Brie Walter Art Blog

  • April 24, 2026

    Book Club: Renoir an Intimate Biography

    By Brie Walter

    I'm still making my way through Renoir an Intimate Biography by Barbara Ehrlich White.

    I had no idea that after working months on Luncheon of the Boating Party, he had a bike accident, breaking his right arm, and he spent the rest of the time painting with his left hand.

    Here's a little snippet of his quotes that I love...

    "I am working on a painting of some boaters, something I have been dying to do for a long time. I started to get old and I didn't want to delay this little festivity any further... It's expensive enough already. I don't know if I will complete it, but I told Deudon about my hardships, and he nevertheless agreed with me that even if the great expense did not enable me to finish my painting, it's still a step forward: every once in a while you must attempt things that seem too difficult" (p. 100).

    I love that this piece was in him and this idea was something he had to see through even if he only got it started and never could finish it due to finances. So often finances can stop us as artists from trying an idea we have mulling around. Or we can make excuses of whey we don't start the idea. The point is just start it. Regardless. As artists we have to dare ourselves to do the big things. It's in the lifestyle choice. And failing is part of the process we have to accept along the way as well. 

    And after he broke his right arm mid painting he said this...

    "I have been enjoying working with my left hand; it is a lot of fun and it's even better than what I did with the right. I think that it was a good thing that I broke my arm" (p. 101).

     

    For a painting so famous, we so rarely hear of the hardships behind the piece. Once again, I find the human spirit is always the driving force of my inspiration in other artists who can embrace their struggles and persevere in creating their art. 

    This year I've taken on a few projects that were big leaps for me. My largest commission abstract painting that I broke into 3 canvases. I've been wanting to turn some of my storybook ideas into an animation with my paintings, so I bought an animation program to start the process and take that leap even if I don't finish or if I don't like the finished product. It's an idea I've had for over 10 years now, and I need to see it through while I can. And the last one is we have a giant wall in our hall that I've been wanting to do a very large painting in. I bought a large canvas and large stretcher bars, and just never got around to building it. And I think this is the year to do it even if it's just get it on the wall so I can imagine what will go on it. I'm thinking a very large floral install.

    I hope you find some inspiration from these artist moments I share, and if you want to read the book alongside me, I'd love to hear how you enjoy it too! 

  • February 21, 2025

    Lessons from Artsits of the Past: Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Monet and others

    By Brie Walter
    Lessons from Artsits of the Past: Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Monet and others

    "During times when it seemed art could not be created in such devastation. And yet, it was created. Privately, secretly, quietly. So that it could emerge when the chaos allowed it to breath and when people might need it most."

  • September 21, 2023

    Limited Macabre Painting Collection Inspired by Hieronymus Bosch

    By Brie Walter
    Limited Macabre Painting Collection Inspired by Hieronymus Bosch

    There's a theatre in Los Angeles called The Fonda, where they have enlarged and printed wallpaper of Hieronymus Bosch painting work, and every time I'm there I feel inspired studying these little scenes so large on the walls. I'm sure these were never intended to be seen this way, but in so many ways I'm glad it is.

    The things that always stand out to me are the little animal heads on human-like bodies. This idea of how he imagined hell has these fascinating little moments that in a smaller scale painting could easily be less studied, but when blown up, have so much character to unpack. They draw me in so much because they almost feel like a macabre Halloween set or a dark theme park with costumed leaders as he brings in his influences of Flemish folklore and plays with metaphors and puns in such a beautiful visual way.

    It inspired me once again to do a limited round of macabre paintings of my skull crows. My previous collection was in 2020, and I did human skulls on crow bodies, but this time I focused more on crow skulls on living crow bodies.

    It started with a sketch of just a skull crow...

    Then I moved into oils and explored the movement of feathers and personality of the smaller birds.

    I've included in this release a progression of the pieces. The first (top left) is from my original collection with human skulls on crow bodies, the charcoal sketch of just the crow skull, and then the duo of crow skulls with crow bodies.

    Bottom right, is a close up of the study, and to balance out the moodiness of fall, I did a still life with cracked egg shells and a pumpkin, all of which in some way encompass the theme of death, life, and somewhere in between the movement and stillness, and where we wrestle with life's in between moments of these states of being.

    You can find all the pieces available in the Macabre Collection  under available works for a limited time. They will be released this first week at a discounted price, and then back to my normal price points shortly thereafter.

    This is not a collection I leave up year round, so if this is something you are drawn to or you are wanting to collect a limited edition piece, this is the time of year to get one.

