Brad Hale

I began my love for art watching my dad pencil sketch magnificent horses running in fields on our farm. His ability to capture the emotion of the moment amazed me. I then had the opportunity while in High School to meet my girl friend’s mother, who owned a craft and art studio in the small town we lived in. As I watched her paint scenes of the Amish on slate it intrigued me. She could tell there was something more within my gaze of her work. She asked me to sit with her and paint just a couple free hanging cherries from a tree branch, with much tutoring. She complemented me and convinced me to put the small painting on slate in her store to sell. I laughed of course and did not want to. The painting sold very quickly and I was hooked. I moved from acrylics to oils and finally found my love in the medium of water colors. After several classes I came upon a nationally known master in water colors in my home town of all things. After seeing my work, she chose to spend some time helping me find my inner painting style. I went on to win several awards, then had children. It is important to note that both my daughters have a passion for painting so all my brushes and paints were given to them. That was some 35 years ago.

Like most I fell in love with the Keys over the last 20 years and would come down every year for my other passion (Fishing). A couple of years ago my wife and I decided to make Marathon our home and I soon had some free time. On a fishing trip I took a phone picture of a few birds and soon had that whisper in my ear and tug at my heart to pick up the brushes again. The cobwebs came off very quickly and soon I found myself listening to American Indian flute music and letting the watercolors flow. My goal is to evoke some small personal emotion in the audience as they gaze upon my work. Enjoy!

 

Respectfully submitted,

W. Brad Hale