Andrea Brunais: Riotous Color
The Museum Goer
ON DISPLAY
April 4 - June 27
RECEPTION
May 8 5:00-7:00
Riotous Color
Andrea Brunais’ vibrant paintings, showcased at the Montgomery Museum of Art and History, are created using soft pastels, which contain higher pigment concentrations compared to oils or acrylics. Brunais’ perception of her chosen world, the majestic mountains of Virginia, significantly contributes to the riotous colors in her work. Brunais moved from Florida to Bluefield, where she was captivated by the plants, animals, and landscapes of Appalachia.
The large pastel painting, titled “A Moment in the Woods,” captures a waterfall and evokes the breathtaking blues and light greens reminiscent of Appalachian springs. Brunais selected this subject from three smaller landscape paintings. Pastels are expensive, and the anti-reflective glass used in framing further adds to the cost. Consequently, Brunais meticulously chooses her subjects for the large works. Brunais’ husband frames her paintings with reclaimed hardwoods and the special glass.
Her husband also crafted a unique easel specifically designed for her pastel creations. Pastels, not only being expensive but also potentially hazardous due to their toxicity, necessitated an innovative design. Unlike traditional easels, this easel slants backward from top to bottom, allowing excess pastel dust to fall by gravity into a trough at the bottom. This ingenious mechanism effectively prevents pastel dust from contaminating lower sections of the surface and minimizes the artist’s exposure to the toxic pigments. As the excess pastels accumulate in the trough, they blend together to form captivating neutral colors.
Pay attention to the striking red, blue, and white flowers, as well as the brilliant purple trees in “Misty Morning Path.” Purple holds a special place in Brunais’ heart. The work also boasts impressive depth of field.
Most artists struggle to name their paintings, resorting to ordinary titles like “Still Life with Vase.” However, Andrea Brunais, a published book author and former journalist with experience in communications at Virginia Tech, finds naming her paintings effortless.
For instance, her painting of Beethoven, with whom she shares a birthday, is titled “Andante Appassionato.” This sonata in F minor reflects Beethoven’s emotional turmoil during the time he discovered irreversible hearing loss. The dark blue circles under his eyes hint at the depth of his sorrow.
The owl painting titled “Unflappable,” was created for an exhibit featuring eyes. Yes, owls can have orange eyes. “European Robin at Afternoon Tea” depicts a robin perched on a tea cup. “The Museum Goer” captures the essence of art enthusiasts, engrossed in admiring paintings on the walls.