Hello I’m Britta the artist

A Journey Through Art: From Florence to Brooks and Beyond

As an artist, my journey began with a deep fascination for light, texture, and form—elements that drive the way I view the world and create my work. This path led me to two pivotal places that have shaped me, not only as a photographer but as a painter: Florence, Italy, and the Brooks Institute of Photography.

Studying in Florence: The Renaissance Reawakening

Florence is a city where art breathes through the walls, where every corner holds remnants of Renaissance beauty. I had the privilege of studying in this historic cradle of art, where the works of masters like Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci aren’t just in textbooks but part of daily life. Walking the same cobbled streets where they once roamed, I felt connected to a long lineage of creators, and it pushed me to develop a deeper understanding of form and composition.

Florence isn’t just about its past; it’s about learning how to see the world as these artists did, not only through my camera lens but also on canvas. Here, I refined my ability to interpret light, a skill essential to both photography and painting. The city’s ever-changing skies, its soft, diffused light, and even the dramatic shadows cast on ancient stone provided endless inspiration. My time in Florence was a turning point, awakening my desire to not just capture moments but to create them from scratch in other mediums.

Brooks Institute: A Foundation in Photography

Following my time in Italy, I pursued a B.A. in Photography from the Brooks Institute of Photography, a renowned school known for cultivating technical mastery and creative expression. Brooks gave me the discipline to experiment with new angles and perspectives while grounding me in the technical precision needed for professional photography.

Photography, for me, is more than a medium—it’s a way of seeing. Learning at Brooks was a process of shaping my vision, allowing me to explore and refine my style, whether through portraits, landscapes, or fine art photography. I learned to manipulate light in ways that felt painterly, often blending the principles of classical painting into my photographic work. My goal is always to tell a story, to capture emotion, and to make the viewer feel as if they are stepping into the frame.

The Painter’s Palette: Oils, Acrylics, and Watercolors

Though photography is my foundation, my love for painting runs just as deep. Painting allows me to dive into a more tactile and immersive creative process. Each medium—oil, acrylic, and watercolor—offers a different way to express the world as I see it.

Oil paints, with their rich, buttery texture and slow drying time, give me the chance to build layers, creating depth and subtle transitions in tone. I love the way I can manipulate oils to create soft, glowing light reminiscent of the great masters of Florence.

Acrylics, on the other hand, bring out the experimental side of me. Their quick drying time and versatility let me work in fast, expressive strokes. I can layer textures and bring vibrancy to my work that matches the spontaneity I feel when inspired by the beauty around me.

Watercolors are all about capturing fleeting moments. They are delicate, yet unpredictable. The flow of pigment across the page reminds me of the fluidity of time and light, both essential aspects of my photography.

The Intersection of Photography and Painting

For me, photography and painting are deeply intertwined. One informs the other, whether it’s the way light falls across a subject or the careful attention to composition. What I learned from Florence and Brooks are lessons I carry into every piece I create, no matter the medium.

As an artist, my goal is to continually explore the connection between how we see and how we express what we see. Whether I’m behind the camera or standing in front of a canvas, I’m always chasing that perfect moment of understanding, where light, form, and emotion come together.

Art, in all its forms, is a way of communicating the beauty and complexity of the world, and my journey—rooted in the classical beauty of Florence and the technical mastery from Brooks—has allowed me to merge these disciplines into a cohesive and evolving artistic voice.s. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!