Thursday, June 3, 2021
Welcome to my Art Thursdays B.R.E.A.T.H.S. blog post where I invite you into my private art studio, Brainerd’s Brushstrokes. I started art blogging in May 2021, where I introduced some of my first pieces in my preteens with drawing and poetry, then large scale realistic watercolor flowers in my twenties. After a decade off from painting due to work and school priorities, I switched to painting on 16×20 canvas and creating a variety of abstract acrylic and mixed media art. This is when I got REALLY into social painting parties with my friends at Brushstrokes and Beverages scattered across several different restaurants located in Long Beach, California from January 2013 through August 2018.
Brainerd’s Brushstrokes
Each week I am going to share my art creations in no order, but I will try to stick with a theme each week/month and include some behind the scenes sneak peeks of the process of my paintings from the blank canvas all the way to selling individual pieces. I have tried my best to keep track of all my work (just over 100 paintings), however, I have given away the majority of my work as gifts and I did not necessarily keep track of whom I gave the artwork to. This blog is my way of getting my artwork out there and perhaps reconnecting with some of my original pieces and their owners.
Summertime In The LBC
I am starting my art series with the theme, “Summertime In The LBC,” which I deemed appropriate because Long Beach, California (LBC), is the location where the majority of my artwork was created. This week I chose to kick off June’s Brainerd’s Brushstrokes with two similar pieces I did one day after another at different locations in August 2016.
Summertime In The LBC Painting #1
August 15, 2016, Linden Public Restaurant, 149 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802. The first painting, I have a background photo, a finished photo, and a sold photo. I sold the painting to a stranger at a next door bar (The Blind Donkey) so he could have a LBC souvenir. I do not know the name of the guy who purchased my painting for some change and a beer, but I would love to reconnect with both the owner and the painting.
Summertime In The LBC Painting #2
August 16, 2016, Alegria Restaurant 115 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802. I realized I did not have many (just the one I sold) LBC paintings, so I created a similar painting the following day and only have the single finished photo. The second “Summertime In The LBC” painting I added a rainbow background for LGBTQ, since Long Beach, CA is where Summer Pride celebrations kick off for the entire nation each May. I do not know who I gifted this painting to, but if you are the owner, I would love to reconnect with both you and the painting. Next week, I will be sharing my summer sunsets city series. Stay tuned for more of Brainerd’s Brushstrokes!
Thank you for reading and viewing,
Dr. Jaime Brainerd, Ed.D.
Summertime in LBC #2 is my fave. Thank you for sharing your gifts.
I love this painting! I hope you can find the people who own them now. That would be cool!
Wow, you are an amazing artist. I love the painting.
WOW, so much artistic talent among all your other talents Jaime! I love both variations of your painting. Hope you find some of the lucky recipients! Lia loves your little butterfly in the corner.
Thank you, Martha and Lia for your lovely comments. That butterfly in the corner are my cursive initials for JB. I learned cursive in the 3rd grade and still have the same signature! I love butterflies, too, so when I found out my signature was a butterfly, I was super excited I even created art and poems about them! I just realized that I created my brand signature when I was 8! Now, I need to find a graphic artist to help me create a brand sticker.
100 paintings? Wow! Love that you are sharing your other talents with us. I love painting #2. 🙂