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Rushing through math everyday so he could resume doodling and drawing, Kirt Graham Brown, was happy and contented knowing that when he grew up, he would be an artist. His pictures, typically drawn in his favorite color of green, could be found hanging in every nook and cranny of the family home.

Kirt comes from a family that has a history of artists. His Great Grandmother and Grandmother were both artists as well as his youngest sister. Growing up in Salt Lake City, in a family with strong family values, Kirt happily recalls family time spent camping, fishing and playing games with one another.

In the fourth grade, Kirt had a teacher who strongly encouraged him, despite his very young age, to keep his aspiration of becoming an artist. From that time on, he had many mentors. One of those was a junior high school instructor, who was so talented, that she inspired him. During his high school years, he followed many interests. In his senior year, he was Class President and Captain of the swim team, in addition to being voted MVP. Realization of how difficult the road to becoming an artist would be for him did not dampen his enthusiasm to follow his dream.

Because of the leadership skills he had exhibited in high school and academic excellence, Kirt won two scholarships allowing him, additionally, the freedom to marry his high school sweetheart after his freshman year in college. Kirt worked full time and attended school full time. His wife also held a job and took care the family they had started. In his senior year, Kirt won an Excellence in Printmaking Award, thus enabling him to finance a one-man show, which he held before graduating in 1993 from Brigham Young University with a BFA.

Having majored in art with an emphasis in printmaking, Kirt continued to refine his drawing ability. Throughout his college years, his instructors had recognized Kirt's abilities as a colorist and in the drawing media. Very comfortable with the drawing process, he, nonetheless, held a fear of the paintbrush because he felt it was so unforgiving.

After graduation and after the short time that he worked in printmaking, Kirt realized an artist's dream. Stumbling in, off the street, portfolio in hand, Kirt was hired by Rosenbaum. Unaware that he had "brush-aphobia," he was immediately immersed into painting. Kirt quickly became enamored with the technique he had previously feared " It was a wonderful, educational process, and there is a learning curve everyday with paint," he says.

Interiors and whimsical fish were what Kirt first painted. Now he is known for landscapes, many of them Italian. Memories of Utah and the land surrounding his parent's cabin also influence much of the art he does. First painting with oils and now with acrylics on paper or canvas, he loves acrylics. He says, "Painting with oils is too much like washing dishes." The immediate affect of acrylics is very appealing to Kirt, yet, with them he can achieve the same beautiful luminous and vibrant look as he could with oils. He layers colors rather than mixing and builds the surfaces. He says of his contemporary landscapes that they are peaceful and his hope is that they exude that quality.

Paul Cezanne is one of the artists that Kirt especially enjoys. He feels that Cezanne truly understands color and how to use it. Another artist whose work he likes is, Alberto Giacometti. Although, Giacometti is better known for his sculptures, it is his sketches that attracted Kirt's attention.

Kirt is now a father of four and very busy with his own family. Similar in many ways, to his own childhood, he and his wife promote strong family ties and spend a lot of free time camping, fishing and playing games. Kirt is a Boy Scout leader, and when he has time, he plays basketball with friends. He also likes to garden, cook and is interested in computers. Of his cooking, he says he thinks of it as "mixing paint."

In addition to being an artist, Kirt is also an Art Director at Rosenbaum. Because of that, he has the opportunity to see all of the artist's work and share in choosing the direction they follow. Surprised and delighted that he can actually support himself and his family as an artist, Kirt is very pleased to be at Rosenbaum.

Ultimately, Kirt loves to make art and is glad that he can do it. He covers the gamut from painting very small images to large murals. The freedom to paint whatever he chooses gives him a great deal of pleasure. Great art is his goal, and the opportunity to perfect his skills everyday is exactly where he wants to be.

KIRTBROWN