An Imprint of Darkly Bright
Presenting the artistry of Claire Brandenburg.
A respected artist and author, Claire received a BFA in art and education from the University of New Mexico. A native of the state, she lives in Taos with her husband James. Throughout her career, Claire has exhibited her award-winning artwork in galleries and museums. Since 2002, Brandenburg has authored and illustrated nine children’s books. In 2015, she founded Little Candle Press as a platform for exploring mystery and wonder.
In regards to her work in children’s literature:
“I find life in describing. Every word is unique and has shades of meaning. It gives me joy to find the perfect word that describe as nearly as possible a picture that is in my mind.”
As both a painter and author:
“I have always been a painter and see things in images. One day I realized that pictures are not enough. I needed words to go with them. It seems important to share the ideas that are connected to the art. There is a challenge in expressing feeling and the meanings that circulate around them. There is also mystery in working with images and words. God supplies thoughts that I would not have been able to express or see initially. He provides angles that change meanings to be more powerful. His Mystery is full of surprises and so the work that I do feeds me with His Grace. I like making things with my hands as well, jewelry, especially crosses, and the feel of paper…little scraps of things that are full of surprises. Different mediums are like words, each having its nuance of presentation.”
Concerning the Little Candle imprint:
“I have books that have been in my files for some time. Some are really alive to me and will be published through Little Candle Press. I would also like to include the work of young authors and illustrators whose stories center on the elements of wonder and mystery.”
Art by Brandenburg
Books by Brandenburg from Darkly Bright/Little Candle:
Explore Claire Brandenburg’s Bibliography:
Bigger than a Button, Gently Worded Books, Santa Fe, NM, 2002, Hard cover, (Illustration)
Daniel and the Lion, Conciliar Press, Ben Lomond, CA, 2002, Paperback, (Author/Illustration)
The Monk Who Grew Prayer, Conciliar Press, Ben Lomond, CA, 2002, Paperback, (Author/Illustration)
To Plant a Cross, (The Story of St. Kosmas Aitolos Who Fought a War with Words), by Angeline Eliakopoulos, Destro Publishers, Chicago, IL, 2002, Paperback, (Illustration)
Under the Grapevine, by Chrissi Hart, Conciliar Press, Ben Lomond, CA 2006, Hard cover, (Illustration)
Song of the Talanton, Conciliar Press, Ben Lomond, CA 2007, Paperback with CD, (Author/Illustration)
Combating Loneliness through Prayer, The Handmaiden, Vol. 11, No.2, pp18-21, Spring 2007, A publication of Conciliar Press.
The Tumbled Stone, New Varatec Publishing, Protection of the Holy Virgin Monastery, Lake George, CO 2009, Hard cover, (Writing and Illustration)
The Cow Jumped over the Moon, Little Candle Press, Taos, NM 87571, 2017, Small format, Paperback (Illustration)
South & East, Little Candle Press, Taos, NM 87571, Hard cover, 2018 (Writing and Illustration)
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