| The
workshops, entitled “Drawing On the Light Side of the Brain”
©, have been introduced into hundreds of schools and holiday programmes,
several prisons, numerous libraries & art galleries and more recently
(since 1996) into the corporate sector. Here, they have been very successful
as innovative and fun tools for teambuilding, development and stress relief.
Describing cartooning as a “tool for visual humour & international
communication”, Brent has worked extensively with trainers, facilitators,
teachers & presenters; showing them how this popular art-form can enhance
their own training and presentations. Brent has spent the last
couple of years teaching art to people with both physical and intellectual
disabilities, and also children autism. His workshops have been very well received in numerous retirement
homes he has visited. And he has also started working with “at risk”
children and teenagers.
When not teaching and facilitating his unique workshops, Brent enjoys
performing a combination of live comedy, cartooning, storytelling and
original poetry. He has written, directed and starred in three Fringe
Festival stage shows in Wellington. “Icarus Had It Easy” at
Bats Theatre in 1996; “The Garden Warrior’s Apprentice”
at the National Library Auditorium in 1999 and most recently “Like
Dr. Seuss on Steroids” at Turnbull House in 2002. In September of
2004, Brent brought together (and directed) a wide range of performers
for a variety stage-show, entitled "Inner Constellations". This
made its debut at the Soundings Theatre - Te Papa (14-16 Sept). He is
currently "re-working" elements of this show, that he hopes
to further tour into schools, theatres and retirement homes throughout
New Zealand during 2006. And (eventually) to overseas Fringe Festivals
as well.
Over the last twenty years, Brent has also produced four limited edition
books of original poetry & cartoons. These have been very popular
with both kids and adults, their reactions and feedback giving him more
subject matter to work into his live performances. He recently released
a limited series of cartoon greetings cards, which are selling well.
And also during 2004, Brent released a CD of original prose & poetry
(a collaboration with Wellington musician & composer 'Twenty-Two'),
based on subject matter from his Te Papa stageshow. This has attracted
a lot more attention in his writing, both here and overseas.
Brent has been exhibiting his colourful paintings (seascapes & cartoons,
influenced heavily by a Van Gogh exhibition he visited in 1993) throughout
Aotearoa since leaving art school in the early 90's. One of the highlights
of his career (as a visual artist) has been working on a group mural project
at the City Gallery (in Wellington) in early 2001.
In 2005 Brent went on a life-changing trip to South America. While there
he did some teaching and lots of drawing. And the future? Brent is currently
working on an 'instructional DVD' (on cartooning, for kids) to be sold
early next year… And a book of poetry & cartoons (to be published
in Portugese) for the Brazillian market... He is also looking forward
to releasing a collection of children's books, bringing together a blend
of autobiography, prose and cartoon. The first of these is loosely based
on his adventures in Brazil.
Since May 2008, Brent has relocated to Australia. Over the last three years he has continued to work with a diverse range of people. Everywhere from teaching animation students at TAFE (how to do storyboarding) through to working with street kids at OASIS Youth Centre in Surry Hills, Sydney.
Brent also has been very busy creating and exhibiting his work in various solo and group shows throughout Sydney. And he continues to be sought after by many organisations and companies as an entertainer. From May to December 2010, he was hired by the Westpac Bank in Newtown to provide entertainment for their customers and visitors. He has also worked at several high profile conferences. Brent was also very popular drawing cartoons earlier this year at the Illawarra Folk Festival.
In June of 2011, Brent has decided to move his base of operation to Melbourne.
"To send light into the darkness
of men's hearts
—such is the duty of the artist!!"
[Robert Schumann.]
RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE
BACK
|
