Gina C Browning was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, and has always tried to create Art in one form or another for as long as she can remember.

She began painting after she won a competition for extra-curricular art classes at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History in 4th Grade. From that point on, she attended continuous art classes at that same museum and at other venues as well, up until the 12th grade. She worked her own way through college and then went on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in August 1979 in Metalcraft and Jewelry from North Texas State University. Her degree plan also included several figure drawing and painting classes. After graduation, all of her energy went into her jewelry and wax carving business for the next 38 years, but in 2017, she decided that she wanted to paint again, and she is enjoying it immensely. She still makes jewelry from time to time, but most of her energy is now spent on painting.

In 11th grade, she won an art scholarship to a private school in Kenosha, Wisconsin, for one year. While at that school, she was blessed to be able to attend a weekly painting class at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Gina prefers to work in acrylics on canvas, but she wrote and illustrated two books whose illustrations were mostly executed in watercolors, pen and ink, and watercolor pencils. The two books are “Moonbeam Dreams” and “Musings, Moments and Misadventures”, published in 2009 and 2011.

Her paintings (and jewelry) have been collected internationally and across the US. She has won numerous awards locally and nationally.

Besides living in Texas and Wisconsin, she has lived in Colorado, Australia (for 16 years), Thailand (for 3 years) and now in North Carolina where she enjoys her rural and very private heavily wooded 8 acres, her husband of 42 years, their 3 dogs, 4 cats, and copious chickens and guinea fowl.

Art is where my heart is, and for me, that place of comfort and security has always been found through creating art. For years, I’ve been using my art to express the depths of my soul: from the colors I choose to the brushstrokes, to every unique tool I use – each painting tells a story. Each piece of artwork is like a journey into my inner world, filled with emotions, feelings, and experiences that have been hidden away – it’s almost magical. My passion for creativity and transparency when connecting with the world has earned me numerous awards and exhibited shows – proving just how powerful art can be. I’m proud to continue pushing myself artistically in order to capture the beauty within our ever-changing world!

Well, how did I get here? I was walking down the street and I met this guy named Edvard Munch and he had a friend named Beckman. We hung out and talked for a while, then I walked further down the street, looked down an alleyway, and saw three people standing there. One was named Rauschenberg, the other guy’s name was Kienholz – and he and his wife were dressed exactly the same. (Why do all these people only wear black?) Later I noticed this Rauschenberg guy just picking up what looked like broken things in the alley and it looked like fun to me. Down the road, I met a guy named DeKooning who introduced me to a couple of other guys named Pollock and Rothko. They sure seemed to bicker with each other a lot, but I could tell nonetheless they were all friends. (I noticed this Pollock guy dressed all in black as well…) Anyway, I still visit these different neighborhoods, depending on what mood I’m in, but I never leave the town of Expressionism. I kind of like it here.

Over the past 20 years, everyone knows that the world has undergone historic changes, which our generation has experienced and witnessed, and which have also made me learn so much more than I have learned in my life. The so-called art comes from life. As an artist, I use my method to present this feeling with a modern and unique expression technique. It is also my feeling and reaction to this reality. I think art is based on the times. Works are the trajectory of an era, and they are worthy of us leaving a mark on this reality. The temperament of splash, impact, coldness, and lushness, accompanied by chaos and flying, creates another Zen image.

Thinking about artistic intent: Some French friends, Francoise Davoine and the late Jean-Max Gaudilliere wrote a book, History Beyond Trauma, subtitled: “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one cannot stay silent.” The Idea: Much outside our internal awareness drives our lives; incessantly shaping our path despite being consciously invisible; unthought knowns insistent upon acknowledgment despite our desire to ignore and even disown them or perhaps simply our failure to have fully registered their significance.

In keeping with this wisdom, he paints, asking that deeper internal territory the foundational question, “What wants to be said.” Or slightly different, “What wants to reveal itself?”

He’s looking for the intricate felt sense that’s trying to find its way to the surface – in words or in paint. It’s a powerful orienting tool, challenging to wield but meaningful and fascinating to explore.

In short:
Whereof Chuck thinks, he paints.
Whereof he paints, he thinks.
And all the while, he strives to articulate both.

Of late, he’s been steering toward a minimalist simplicity, offering a gesture toward a glimpsed vision balancing a contemplative quiet against the loud, intrusive complexity of our current world. Quiet is refreshing.

The paper collages presented here serve as a visual exploration of the theme of childhood, offering a glimpse into the artist’s personal journey and inner world. Drawing inspiration from their own experiences as a dreamer and survivors of war, the collages capture the essence of escapism and imagination that characterized their childhood.

As a child, I found solace and refuge in daydreams, using them as a means to escape the harsh realities of war and destruction. These daydreams provided a sanctuary where I
could temporarily leave behind the chaos and menace of the surroundings, seeking comfort and solace in the world of my imagination.

As an adult, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery and healing, seeking to understand the significance of my dreams through therapy. The process of creating collages mirrors this journey, offering a similar sense of liberation and exploration. Just as dreams provided a means of escape and reflection in childhood, collage allows me to delve into another world, where I can express myself freely and confront my innermost thoughts and emotions.

The collages themselves are imbued with a range of emotions, from wit and irony to contemplation and introspection. They serve as a reflection not only of the artist’s own experiences but also of the broader human condition, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and the interconnectedness of self and others.

Through the medium of collage, the artist invites viewers to join them on a journey of self-discovery and introspection, encouraging them to reflect on their own experiences and perceptions of the world. Each collage is a testament to the power of art to heal, inspire, and provoke thought, offering a window into the artist’s soul and inviting others to explore their own inner landscapes.

I paint scenes from life that are comprised of bits and pieces of things that I see in my daily life. I can see one corner of a garden and then a single flower, and then combine them with other things to make an idealized garden.

My work evokes a great sense of nostalgia and the worlds I paint reflect my unique vision of idealized gardens and scenes from an earlier, simpler time. My paintings are brightly colored and joyful in nature. They are ideal for those who love the natural world and wish to be surrounded by its beauty.

As a neurodivergent woman, I’ve always felt akin to horses –– their vigilance, resilience, and honesty resonate with me in ways that permeate my own ego. I paint them as I’ve experienced them, both in the real world and in my imagination. In my work, I hope to capture them as bright ethereal beings, capable of intense emotional depth and intrinsic curiosity.

Being a horse girl and an artist, I can tell you, if you want to meet the most authentic version of yourself, talk to a horse. They mirror the people around them; they’ll honor your brilliance and call your bluff. They know how to humble and instill bravely instantaneously. Because if you listen closely, these creatures always ask: “What are you feeling and are you brave enough to sit with it?” And that is a question I hope my work asks its viewers as well.

As a contemporary painter and printmaker, I combine contrasting techniques into my pieces with a slight nudge for viewers to look at things differently. Much of my work is autobiographical with hints of humor, history, and time, and I frequently explore duality, class, and characters in an expressive style. When in doubt, I go with my gut, and it is not unusual for me to bring pieces to the brink of disaster before rescuing them. I thrive on experimentation and pushing the boundaries of mediums, and I believe this creates tension and energy in my work, which is vital to me as an artist.