Chris Brandell: Painting Love Through Intuition
Chris Brandell is not just an abstract artist; she’s a storyteller of love, energy, and presence. Known for her large-scale minimalist compositions, Chris creates work that feels at once intimate and expansive—paintings that speak without words, inviting viewers to connect in their own way.
Her art is deeply informed by her surroundings. Living near the ocean, Chris often gathers inspiration from simple, organic items—shells, driftwood, fragments of concrete, or even wire she discovers near her studio. These objects aren’t literally placed on the canvas but instead inform the textures, palettes, and energy of her work. She also draws from words, poetry, and music—translating the energy of a line of verse or lyric into strokes and marks that become timeless.
At the heart of her process is intuition. Chris doesn’t approach the canvas with a rigid plan. Instead, she steps into her studio, grounds herself, and allows her body and spirit to lead. Sometimes this even means blindfolding herself to silence the thinking mind and let her intuition take over. The results are artworks that embody flow and truth—pieces that, as Chris says, are discovered rather than designed.
Painting About Love
While her practice is rooted in abstraction, Chris’s subject is always love. Not only romantic love, but also self-love, platonic love, and the spiritual love that exists in every aspect of life. She often speaks of “divine perfection”—the belief that love is the ultimate force connecting us all—and channels that essence onto canvas.
Her mantra is simple yet powerful: Do what you love and forget the rest. Every painting is an expression of that truth, a reminder to live authentically and create from the heart.
A Wake-Up Call
Chris’s path to becoming a full-time artist was not straightforward. For years, she built a career in business, working successfully in Washington, D.C. But a near-fatal car accident changed everything.
She recalls the moment a dump truck slammed into her car, crumpling it beyond recognition. Miraculously, she walked away. But in the aftermath, she realised she’d been given a second chance—a wake-up call to live her true purpose.
“I thought, what am I doing with my life? I nearly lost it, and yet I’ve always known I wanted to be an artist. From that day on, I decided it wasn’t going to be some far-off dream. I was going to live it now.”
Soon after, she sold her business, moved to Florida, and committed to painting full time.
The Courage to Evolve
Transitioning from the business world to life as a full-time artist wasn’t without challenges. Chris admits it took courage to let go of old identities and embrace new ways of creating.
“I used to plan and overthink my art. Now, I know the best work happens when I don’t think—when I let intuition and presence guide me. It was uncomfortable at first, but it’s where the truth lies.”
This shift not only changed her art but also her life. It required releasing friendships that no longer aligned and stepping into a more authentic version of herself. Today, she paints not to impress or prove, but to channel love and connection into the world.
Balance, Presence, and Wellbeing
For Chris, creativity is inseparable from wellbeing. To sustain her practice, she prioritises balance: fitness, healthy eating, sleep, meditation, beach walks, and time with friends. These rituals keep her grounded and present—two states essential to creating work that resonates with truth and energy.
She describes her studio practice as a dialogue between body, spirit, and canvas. Music plays a role too, sometimes providing peace, other times distracting the thinking mind just enough to allow intuition to flow freely.
The Challenge of Showing Up
Like many artists of her generation, social media has been both a blessing and a hurdle. While it connects her with collectors and gives her work global reach, Chris admits she struggles with the performative side of being online.
“I love sharing the story of a painting. But I find it hard to show myself. My art is how I show up in the world—that’s where my truth is.”
Even so, she’s built a loyal following and continues to share in ways that feel authentic, focusing on the art itself rather than the noise.
What’s Next
Chris is currently working on a coffee table book that will combine her artwork with her writing, exploring themes of intuition, love, and creativity. Slated for release in 2026, it will include both well-loved pieces and previously unseen works from her private collection. She is also planning a solo exhibition in Florida and exploring new gallery representation on the East Coast.
A Life in Love and Purpose
If there’s one lesson Chris wishes she’d learned earlier, it’s this: Love what you do and forget the rest.
Her work, her journey, and her life are testaments to that truth. Each canvas is not just a painting, but an invitation – to feel, to connect, and to remember that love exists in every space if we’re open to it.
