Congratulations to artist Les Braze, our latest ArtResin winner! A longtime supporter of ArtResin, Les has been creating stunning works with our resin for the past 10 years, earning his place as one of our lifetime artists. A resident of Wauwatosa, WI, just outside, Milwaukee, Les is an expressionistic, naturalistic mixed media artist:
natural scenes. I use discarded window sashes as my 'canvas' placing glass over glass
to create compositions. Lately I’ve found a type of garden trellis that I utilize to make
three season pieces for garden displays."
Does where you're from or where you currently live influence your work?
We live in a house full of art from local artists and friends, and our own creations. Our
yard is all garden beds that provide inspiration, ideas and visual resources for my work.
We have wonderful parks, architecture and green spaces in Milwaukee County. My wife
has a fantastic eye, taking so many incredibly interesting pictures of gardens and
inhabitants providing ideas and subjects on occasion. So yes, where we live does
influence us.
What's your art background?
I grew up taking art every year, summer school and a couple of years of college,
production art. I spent 20 years managing artists for a special events/ trade event
company observing exceptional talents, taking it all in.
Are you a full-time artist or do you create around work hours?
I work full time in addition to gardening and create art in the hours left over!
What do you love about the mediums that you use in your work?
The whole business started with observing window sashes put out at the curbside for
disposal, and me thinking, "what could we do with those? Now friends are letting me know when they see abandoned windows for the taking. I love the color and
transparency of colored glass wherever I can find it. Each type of glass from art glass to
mass production bottle glass has different levels of transparency that create unforeseen
results, sometimes good surprises, sometimes disappointing. ArtResin has provided a safe, stable product that doesn’t discolor. I’ve been using ArtResin for 10 years; I have
yet to have a piece yellow from exposure. That’s a huge plus!
How did you discover resin?
Long ago a couple of artist co-workers were experimenting with resin, I was fascinated.
So, when I was developing my glass-on-glass art it was a natural solution to create the
effect I was envisioning.
How has resin impacted your artwork?
It has made my niche technique possible.
Can you provide a brief rundown of your process?
Briefly, I’ll have an idea, or a really interesting supply of a color glass that just screams
“make something from me!” Using a window sash, I’ll repair and repaint the wood
frame, replacing deteriorating glazing and resealing the glass in the frame (to prevent
epoxy leakage). Then placing the sash flat on my work surface, the glass is my canvas.
I lay out the idea. After I have completed the composition, I mix epoxy and pour the
piece making sure all glass is covered or at least emersed in the Art Resin to
permanently fix it. The depth available in the window sash frame allows the possibility
of adding layers for further depth of color and design. After 24 hours of curing time, I
stand the piece in our east windows and watch how the appearance changes over the
course of the day into night.
Why do you want to make art? What motivates you to create?
I am driven to make the next best colorful piece, to become more skilled, more nuanced
at my niche style, to reproduce ideas in the medium of colored glass. I just enjoy trying
to create pleasing, unusual pieces expressing naturalistic scenes.
Does art help you in other areas of your life?
Making art, experiencing art, provides a different focus, a diversion or distraction from
today’s world, the stresses of work and life in general. We just returned from a trip to
see the John Singer Sargent show at the Met in New York, wonderful, inspirational and
aspirational . Personally, often a couple of hours can disappear after the simple thought
of “I'll just reposition this one piece of glass".
What do you hope someone sees or feels when they look at your art
I hope they see color, light play and feel interested, curious and happy.
How do you define success as an artist? What does that look and feel like for you?Success? First making a piece that makes me happy. Most importantly success is the
excited happiness on people’s faces when they tell me they want to purchase my work
for their homes. Success is happiness when they try to describe how the piece makes
them feel. I buy art, I know that joy. I feel that every piece I make will find its home.
What's your favorite resin tip you'd like to share with our readers?
Making sure the two parts are equal when mixing. No going back if your mix isn’t right.
Self-leveling is a monster if you don’t do your leveling preparation. I found these little
adjustable “platform lifts” that I can support my work and level it before I pour without
disturbing the work.
Where do you sell your work?
Various Milwaukee galleries, Sanger House Gardens, commissions and word of mouth.
Congratulations on your win, Les!
To see more of Les' art:
Visit his website: www.brazebluelight.com
Follow him on Instagram: @lesbraze
Every month, to celebrate our community of artists, ArtResin will send out a 32 oz kit to two lucky people who have shared the work they've created with ArtResin.
ArtResin: Celebrating 10 Years As The Original Epoxy For Resin Art!
