SELINA BRANTON (aka Selina B.)

As a child, I often heard people say, "That just took my breath away", when they encountered a powerful or beautiful moment in life. I was so confused when hearing that. Why would you want your breath to be taken away? Wouldn't it be better to "breathe in" the moment and let it nourish your soul? Taking someone's breath away just sounded very depleting to me. What can I say? I also shared many adventures with imaginary friends as a child. Every one of them, having their own superpower. :)  God gave me the superpower of a vivid imagination and I believe "to whom much is given, much is expected". I started creating art as a way to honor the Divine and share my fiercely independent spirit. It's my way of living "out loud".

(I saw this quote from Emile Zola a few years back and it says it best. "If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud.")

Soft pastels are my chosen medium and I often use watercolor as a base for mixed media pieces. Using pastels remind me of finger painting as a child, while growing up in the mountains of East Tennessee. I loved using my hands and fingers to move and assign the colors on the page. Today, I enjoy using my hands instead of brushes, because it is easier to infuse my true nature into each piece. Much as a musician tells a story each time his hands strum a guitar or dance across the keys of a piano, I use my hands to tell my stories.

My art preserves life's beautiful moments, good and bad (even bad moments can be beautiful if they teach us something.) Each piece reflects a grateful heart and sparks connection through a relatable vulnerability or shared experience. By using a bit of whimsy and a touch of warm-heartedness, I hope each painting encourages you to live out loud and breathe in the gift of Beautiful Moments!

Selina B.