Hello! I’ve been thinking about posting more here lately. I post on Instagram for the most part pretty regularly, I also have an X account which is dying, as I feel X is dying, and I have an account on CARA to exist in an AI~free platform (which I appreciate), but CARA is so new and it feels like I’m alone in a dark hallway so far. I have my YouTube Channel that I’m enjoying too (Go like and subscribe!). But I’ve been noticing a desire for a place to write like I’m writing now - more of a personal outflowing of thought.

While I do enjoy the community on IG, and I’ve met so many kind and wonderful people on the app (maybe some of you reading this!), the tides have changed and the algorithm wants to sell sell sell, which feels ugly. Not to mention the AI training that my art is doing without my consent. That one feels personally disgusting and disheartening and I fear it is all inevitable. This is how it is. But my wisdom is asking me to dig deeper into my very humanity. To move in a way that feels natural and seek the daily habits that support my nature. And so in asking myself what that looks like, writing has been on my mind.

I am an artist. I feel my way through life. I feel a LOT. And I express that in my art. I appreciate that in my art - that there’s a place for me to go with all the feels and lace together stories in a visual way. Freaking the love of my life, art. My brain is constantly listening for fragments to be creative with. And words - I’ve felt were too specific in the past, feel rightly specific now. It’s almost like technology is wiping away our humanity and I’m very much wanting to connect with it more and more and more, desperately. I want to connect. That’s all art is. In all forms - it’s connecting. And it is our highest form of intelligence and HUMANITY. (Again, that word)

So. I’ll be here. More. I hope you will be too.

~Brandi :)

The Dark Art Society Podcast with Chet Zar

I had the supreme pleasure of chatting with my friend and fellow artist Chet Zar on his podcast “The Dark Art Society” a few weeks back. Chet and I talk about our early days starting out in the Los Angeles “underground’ or “lowbrow” art scene, and what came after, as well as navigating our careers as super shy introverts (pretty common among artists). I had a wonderful time catching up with Chet and learning more about him and his work/process. If you’re not familiar with his incredible work, do yourself a favor and have a look! You can find my episode (270) on YouTube, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts!

Hello and Welcome...again!!

Greetings fellow humans!! It’s me, and it’s 2023! I’ve arrived here, this day, unlike I’ve arrived at any other time before (just as I’d suspect you have as well) ~ with new inspirations and challenges I’d like to explore as a human, and as an artist. I’ve been wanting ~ aiming at writing here on my blog in a consistent manner for a while now. I guess it’s been easy relying on social media to share my art and process daily or more frequently, but that isn’t so much the case anymore as algorithms have made reaching my followers nearly impossible. Also, my schedule has been stuffed to the gills with deadlines and meetings. I’m coming off of my latest solo exhibition (“Everything I Ever Was” at the beautiful Corey Helford Gallery October 29th -November 5th 2022) and I’ve some new space and time to breathe here for a moment. To ask my Artist Heart what she would like to be curious about.

I have many answers to that question artistically, personally. One big one is writing. To write one must not necessarily have readers~ but I do have this website where I share my visual stories which each have very personal meaning behind them, throughout them. Ever before I’ve been satisfied with just that visual representation, until now. And with this website, I have a BLOG. Perhaps the two can go together ~ (duh!)

I’ll be here, frequently. Language is my second language. My Artist Heart begs me to be curious in my language. To DARE dream in words. Let’s see what happens, shall we? :)

Brandi

Upcoming Solo Exhibition ~ Everything I Ever Was

Hello Hello! I’m currently finishing up a whole new body of work that will be on exhibition at Corey Helford Gallery in Downtown Los Angeles. The show is titled “Everything I Ever Was” and will be on display in the gallery for four weeks! Opening night is Saturday, October 29th and is open to the public. I’m SO EXCITED about this new work and I can’t wait to share it with the world!

crocodile teeth

Here’s a sneak peek detail of a large painting in the making titled “(Madness) Everything That Ever Was” that will be part of the show!

I’ve been working on this body of work for over 3 years now. You can imagine how freaking exited I am to share it! Three years is a long time normally, but with a world~wide pandemic three years feels like a decade!! I’m so happy I’ve had this project to work on to keep me focused and inspired. My art process is very therapeutic and meditative, it really did see me through this isolation. Now that the work is coming to a close, I feel ready to celebrate it with new energy!!

