"Cantando" Painting

For me, painting is like having a conversation with my best friend—silent, yet deeply understood. There’s no need for words. I’ve learned to read the paint the way we read body language. When a painting is finished, that part of the conversation ends, but it continues to speak. You just have to be still and present to hear it. My hope is that each painting speaks to others in its own way—and invites them into a conversation of their own.

From 1985 to 2008, I ran my graphic design firm, Brannan Design, working with Fortune 500 clients nationally and internationally. In 2009, I shifted my focus to painting, and it quickly became both a passion and a calling.

I work in several series. My impasto pieces are rich, textured works—thick and luscious—now residing in homes across the U.S. My Serenity Series, which I began in 2013, features abstract landscapes infused with a sense of peace and emotional calm. PopRocks is my tribute series, celebrating the music and performers who’ve shaped my life. My newest body of work, The Apple Tree, tells the story of a tree in Santa Fe and the many animals it nurtures and feeds—a quiet homage to nature and interconnection.

I’m also an educator, teaching in both Dallas and Santa Fe. I lead classes for local organizations, including the Dallas Museum of Art, sharing not just technique, but the joy of painting.

I’m based in Dallas, TX, working out of what I lovingly call the Greatest Studio Ever. I also spend part of my time in Santa Fe, where I go to recharge, reflect, and of course—paint.