Now In: ARTIST LIST → Brackenbury, Amy

With her numerous interests in addition to painting, there are plenty of other things to keep Brackenbury busy on her ranch, such as putting up hay, fishing, caring for numerous pets, horseback riding, playing the piano, violin and harp, cross-country skiing, gardening, dog sledding, snowmobiling and spending time with her husband and their two daughters, Delaney Jane and Sierra Sue. Next door is Cherokee Park Guest Ranch, and in the summer, Amy and Delaney entertain guests by playing the fiddle, accompanied by Lars on the guitar. One night a week, guests are invited to Brackenbury's home to view her paintings, which may be acrylic, oil, watercolor (occasionally with gold-leaf), pastel, mixed media, and also sculpture — whatever strikes her creative chord. Brackenbury continually tries new things, and the path she follows is often landscaped with brilliant color, motion, multiple media and humor. "It's extremely important to me that my basic concept be something new," she says.

 

An animal lover known for her realistic paintings of domestic pets, she has recently turned to subjects with more of a contemporary, abstract feeling and brighter palette. Her work can be seen in the book, The Best of Wildlife Art (North Light Books, 1997). Known for joie de vivre, Brackenbury’s work is an invitation, as she says, to "view my art and enjoy life with me.”