Name: Adrienne Brown-David
Artistic Style: I’m all over the map most of the time. I do a lot of portraits in various mediums, some pen and ink, lots of pencil drawings. I guess I’d consider my portraits expressionist and my pen and ink more illustrative.
Hometown: I’m originally from St. Louis, but I consider St. Croix my second home because most of my kids were born there.
How long have you lived in Oxford / Water Valley? We lived in Oxford for seven years and have lived in Water Valley for almost two years.
Early art experience: I’ve always loved to draw. When I was a kid, I’d use broken pieces of brick to draw on the sidewalk. My grandmother would keep her paper bags from the grocery store and that little piece of cardboard that comes in a package of pantyhose for me to draw on. I started taking art classes in middle school and by the time I got to high school I was taking every art class that I could find (photography, painting, furniture design, etc).
Favorite visual artists: One of my favorite artists is Egon Schiele. His work is crazy and beautiful. I’m a HUGE Chuck Close fan. And there’s a Cuban artist named Francisco Nunez who is amazing. Frida Khalo, of course, Kehinde Wiley. It’s hard to nail down one favorite. Kadir Nelson and Chris Van Allsburg are my favorite illustrators. There are lots of artists that I love.
Art school? I spent a year at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Then I realized that I might want to be able to afford to live.
Favorite book or author: I’m really into reference books right now. Nature, botanicals, books with great illustrations about the world around us.
Favorite quotation: “Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” Dr. Seuss
Do you work out of a studio? I have a small studio off my kitchen. I work there maybe half of the time. Otherwise I work in my living room. I feel like I separate myself from my family when I am in the studio and everyone else is in the living room. So my studio time usually happens after everyone else goes to bed.
How many hours to you spend in your studio each day? Well, it depends really. I’m either super productive and am making art nonstop, or I’m doing absolutely nothing for a while.
Most productive hours? 2 am
Favorite project you’ve completed: I’ve done a couple of album covers, which is pretty cool. I’ve done quite a few family portrait illustrations for people all over the country. I’ve enjoyed that one because of people’s response to their little family drawings. Most of my paintings would probably be considered more serious in tone, but the illustrations are more light hearted and fun.
Three ideas you want to explore in art: I guess if I really think about it, my work explores beauty as it relates to race (more specifically colorism), gender, and convention. I’ve never really put a lot of thought into that, but it’s what sticks out to me.
Where can we see some of your art on display? I usually have work at Bozarts Gallery in Water Valley or you can check out my website www.adriennebrown-david.com. There’s always work in my house/studio as well.
Do you have a “day job”? If so, where? I home school my two youngest daughters, so that’s a full time job.
Favorite music/bands: Valerie June is in heavy rotation right now, but my music interests are all over the map from 90s alternative, to French hip hop, to musicals, to They Might be Giants. I might be listening to anything at any given point.
What are some of your other hobbies? I’ve been spending a lot of time with my girls in woods and journaling what we find. I watch, probably, way too much TV. I like to take pictures of things. I crochet sometimes and make dolls/toys.
Where do you hang out in Oxford / Water Valley? I have four kids (who are in a variety of activities), hanging out doesn’t happen often. You’d probably run into me most at the library or grocery store. Or Goodwill. In the Valley, I’m probably on someone’s porch or at BTC eating French fries. My life is pretty low key.
Aspirations: I just want to be peaceful and comfortable. I want my kids to be good people. And to travel, a lot.
Adrienne designed the cover art featured on The Local Voice issue #277. 
