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C.J. Brown grew up on a farm in northern Illinois which
has played an important part in her appreciation for the
prairie landscape and rural lifestyle. She graduated
with an art degree from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
and following graduation, received a position in a
commercial art studio in Rockford, Illinois where
technical drawings were among her responsibilities. That
training played a great influence in developing her
style of painting which consists of highly detailed,
distinct work. Her interest in the prairie has led her
to create a series of unique pieces featuring prairie
species with insects and wildlife hidden and camouflaged
within the plants.
 She
receives inspiration for her work from the wildflower
and butterfly gardens she has planted outside of her
"barn studio" located on the farm she lives on by DeKalb,
Illinois. Brown is also known for the barns she paints
and her work was featured in the PBS documentary,
"Weathered Secrets" produced by the Smithsonian. She was
also commissioned by the Longaberger Basket Company to
paint the well known Crawford Barn owned by the company.
Having grown up around cattle, C.J. has developed a
passionate interest in painting the various breeds of
beef cattle. She owns an interest in an Angus herd with
her family an is involved with her local Angus
Association. Following several projects painting
Shorthorns, she has gained a special interest in that
breed and recently found herself to be the proud owner
of some Shorthorn heifers!
Her work hangs in the American Angus Hall of Fame, the
Canadian Angus Association, Excel-Beef Division, as well
as other corporate businesses involved in the beef
industry. Her foremost thought though is to create works
in which the viewer can find enjoyment each time they
look at the art piece. |