Show opening is the weekend before Halloween ~ very fitting to my work as it’s my most favorite time of year! And in the spooky Halloween spirit -attendees are encouraged to dress in costume!!

So come out and party with me, people! We got some celebrating to do!!

Hello, I'm Brandi Milne

Hello there! I thought I might properly introduce myself ~ my name is Brandi Milne and I am a professional visual artist and writer. I’m based in Orange County, CA, and I show my work in galleries within the US as well as internationally.

Brandi Milne by Jessica Louise

I grew up in Anaheim, CA in the late 1970’s/early 80’s - it was a different world back then than we’re experiencing today. My parents were/are honest, good intentioned people, who grew up in the late 1940’s/early 50’s and very much kept to the American traditions of those times in the way they raised myself and my 3 siblings. As a kid my world (our home) informed my art spirit with cartoons and movies on the tv like Looney Tunes’ Bugs Bunny, Disney’s Pinocchio & Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Jim Hensen’s Muppets, Sid & Marty Kroft - I could go on forever! (maybe I will in another post!) I absorbed these iconic classics and found at an early age that I spoke a truer language in images than in words and felt a powerful connection and desire to explore that. I was obsessed with coloring books and crayons and couldn’t wait to get home from elementary school to get to drawing and coloring!

Scaredy Cat (2019, acrylic on panel0

All these years later, that passion has carved out a 20 plus year career as an artist, for which I am eternally grateful. Sincerely a dream come true - I wouldn’t rather be anything else! My work is my most precious companion as I walk through this life, it has been there for me every step of the way. Art doesn’t judge, it doesn’t criticize - it only asks that I show up authentically and express my truth, whatever form that takes - and I am dedicated to doing just that.

I hope that other’s will find truth and humanness in my work, and maybe a bit of themselves too. As this is the magic of art…

Join my email list!!

Hello all!! I advertise & rely heavily on my social media accounts (@brandimilne on IG, Facebook & Twitter, on Tik Tok too, but I havent posted yet!) to reach you~ my lovely audience & supportive fans! I realize it’s imperative that I continue building my email list as well as diversify my advertising to reach you. I’d love to gather your email to add to the list! Please shoot me a quick email to receive all my special offers & print releases!! I do appreciate your interest & continued support!! Thank you for visiting my site & participating in my art world!! Come back soon!

Once Upon A Quiet Kingdom

Hello All!!  I've just finished all my work for my show Once Upon A Quiet Kingdom!!  Show opens Saturday August 19th from 7pm-11pm at Corey Helford Gallery in downtown Los Angeles.  I'm so very excited to present the show I've been working on for so long - come out and party with me people!!

Painting: All The King's Men

Solo Art Exhibition August 19th!!

Hello new blog!!  Exciting things are happening!!  Over the last 3 years I've been working my fingers to the bone on my upcoming solo exhibition which will open August 19th at the Corey Helford Gallery in downtown Los Angeles.  (EVERYONE'S INVITED!!)  With what little time is left before my show opens, the paintings are getting their final touches in my studio and I'm feeling all these feelings!! I'm BEYOND super excited to unveil these works and share them with the world.  They are truly an outpouring of my soul - they're my loves and my babies, my purest expression of life.

Come celebrate with me Saturday August 19th - it's gonna be an art party you won't want to miss!!  (I can't tell you much without spoiling the surprise, but I can tell you there will be candy and art and fun ~ and much much more!)  As I mentioned, EVERYONE'S INVITED, bring all your favorite folks, I want to see your faces!!!  Show opens 7pm-11pm, and is free to the public.  wooop!!   

Who Are We Now?

Hello...

Here we have my newest painting "Who Are We Now?" (acrylic on panel) which will be on exhibition at the Corey Helford Gallery in Los Angeles starting THIS SATURDAY (April 1st) as part of the gallery's Art Collector Starter Kit group show.  The exhibition will showcase all 12"x12" pieces from over 50 artists. 

(***Please contact the gallery for inquiries!)

Who Are We Now?