Artist Lela Brunet‘s works exude a type of mystical energy and movement that belongs in mythology and powerful folk tales. She composes this almost-electric energy with bold line patterns, vibrant colors and strong women figures, like on her impressive “Amaterasu” piece. It’s hard not to empowered in some way by these larger-than-life pieces. A recent graduate from Kennesaw State University, Brunet has only recently started pursuing art full-time with her late summer show, Beautiful Echoes, at Kibbee Gallery along with artist Liz Webb, and a nifty collaboration with Orpheus Brewing, a local artisan brewery. She already has plans to expand her work to murals, as she’s a fan of Living Walls and Forward Warrior.
Here, Brunet talks about telling a story through art, what she wants her next collab to be and her favorite drink in the city.
CommonCreativ: How did you end up on this artistic path?
Lela Brunet: I tried a lot of things before I found that art was the ticket. While working on an art education degree at Kennesaw State University, I found that I enjoyed spending my hours in the studio rather than writing lesson plans and teaching. When I was asked to participate in the Atlanta Red Bull’s Canvas Cooler Project last fall and was chosen as one of the fan favorites, I started to take my art-making more seriously. That event put my name out there in the Atlanta scene and led to other art opportunities. Now that I have finished my degree in art education, I am dedicating myself to making art.
CC: Your work uses colors, shapes and textures that often create a sort of tension in the canvas. How did you find your style?
LB: All of the different elements of my work began singularly in previous art pieces. I started to combine them and found that this was becoming my signature style. I’m obsessed with fine details, intricate lines, interesting color combinations and geometric shapes. Each piece I do has these elements, but I am always trying something new, which keeps me interested. One of the most satisfying things about creating art is knowing that it has evolved and that I’m keeping it forward thinking.
CC: You’ve used traditional and not-so-traditional materials, like coffee, in your works. What are your favorite materials to work with?
LB: I do like to experiment with different materials like coffee and wine, but when it comes to my old trusty companions, I have to say I am loyal to my Sharpies and pens. My favorite pen is the Precise V5 extra fine. I will not leave home without one on me.
CC: Tell me about your creative process.
LB: I’ll usually spend a good amount of time visualizing a painting in my mind before I put anything down on paper. My head is where I decide size, composition and concept. Those ideas are then scribbled on a piece of paper in chopped-up sentences. It looks something like…. “girl face, line hair, all red, poppy flower, demon” or “Listen to Warpaint, no eyes, holding arrows.” In the studio, I take those ideas and let them develop on the canvas in an organic way. I don’t do many preliminary sketches. I’m more of a freestyler. I like my work to develop freely without the boundaries of pre-planning.
CC: What inspires you?
LB: What doesn’t inspire?! Ha ha. I find inspiration everywhere, and many times in very unexpected places and moments. I might find myself plotting my next painting when eating dinner out and seeing someone walk by wearing an outfit and suddenly getting an idea by the colors they are wearing or the cut of the jacket; or I’ll be at a concert and the beat of the music and colors of the lights will evoke ideas for a color scheme and pattern. Greek and Japanese mythologies have inspired me as of late. More and more I am finding that I want to tell a story in my art, and mythology helps me do just that.
CC: Tell me about your collaboration with Orpheus Brewing.
LB: Orpheus reached out to me saying they thought my style would be perfect for the label of their newest seasonal beer, Wandering Blues. They’re big into local artists and the art scene in Atlanta. They are very passionate about the beer they put out and telling the story of Orpheus with each beer label. They encouraged me to take the part of story where Orpheus wanders the earth mourning the loss of his wife, singing his blues, and interpret it in my art. It’s been a great collaboration with them, and they helped to create a lot of other opportunities for me in the Atlanta art scene.
CC: That’s great! Any local artists you’d like to collaborate with?
LB: Through Orpheus Brewery I met one of their other beer artists, Molly Rose Freeman. Her mural art blew me away, and I picked her brain about what it takes for an artist to transfer to larger scale murals. I would love to collaborate with her one day on a mural.
CC: How do you promote yourself as an artist?
LB: I try to take every opportunity that comes my way. Making connections and nurturing those connections usually creates other opportunities. Social media goes a long way these days. It has been a way for me to connect with others. I’ve also had great success from just word of mouth and referrals.
CC: What are your favorite places in ATL?
LB: I like going to Kibbee Gallery for opening shows. Hands-down my favorite cocktail in the city is the Bitter Ginger at Double Zero Napoletana. Other favorites are Piedmont Park, The Goat Farm and live music at The Earl.
CC: How about your favorite projects in Atlanta?
LB: I am completely in love with Living Walls. Seeing local and international artists doing these large-scale beauties has me hooked. The same can be said about the Atlanta BeltLine Project and Forward Warrior. I am always blown away by the art these projects put out.
CC: What do you think about Atlanta’s current art scene?
LB: Being so new to the scene, I’ve been told it’s getting bigger and more recognized. I feel like I’m arriving at the perfect time.
CC: What do you see yourself doing next?
LB: I’d like to try my hand at large-scale murals, and to continue to progress and evolve my style and see where that leads.
You can see more of her work on her website.
