Feature Wall Artist for August

Welcome to The Glowing Guardians

Presented by Verna Brown at the Courtyard Gallery, Enderby

Hello and thank you so much for visiting the Courtyard Gallery in Enderby! This is a wonderful artist-run space showcasing incredible work by local creatives, and I’m honored to be part of it.

I’m sorry I can’t be here in person to share this series with you face-to-face, but I’d love to tell you a little about The Glowing Guardians.

For over ten years, I’ve painted animals—mostly pet portraits—with a focus on capturing the soul through their eyes and the texture of their fur. I developed a technique using specialized brushes and a choreography of hand, wrist, and arm movements that became second nature. I could almost paint with my eyes closed.

But this series is different.

In 2020, I began experiencing pain and numbness in my fingers and wrists. Eventually, I couldn’t hold a brush without dropping it. I was diagnosed with advanced carpal tunnel syndrome and underwent surgery on both hands. Thankfully, the procedures were successful, and I’ve regained the ability to paint in my original style.

Yet The Glowing Guardians were born during that challenging time—and I’ve chosen to continue creating them in this new style.

As I adapted to my physical limitations, I discovered a different way of painting. I found new brushes, held them differently, and began experimenting with fine linework—what you see in these pieces. As I wrestled with how to bring light and shadow into this new style, I had a realization: I didn’t have to do it the old way. I could create light in a whole new form. Why not? If I was relearning how to paint, why not reinvent how the light lives in the work?

And so, the glowing backlight effect was born—illuminating these wildlife portraits with a radiant energy that feels both mystical and protective. These animals became guardians, glowing with quiet strength.

This series has grown over the past few years, and it continues to evolve. Thank you again for being here. I hope The Glowing Guardians speak to you in the way they’ve spoken to me—through resilience, reinvention, and the enduring beauty of nature.

Warmly,
Verna

Click on the pictures to see full screen