About the Artist
Brenda Orcutt, a Carolina native, painted using traditional brush techniques for many years. It wasn’t until 2008, when she was introduced to oil painting with a palette knife, that Brenda experienced a dramatic shift in her painting style. The artist was inspired by the texture and purity of color that the technique produced.
Essentially self-taught, Brenda attributes nature as one of her most valuable teachers. She has a naturalist biology degree and has always been an outdoor enthusiast. The artist has studied with many leading studio and landscape painters, learning valuable lessons that helped her to develop her own individual style. She particularly enjoys exploring different ways to paint florals, foliage and waterways using her unique contemporary approach.
The artist has been part-owner of a gallery in the past. In 2010 she opened her professional studio, Orcutt Fine Art. She is proud to say that this small business is still going strong.
Brenda enjoys painting outdoors in the Historic District or by the marshes and waterways surrounding Charleston, taking advantage of the area’s coastal sunlight and Lowcountry charm. Her art studio provides workspace for setting up a still life, or experimenting with oil paint and knife.
Signature characteristics of Brenda’s paintings are loose but deliberate palette knife work, strong color, and heavy impasto. The knife lets her use paint strokes to show spontaneity and movement in her work. She paints quickly, alla prima, using texture and bold color to capture her subjects without perfecting form. There is room for viewers to interpret and experience for themselves.
"I've always loved the drama of thickly applied paint, the sculptural quality and the purity of the colors."-- Brenda Orcutt
The artist is inspired by ongoing training opportunities and travels, and service work through the arts allows her to give back to her community. An award-winning artist, Brenda Orcutt has been featured in the Charleston Post & Courier, Art Mag, ArtGuide Magazine, American Art Collector and Informed Collector-Special Edition. Orcutt Fine Art is represented by Edward Dare Gallery on Broad Street in Charleston, SC, and by Sandpiper Gallery on Middle Street in Sullivan’s Island, SC. Her private studio and home gallery is located in Charleston, SC. The artist is experienced with commission work, and follows painting best practices, materials and standards when creating her fine art.
Click here for Charleston Style & Design Fall 2022 Artist Interview and Spread. (pages 50-51, 250-254, 340-341)
