signed, numbered and beautifully embellished
by the artist

Shawn grew up in Birmingham, AL and graduated from Auburn University with a BFA in graphic design. In 1992 he moved to Atlanta, GA to begin his graphic design career. The career lasted all of four years. As a designer, his bent toward illustrative images became apparent. His workspace was covered in paper cut-outs of his bizarre creatures. The logos he designed had faces in them (think Mindspring). Instead of St. Nicholas and Menorahs, his holiday wrapping paper was covered in creatures that formed words. Note cards he designed contained no photography, only wacky elephants and surreal creatures. Eventually, as everyone in his office guessed, Shawn left to become an illustrator. The children’s book, “Austin From Boston” was his first venture & “Timothy From the Coral Sea” his second. Images from the books should be somewhere on this web site. If not, they will be soon.

He then moved into fine art and painting. After experimenting with several mediums, Shawn has settled, for now, using Acrylics on canvas and wood. Occasional he overpaints with oils to add a more deep and translucent effect. His textural backgrounds are painted in a very spontaneous and forceful way. Often washing out areas, sanding down colors, and scratching through the surface of the paint with his grandfather’s ice pick. The whimsical creatures are then added with a layering effect which produces a very rich and modeled look. This is produced by painting one color on top of another, often using up to seven colors to build the shape. After the finishing touches are applied and the painting is varnished, it wakes up, takes a deep breath, and comes to “life”. A finished Brasfield painting is one of excitement and whimsy.

Where does he get his inspiration? Puddles, cracks in the sidewalk, textures on buildings, trees, birds, dogs, pretty much anywhere and from anything. When we’re walking and he stops to look at something on the ground, chances are he didn’t drop anything. Rather, he found the outline of an image he will later use in one of his paintings. The creatures become recognizable, but the colors and shapes are far from anything you’d find in nature.

He loves his two boys like crazy and is often seen playing catch with them in the evening after dinner. His dog Maggie is a feisty terrier who is loyal to him alone. As for me, his wife, I don’t see creatures from outlines in the puddles after a rain, but we somehow manage to communicate anyway.

In Shawn's own words-

“The collectors of my paintings have told me they are drawn to my work because it reflects a light-hearted and whimsical view of life. It gives them a warm feeling and puts a smile in their mind. This is my whole purpose in what I do. I enjoy uplifting people through my creativity and inspiration.”