Brandon has always been interested in art, starting at the young age of five.
“I was really intrigued by taking my coloring books, setting them aside, and trying to draw what was on the table,” Brandon explained. “I never colored in my coloring books. I wanted to mimic the drawings and put my own spin on them. My first one was Lion King.”
By the time he was 10, Brandon’s style and technique evolved.
“I started using more lines. I began paying more attention to what I was drawing, creating an underground comic book vibe,” Brandon said. “I have ADHD, but when I do art, I am doing something calm. My doodling was acting as an outlet for my brain.”
Brandon attends Goodwill’s Art Studio & Gallery twice per week, on Mondays and Fridays.
“There are so many great things about Goodwill, especially the staff. They are patient, kind, and loving. They are like family,” Brandon said. “There are a lot more of us artists than there are of them, but they are very attentive and make you feel like you are home.”
Outside of the Studio, Brandon is an outpatient at Leora, a mental health and addiction treatment center.
“I accomplished my goal of sobriety, so now I participate in mental health classes there,” Brandon said. “They teach me how to manage my mental health, which goes hand-in-hand with addiction. I wish I could have found the Goodwill Art Studio & Gallery sooner, because it has been instrumental to my healing, but it was worth the wait,” Brandon said.
Brandon typically works with graphite, pen, and colored pencils but has recently started exploring with decorative mask making.
“I have learned a lot of different techniques over the years, mostly through trial and error,” Brandon said. “I don’t think too much about my art; I just do it. Art can take many different forms – it can be music, it can be dance. Find what you love, and when you do, don’t ever let go of it.”
