Fine Art Watercolor Artist
Brienne M Brown, NWS
Bringing the Everyday to Life
Much to her mother’s indignation, Brienne owned little clothing that was not covered in paint. From a very young age, Brienne showed talent in art and music, but wanted to pursue a career in the sciences. She started her education at the University of Utah as a double major (Art and Chemistry), eventually receiving a BS in Chemistry and finishing with a Master’s degree in 2004. After graduation, Brienne worked in a Toxicology lab. Though she painted some by taking an occasional class, as the years wore on, she realized she wanted more art in her life than a career in science would allow. She was surprised and delighted to find great fulfillment in painting. In fact, it became a necessity.
After leaving her job as a toxicologist to raise her first child in 2008, Brienne had the opportunity to paint more consistently. Prioritizing painting and taking workshops from artists she admired paid off. Soon she was not only exhibiting and entering shows regularly, but also winning awards. Brienne holds signature membership status for the National Watercolor Society, American Impressionist Society, Western Federation of Watercolor Societies, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, and Utah Watercolor Society. Her work has been published in Splash 17 Best of Watercolor: Inspired Subjects, PleinAir Magazine, Southwest Art Magazine, International Artist Magazine and Watercolor Artist Magazine.
Brienne’s passion is watercolor and plein air painting. She also enjoys oil painting in her studio to create larger works. Every year, she participates in several national juried and invitation plein air events across the country. She has won many top awards in many plein air competitions. Brienne is a popular instructor and teaches workshops in-person and online. She has also been invited to judge watercolor and plein air art shows.
“I find beauty in everyday life, the so called ‘mundane’. Ordinary people going about their everyday lives inspire me. I especially enjoy painting en plein air, where each painting reminds me of where I was, of the experiences I had, the sounds, smells, and the people I met. As I try and capture the essence of a scene, my paintings are always more about a moment in time than about a particular location. I enjoy sharing how I see the world.”
Affiliations
National Watercolor Society (Signature Member)
American Impressionist Society (Signature Member)
Western Federation of Watercolor Societies (Signature Member)
Pennsylvania Watercolor Society (Signature Member)
Utah Watercolor Society (Signature Member)
Plein Air Painters of Central Pennsylvania (Founding Member)
Farmland Preservation Artists of Central Pennsylvania
American Watercolor Society
Oil Painters of America (Associate Member)
Selection of Awards and Exhibits
- 2024 Laguna Plein Air Invitational Event: American Art Collector Award for "Fun in the Sun"
- 2023 Cape Ann Plein Air Even: Best Eventide Award for "Evening Quietude"
- 2023 Forgotten Coast en Plein Air Event: Artist's Choice Award for "Forsaken"
- 2022 Forgotten Coast en Plein Air Event: Quick Draw 3rd Place Award for "Misty Morning Work"
- 2021 En Plein Air Texas Event: Spirit of San Angelo Award for "Sun on the Cactus"
- 2020 En Plein Air Texas Event: Spirit of San Angelo Award for "Troy's"
- 2019 Door County Plein Air Festival: Honorable Mention for "In the Early Hours"
- 2017 Solomon's Plein Air Festival: Honorable Mention for "Capt. Brandon Awaits"
- 2017 Outstanding Watercolor in the September Bold Brush Online Competition: "On the Boardwalk"
- 2016 Outstanding Watercolor in the October Bold Brush Online Competition: "First Flight Out"
- 2016 Solomon's Plein Air Festival: PleinAir Magazine award for "My Seventh Heaven"