     

  • May 28, 2022

    How to Commission a Painting from an Artist

    By Brie Walter
    How to Commission a Painting from an Artist

    If you have been looking for an original painting for a specific spot in your home or office, and nothing is quite the right size or color combination, commissioning a custom piece may be the perfect option for you.

    I have a whole page of Q+A's to answer any common questions about the process, which you can find here.

    If you've found an artist who's style you connect with, the first step should be to reach out to them via their contact page. Contacting them via their website contact page has a better chance of getting a sure response versus the DM feature on Instagram, which sometimes hides requests if the artist isn't following you. 

    Start the conversation by letting them know how much you like their work, and maybe a few reasons why. Maybe you love the textures used, or the color combination, or a few specific pieces you particularly love and don't even know why. This helps the artist get an idea of what you are drawn to in subtle ways, so when you inform them you want to commission a painting, the artist will already know how to guide you in the process of talking about it.

    Let the artist know how long you've been admiring their work so they know how serious you are about chatting about a custom piece, and that they are not just one of many that you are reaching out to for quotes.

    Usually, when you are shopping for a new art piece, you aren't just buying it because you connect with the artwork, but you are connecting with the artist too, so feel free to ask any questions about the process. 

    When someone reaches out to me for a customized painting, some of the logistics I want to know are, dimensions of the space and the dimensions of the painting they are thinking of having made. I like to know which room will it be in? Is it for your living room? If so, is it the main focal piece above your fireplace, or is it another addition to your existing collection? Or is it for a bedroom? What colors are you drawn to, and what colors are already in that room?

    Send photos of any accent pillows or other art already on the walls. This helps an artist know how to specifically mix the colors used... should the paint mixes lean toward cool undertones or warmer undertones... which should be more accented or more dominant in the painting. There's a lot of context of the overall room and mood of that room that is needed to help guide an artist, especially abstract expressionistic artists who work based on instincts. All that information will subconsciously sink in as they start their process of painting and blocking out colors.

    When I work with my clients, I like to see it as a collaboration. They are trusting me for a special piece of art in their home, and I like to send updates with layers to make sure we are on the right track with color proportion. I can always add more, but can't take away, so when I get to good stopping places for drying points in the oil layers, I'll send updates of my progress. In this way, it feels like a nice collaboration.

    Commissioning a painting is a special process, and something you get to enjoy forever once it's in your home and you get to pass it down for generations to come and talk about how you had it made and got to be a part of the process.

    Just remember to be patient in the process. Oil paints are slow to dry, and have to be blended at certain points in the drying process to achieve certain looks, so it can take months to get your final painting. Enjoy the methodical process and let the artist work on instincts to guide the deadline rather than rushing it.

    The artist wants you to love your commissioned painting and final version! I love getting to know my clients through this process. It's such a unique experience. Artists used to only survive off of commissioned artwork, and I love that classic process of connecting with an art collector. I especially love to hear when someone has decided to have original paintings in their home and I'm their first artist to purchase from.

    Thank you for trusting me in this process to make something special for you! I know every artist who offers commissions feels the same way. So reach out if you are thinking about commissioning your first original painting or adding it to your existing art collection. We love to hear from you!

    To read more about my background and inspiration behind my artist statement, read it here. 

    To reach out directly, please visit my contact page.

     

    Testimonials:

    “We worked with Brie on a commission piece in 2020 and she was fantastic to work with! This was our first experience commissioning a piece of art and she guided us through the entire process so graciously. She kept us in the loop every step of the way and would send pictures and videos with regular updates. She collaborated with us on color schemes and it was so fun working together to see our vision come to fruition with her artistic talent. We got the piece right before the holidays and it was such a joy to see the final product! We get compliments all the time and love it more and more as time goes on!”

    --Kaki (Morning Choir painting)

     

    “When we were re-decorating our living room, I knew that I wanted a big statement piece of art to fill the one very large wall in the space.  But, it was scary trying to figure out what big piece of art to select and feel good about investing in, knowing that we would be looking at it every day for years to come.  After seeing Brie's work on Instagram, I contacted her about commissioning a large piece of art.  She was so calm and friendly.  We emailed, texted and even met via FaceTime so that we could get to know each other as we shared ideas for the painting.  The commission process was collaborative - a process of working together to decide on colors, size, shapes and just the overall vibe of the artwork.  Brie sent us pictures of the artwork in process and ultimately the final product.  When we received the canvas, had it stretched, and hung it on the wall, we were so happy with the art.  It was what we had all created together - some of our ideas and Brie's talent of hearing our thoughts and painting it so beautifully on the canvas.  We love our commissioned artwork.  It is truly one of a kind!”

    --Jennifer (abstract oil painting 48x63")

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