On the Cover | May 31, 2012
learn about this issue's cover art by Brittany Haakenson
Volume One finds its cover art in a number of ways, from local art shows to random emails to knowing someone who knows someone who knows a great artist. The art always originates from a current or former Chippewa Valley resident. If you'd like to submit cover art, send us a letter.
“Pixie” by Brittany Haakenson
oil on canvas, 24” x 48", 2011Brittany Haakenson“This body of work is drawn from my childhood experience of working on my grandfather’s farm. Using photography is important to capture obscure angles used for my paintings. These photos I have taken also allow me to see the tiny details in the animals and to transform them onto the canvas as I paint. Color and how I apply the paint to the canvas should convince the viewer of its realness and draw them closer in. In this series I considered the relationship that people have with their animals and how animals all have distinct personalities. Through the use of patterns and stylized environments, I created a fantasy world to communicate these distinct personality traits in each piece.” – The Artist
What we were thinking: "The now-famous donkey named Pixie was carefully photographed and painted by Brittany Haakenson, an Art Education student of UW-Stout. Every tiny detail and texture is captured, giving dimension, life, and beauty to her work. Every pattern and color displays the distinct personality in every piece, while every part of our community connects to create the beautiful Chippewa Valley as a whole. The recognizable red barn patterning brings back memories of visiting family, growing up, or riding in a vehicle, staring out the window into the peaceful countryside."
– V1 Designer Katie Wolff
