Meet Chuck Brenton | Interdisciplinary artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chuck Brenton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chuck, what do you attribute your success to?
My drive to experiment and take risks has a lot to do with my successes as an artist. Working in the art foundry industry for 5 years I saw the same things being done over and over again. Similar techniques, thought processes, and nearly identical finishes. A lot of artists are extremely successful with the standard approach and will continue to be, but for me, it didn’t pull me in, it doesn’t excite me. I didn’t even really have that much interest in casting bronze actually because, for the most part, it’s a permanent solution for an artist who wants to replicate their art permanently from working in oil-based sculpting clay. I had always previously directly sculpted with metal itself (steel & aluminum) and so working with bronze was really a result of where I ended up getting a job after receiving my degree. Of course, by proximity, I got to sculpt with bronze every day, welding and metal chasing other artists’ work for a living while getting to experiment with my own. This lead me to find ways in which it would interest me and to deeply consider what was not being done with the material. Ultimately though, my propensity for risk is what pushed me to execute my vision and innovate what bronze could be as a material in contemporary art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My creative process is deeply immersed in the untamed wilderness of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, drawing inspiration from the inherent structure of habitats and the intricate patterns found within them. Mountainous forms, vibrant colors, and data converge, revealing how I interpret and internalize these captivating environments. Through fieldwork expeditions, I document wildlife species’ behavior using journaling, drawing, and photography. This personal observation is further translated into digital studies that are complemented by technological developments like GPS collar information and satellite imagery which inform areas of study and guide the creation of terrain forms. In my work, data becomes an indispensable medium.

What sets my work apart visually from other bronze sculptures is that I use a color layering system that was developed in conjunction with an industrial paint manufacturer for adherence to polished metal. Over the height of the pandemic, I spent over 9 months perfecting this paint meeting the requirements of being long-lasting, durable, and maintaining a hard edge. The geometric color patterns sit on top of the bronze surface beneath clear coat finishes that are wet-sanded and buffed completely smooth resulting in a deep set-in look similar to vitreous enamel or glass. The style and appearance are unique in sculpture as I approach it from the discipline of painting.

I am excited to be working on some new commissions and larger pieces to end my year and my exhibition that is currently up until August 4th, 2023 at the Center for the Arts, Crested Butte titled “Vibrancies” paired with AZ artist Frank Gonzales. What I’ve learned from working as a professional artist is that you truly need to be obsessed with what you do. At times it is not going to be fun because you’ll have to work harder than most as you have to wear many hats as an artist in today’s world. It is a lot of the time overwhelming to do it all solo but I’ve learned to keep pushing forward. I think it’s very important to explore other interests besides art because you’ll always gain some new insight into a subject or a different perspective but most of all I think as an artist you need to stay weird and don’t compromise your art.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would skip out on the city part and plan a 7-day backpacking trip that would blow their mind.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Before I committed full-time to art, I applied and was accepted into Artworks Center for Contemporary Art in 2019, which is a non-profit art gallery and studio space in Loveland. I wasn’t entirely sure of who I was as an artist when I started but with the support and mentorship from other artists, the staff, and board, I have been able to truly build upon my career as an artist and confidently gain momentum. I am now in my fourth year at ACCA, working out of my studio full-time, and couldn’t have done it without my local art community.

Shout out to Artworks Center of Contemporary Art and all the artists!
https://www.artworksloveland.org/

Website: www.chuckbrenton.com

Instagram: @chuckevbrenton

Image Credits
Nick Deyo on horizontal head shot. Nolan Blunck on Center for the Arts, Crested Butte gallery shots for Vibrancies exhibition. Last 3 studio pics were done by myself so no credit.