Flowers), 2019 11” x 14” x 3”

Blinded Either Way (I & II), 2018

Drawings About Drawings That Drew Themselves 2019

Window Treatments (Noticing Similarities Where I Normally Wouldn’t) 2020

Sun Exposure (Birthday Suit), 2020 30” x 44”

In Which I Misread My Tea Bag Tag: ‘Empty Yourself and Let the Universe Kill You’ 2019, 30” x 44”

Paper Narcissus, 2019, 30” x 44”

Black Mirror Narcissus, 2019, 30” x 44”

Threshold Narcissus, 2021, 30” x 44”

What is your favorite part of your job as a teaching artist?

Teaching the basics, like linear composition, color theory, contour line drawing Talking through concepts with my upper level students Keeping up/practicing my technical skills Relearning through the process of teaching Watching students learn to see

How do you create balance in your life, between art-making and sharing your visual arts expertise as an artist/teacher? ...still workin’ on that.

I use my lectures as ways of researching and learning about my own interests I do projects alongside my students I keep a sketchbook (input/output) I look forward to the summers

Fun Facts I make clay earrings when I’m not drawing or painting, something about using my hands in a different way is extremely satisfying I write poetry that often informs my visual work, and vice versa, you can read some on my website!

You can check out more work here: @sophie.b.studio www.sophiebrenneman.com

THANK YOU!