North Shore Meet an Artist: Brian Reed

After more than four years at The Arts of Life, North Shore studio artist Brian Reed has practiced an array of art-making techniques. Some of his favorite mediums include clay and acrylic, but he’s venturing out of his comfort zone to try a new medium, printmaking. He’s been sticking with an animal theme so far, and the prints are turning out great!

In addition to being an art maker, this kind soul has a knack for building positive relationships with his peers. At last month’s North Shore Awards Show, Brian received the Good Neighbor Award. This comes as no surprise, as he is always ready to meet new people, introduce them to community members, and help them get acclimated to the studio. To learn more about Brian’s current work and interests, read his interview below with North Shore volunteer Cindy Shanker.

[Image: Brian receiving award at NS Awards Show]

Cindy: What materials do you like to work with?
Brian: I use acrylic paint, oil pastels, and chalk pastels. Also, I use clay and watercolor paints. I also do monoprinting with a brayer and acrylic paint.

C: How long have you been making art?
B: Four years.

C: Did you just start making art when you came to the studio?
B: Yes.

C: What types of images inspire you to create work?
B: I like to make animals, and I like to draw people. I like to look in magazines and books.

[Image: Brian’s beaver painting]

C: What projects are you currently working on?
B: I am currently working on my Square Foot project, which is an elephant on a wood board with acrylic paint. First, I sketched out my picture. Then, I painted the sky blue and the wheat or grasses yellow. Then, I painted the elephant’s body. Next, I am going to paint the details: the trunk, the tusks, the eye, and the mouth.

C: Do you have other roles at the studio besides being an art maker?
B: I am friendly with people here. People like me here, and I like them. That feels good; it makes me happy. I also do Art Talk. I like when we see videos and look at the art books and when we talk about our art.

C: What are your interests other than art?
B: I like to go to overnight camp. I go in July, over the summer. I go swimming, go to campfires where we sing songs, horseback riding on a western saddle, and do breakdance.

C: What do you like to do when you’re not at the studio?
B: I help kids at a nursery school in Evanston. I play with them, go to music with them, and do art with them. It is a lot of fun. I also help them with snacks, play on the carpet, and read books.

[Image: Brian with Awards Show piece]

C: If you could not be an artist, what other job would you choose to do?
B: I would like to deliver the mail. I could do that on my scooter.

C: What is your favorite thing about The Arts of Life?
B: Painting is my favorite thing at Arts of Life. I like painting the piece and then finishing it.