Artist brings third generation talent to town
Danielle Chavez - March 6th, 2008Dee Brewer is an accomplished local artist who has won many awards for her work including several People’s Choice Awards. Her artwork hangs in galleries throughout Arizona and California. She has experience in almost every form of art, from pencil sketching to costume design, yet her greatest pride is in helping to raise money for hospice and helping others with their own creations.
Her artwork is heavily influenced by the scenic beauty of northern Arizona. Because of a recent eye surgery, Brewer looks at everything in a new light, especially nature.
With improved eyes, her works feature landscapes, aspen trees, flowers and animals.
“I put love into everything that I do,” Brewer said. “I see so much beauty in everything.”
Her photography tends to focus on organic features but she also photographs architecture. Brewer goes to great lengths to get a shot, at one point crawling under barbed wire and at another encountering a snake.
“I hope that people can see the love,” Brewer said. “It comes from the soul.”
Brewer is also currently experimenting with a technique called “wet-on-wet” acrylics in which the paint takes on a form of its own.
Brewer describes her own art as a mixture of everything. She does not have a specific medium that constrains her because she has always been interested in all forms of art.
Dee Brewer was born, raised and schooled in Brooklyn, N.Y. In some of her more abstract works her New York roots begin to shine through, showing the true diversity of her work.
“My grandmother and mother worked in a sweatshop,” Brewer said. “I did not want to go that route.”
While it is hard to distinguish from where, exactly, an artist acquires his or her talents, Brewer’s seems to have been inherited. She comes from four generations of artists. Her grandmother was a quilter, her father a self-taught sketch artist and her daughter is a professional photographer. Brewer was always interested in art from a young age and went to school for fashion design.
“As soon as I could pick up a pencil, my dad and I drew together,” Brewer said. “Art was my saving grace.”
As a young girl, Brewer’s talents were recognized by her teachers who suggested she should someday teach art. In junior high she helped as a teacher’s aide in an art class. Now, she teaches a fundamental drawing class at the Adult Center in Flagstaff. In these classes Brewer guides her students in shading, perspective and projects. She wants to teach the basics so her students may move on and do better things with different media. Brewer said her greatest accomplishment is helping students realize that art can be easy.
“The best way to improve art skills is practice, practice, practice,” she said.
Brewer was also chairperson for the recycled arts show for two years. The Recycled Art Exhibition is an educational program put on by the city of Flagstaff where recycled products are turned into art. The exhibit encourages artwork from all ages.
“This day and age we are a throwaway society,” Brewer said. “This is why we need to make art out of recycled materials.”
Brewer is disappointed in the lack of art and music in schools nowadays. She encourages both veteran artists and newbies to participate in art classes. She said people can always learn new techniques from different teachers.
“Music and art are the staples in everyone’s life,” she said. “Maybe there would be less fighting if we had more art.”
Dee Brewer’s artwork is on display at the Riordan Office building, 821 W. Riordan Rd. A percentage of the art sales will go to the Northland Hospice.
The art show and reception will take place March 7 from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.