Brainerd’s Brushstrokes – Summer Sunsets: Part 2-City

Thursday, June 10, 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 mostly painting acrylic abstract creations on 16×20 canvas. 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. 

Summer Sunsets In The City – Paris

Last week, I started off my Summer Sunsets Series with Summertime in the LBC, where I discussed two Long Beach, CA sunset acrylic paintings of the city. This week, I have two other summer sunsets in the city, Paris and Venice. The first painting, “Pastel Sunset in Paris,” was created August 8, 2015, at Alegria Cocina Latina, 115 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802 (see top pic). I have never been to Paris, France, so I used a combination of photos to cultivate my acrylic creation (see pic above). Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of the painting process, but I do for the next summer sunset in Venice. 

Summer Sunsets In The City – Venice

September 7, 2016, Linden Public Restaurant, 149 Linden Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802. Painted just about a year after the Paris sunset, I was inspired to create an abstract painting with the city of Venice, Italy, reflecting off the Venetian lagoon waterways. Again, I have never been to any part of Europe, so I created my own cityscape. I started off with the background sunset by applying thick dabs of acrylic paint onto the 16×20 landscape canvas (see pics above). I finished off with black paint and created city structures on the top portion, and slightly matched reflected structures in the bottom portion (see finished piece below). 

Summer Sunsets In The City Conclusion

As I long to travel to Europe, I have created paintings as a reminder of where I plan to go and also to manifest the dream of traveling across the world to see these marvelous summer sunsets in the city with my own eyes.  I do not know who I gifted either of these paintings 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 in the country, followed by my summer sunset palm series. Stay tuned for more of Brainerd’s Brushstrokes!

Thank you for reading and viewing,

Dr. Jaime Brainerd, Ed.D.

P.S.-Special thank you to my new blogging friend, Lia, for pointing out the butterfly at the bottom of my paintings. When I was in the third grade, I learned cursive handwriting. At that time, I found out my initials, JB, written in capital cursive letters, appear to be a butterfly. I was so excited because I love butterflies and have been creating art with them since I was a young girl. That signature has stuck with me all these years and has now evolved into my brand label! When I say, “sending lots of love,” imagine me making that butterfly symbol in the air with both hands (similar to making two hearts). That’s my way of sending virtual love and gratitude <3