Barbara please tell us about yourself:

I am Barbara Holt, and I don’t really classify myself as an artist.  I say that because I have never taken a formal art class, and the things I can draw are very simple.

I am a native of North Carolina, USA, and a lifelong educator.  I have an Ed.D. from Duke University.  I retired in 1998 after 12 years of teaching math and 18 years as a college administrator.  I live in Bristol, Tennessee with my husband of 52 years.  We have one son, a beautiful daughter-in-law, and three beautiful granddaughters.  My husband coached high school football for 43 years, and my son is a college football coach. In the fall my time used to be dominated by juggling three schedules: my husband’s, my son’s and the Carolina Panthers. Now it is my son’s team and the Panthers, as my husband is now retired. Occasionally we get to a Duke basketball game.

How do you use Brusho in your art:

A coach’s wife has to be independent and unafraid to tackle (pardon the pun) new things.  I learned much more crafty rather than artistic things over the years, but basketry has been the craft that I have continued.  My mother was a basket maker.  When she got older and began to make fewer baskets, I took non-credit basketry classes at my college starting in the 1990’s.  I felt that someone in the family needed to continue basket making.  A few years ago I learned how to make watercolor paper baskets.  Then I took three classes to perfect my work.

Can you explain how you use Brusho in the creation of your baskets:

I usually use reed, seagrass, wooden parts and cane to make baskets.  A couple of years ago I discovered Brusho online when I saw some photos there.  I was probably searching for examples of Zentangle.  I am in a small group of friends who meet weekly to do Zentangle-type art.  I have not mastered Brusho in the artist sense of creating a painting.  I have mastered how to make beautiful paper with Brusho to weave into my baskets, and that has been very easy.
For paper baskets I use 140 lb cold pressed watercolor paper; and one of or a combination of acrylic paint, Brusho, watercolors, and markers.  I cut strips with a pasta cutter or a straight cut paper shredder. I secure the rims with waxed linen.  I spray or brush on Polycrylic after baskets are completed to give strength.  For Brusho, I spray the Polycrylic.

What advice would you give to other artists:

The advice I would give to a budding artist is to spend as much time as you can doing art that you enjoy.  Try not to let life get in the way of fun.  Free online videos really help to make art easier.