Brenda Cretney

From a very early age Brenda Cretney had a strong interest in art and animals. When she attended college to earn a BS and MS with a math major, then taught elementary school for 30 years, there was no time for painting. In 2002 she began taking lessons from a retired art teacher, Lori Skoog, and others. After learning the basics of watercolor painting, she took workshops from nationally known artists such as John Salminen, Mary Whyte and Mel Stabin.

Having now developed her painting style, Brenda tries to have whatever she paints evoke an emotion from the viewer. If painting an animal, she tries to have the painting show its personality; if painting a landscape, she seeks to have the viewer think of being in a similar place. Not surprisingly, animals are her favorite things to paint. Because animals don’t stand still, Brenda can be found with her camera on farms, country fairs, rodeos, and dog parks, looking for her next painting inspiration.

Brenda has signature membership in the Rochester Art Club, Niagara Frontier Watercolor Society, NY Central Watercolor Society, North East Watercolor Society and Pennsylvania Watercolor Society. Her paintings have been juried into many local, national and international shows, receiving many awards, including some Best of Shows.