Story Tools
Native Long Islander Candyce Brokaw began painting as a healing tool to cope with the overwhelming shock of rape and abuse. “My artwork created a safe state to release feelings that could not be articulated,” she explains. Since this awakening 15 years ago, Brokaw has never looked back. “I don’t plan a drawing or painting; it comes from within my internal world,” she says.
Completely self-taught, she doesn’t work with a brush, but instead uses squeeze tubes of acrylic paints to create a series of dots or lines and applies markers and pens as well. Each piece contains intricate detail and imagery. Says Brokaw, “Characters sometimes resemble family members, as well as animals and creatures that are surrogates assuming peoples’ identities.”
Jerry Ashton, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 09:39 AMAs a fortunate "discoverer" (and now collector) of Candyce's works, I can vouch for everything described above...and more. Her art is unique and compelling and absolutely in the realm of the visionary artist.
Lesyle Abbey, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 10:38 AMA motivating story and beautiful art!
David Joel, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 11:25 AMYour article offers good insight. Candyce consistently taps into a very broad range of emotion that at times reveals limitations in the spoken word. She is a uniquely prolific artist who consistently demonstrates that with the security and support, the “safe state” required to articulate life’s more challenging experiences, a healing language and subsequent dialogue can exist to address what might otherwise be considered incommunicable experience. Yes I’m a fan. Good job.
Candyce Brokaw, Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 05:01 PMWOW I am blushing! Your support is greatly appreciated.Thank you so much.
Candyce
Joanne Schenker, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 08:07 AMCandyce, you deserve each and every praise. You're that good!