- 2016 Easels in Frederick Plein Air Competition: 2nd Place Award for "Antiques Bridge"
- 2016 Wayne Plein Air Festival: Honorable Mention for "Manayunk Morning"
- 2016 PWS 37th International Exhibition: 4th Place Award for "Morning Stroll to the Patch"
- 2015 Outstanding Watercolor in the November Bold Brush Online Competition: "Morning Stroll to the Patch"
- 2015 Easels in Frederick Best Landscape or Town Outside Frederick City Award: "Sharing Memories"
- 2015 Camp Hill Plein Air Festival Purchase Award: "Looking Down on River Street"
- 2015 Splash 17: Inspirational Subjects for "Discussing Grandpa's House"
- 2015 Georgia Watercolor Society International: 10th Award for "Ridge Street"
- 2014 Oct/Nov "Best Watercolor" in Plein Air Salon: "Back of Chick's Cafe"
- 2014 Outstanding Watercolor in the Sept Bold Brush Online Competition: "Back of Chick's Cafe"
- 2014 UWS Fall Member Exhibition (Utah): Award of Merit for "NYC Streets"
- 2014 PWS 35th Juried Exhibition (Harrisburg, PA): Merchandise Award for "Tagged"
- 2014 Lewsiburg Arts Festival (Pennsylvania): Best of Show for "Discussing Grandpa's House"
- 2014 WFWS 39th Annual Juried Exhibition (Arizona)
- 2014 UWS Spring Open Juried Exhibition (Utah): Award of Merit for "Evening Stroll"
- 2013 UWS Fall Member Exhibition (Utah): Award of Excellence for "Morning Chores"
- 2013 Finalist in the June Bold Brush Painting Online Competition: "Discussing Grandpa's House"
- 2013 PWS 34th Juried Exhibition (Warren, PA): Honorable Mention for "On the Foothills"
- 2013 UWS Spring Open Juried Exhibition (Utah): Juror's Award for "Mount Olympus"
- 2013 PWS Online Member Competition: Honorable Mention for "Downtown Salt Lake"
- 2013 AWS 145th Juried Exhibition (New York, New York)
- 2012 UWS Fall Member Exhibition (Utah): Best of Show for "Downtown Salt Lake"
- 2012 Wastach Plein Air Paradise Competition, Midway Paint Out (Midway, UT): Third Place for "Breakfast at Cafe Galleria"
- 2012 Wasatch Plein Air Paradise Competition, Heber Paint Out (Midway, UT): First Place Purchase Award for "Cleofa's Wash"
- 2012 Logan's Summerfest Plein Air Competition (Logan, UT): First Place for "He Painted as Far as He Could Reach"
- 2012 Ogden 's Art Festival Quick Draw Plein Air Competition (Ogden, UT): First Place for "Ogden's 25th Street"
- 2012 Ogden Plein Air Festivel (Ogden, UT): Purchse Award for "22nd Street Trail"
- Plein Air Moab '11 Competition (Moab, Utah): First Place Purcahse Award in Watercolor for "Fields of Moab"
- 2011 UWS Fall Memeber Exhibition (Utah): Award of Merit for "Jermyn, PA"
- 2011 Spring City Plein Air Competition (Spring City, Utah): Award of Merit for "Farmer Gene's Chickens"
- 2011 Wasatch Plein Air Paradise Competition (Midway, Utah): 2nd Place for "A Man and His Dog" and 4th Place for "Farmer Tom"
Selection of Juror Experience
- Arts Fest of Central PA, selection and awards juror panel
- American Impressionist Society, selection juror panel for international and member show
- Transparent Watercolor Society of America (TWSA), selection and awards juror panel of 2
- Watercolor Art Society of Houston (WAS-H), selection and awards juror
- Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society (NFWS), selection and awards juror
- Bold Brush Online Competition, awards juror twice
- Awards juror for several plein air competitions and other art society shows
Publications
- Palette Magazine
- Plein Air Magazine, Oct/ Nov 2015 Issue, "Plein Air Watercolors: Mixed Grays & Bold Brushstrokes", pg. 60-64.
- Southwest Art Magazine, Jan 2019, "Introductions: Brienne M Brown", pg. 68-69.
- Watercolor Artist Magazine, Oct. 2020, Watercolor Essentials: "Good Things Come in Three"
- International Artist Magazine, Dec/Jan 2025, "The Value of Planning", pg. 98-103.
