Amy Brackenbury

Artist Biography

Living on a 400-acre ranch 40 miles northwest of Ft. Collins, Amy Brackenbury is surrounded by artistic inspiration in the foothills of the Rockies. Brackenbury grew up on this ranch where her family used to raise sheep and cattle. She and her husband, artist Lars Larson, designed and built their hybrid solar abode more than 20 years ago, and it's still a work in progress.

With her numerous interests in addition to painting, there are plenty of other things to keep Brackenbury busy on her ranch, such as putting up hay, fishing, caring for numerous pets, horseback riding, playing the piano, violin and harp, cross-country skiing, gardening, dog sledding, snowmobiling and spending time with her husband and their two daughters. One night a week, guests are invited to Brackenbury's home to view her art, prints and posters, which may be acrylic, oil, watercolor (occasionally with gold-leaf), pastel, mixed media, and also sculpture — whatever strikes her creative chord. Brackenbury continually tries new things, and the path she follows is often landscaped with brilliant color, motion, multiple media and humor. "It's extremely important to me that my basic concept be something new," she says.

An animal lover known for her realistic art, prints and posters of domestic pets, she has recently turned to subjects with more of a contemporary, abstract feeling and brighter palette. Her work can be seen in the book, The Best of Wildlife Art (North Light Books, 1997). Known for joie de vivre, Brackenbury's art is an invitation, as she says, to "view my art and enjoy life with me.”

Amy Brackenbury Art, Prints and Posters Collection