User:Amcdougal/Brenda Kennedy

Brenda Kennedy is an Oklahoma Native artist born in El Reno, Oklahoma. Considering her self primarily a southwestern artist, the subject of her early work was often powwow dancers or individual character studies. In addition to her painting, Kennedy is also an accomplished photographer.

Early Life
Brenda Kennedy was born in [El Reno, Oklahoma] but grew up primarily on her family's farm west of Geary, Oklahoma. Although she had always been interested in art, Kennedy had never considered it as a career from early on in her childhood. Kennedy taught herself to draw by copying pictures out of the dictionary. Her parents discouraged the promotion of the family's Indian heritage due to the rampant racism in Oklahoma at the time. It wasn't until Kennedy was in college and married that she was exposed largely to Indian culture and art.

Brenda attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University with the intention of becoming a writer. She majored in English, journalism, and Spanish. Gradually, she found that art was taking over her life though she did not formally study art at the university.

Career
Kennedy attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University where she studied to be a writer. Taking a large class load and working through the summers, Kennedy graduated at nineteen years old. She met her husband at the university and the two started going to art museums together frequently. Kenny was aware of her talent for drawing an encouraged her to pursue a career with art. In the mid 1970s, Kennedy joined the Muskogee Art Guild. Muskogee art guild (mid 70s)