Visual Arts

"Creativity is Contagious, pass it on. . ." - Albert Einstein

Welcome Back !

Welcome back to the 2024-2025 school year! I am excited to begin my 23rd year of teaching and my 5th year at De Soto High School/Middle School. Lots of new changes this year, but changes are good! I welcome a new year filled with exciting possibilities and new experiences.

My summer was filled with new adventures as well. A group of 7 adults and 7 students traveled to Thailand for 12 days. We explored the cities of Bangkok and Chiang Mai and supported a local school by helping plant, prepare and sustain multiple food sources.

What Lies Beneath

Encaustic Art

Encaustic: “What Lies Beneath”

Carissa Brudos

The beauty of wax . . . translucent...sensual...textural...natural...luminous...raw...layered...dimensional…luscious..

soft...warm… transforming and revealing “what lies beneath. ”

Encaustic painting is a technique that involves adding heated beeswax to colored pigments. The liquid is then applied to a surface, usually prepared wood, although canvas and other materials are often used. The term is derived from the Greek, meaning, burning in. Encaustic is a wonderfully versatile medium, and I love the natural beauty of beeswax and the wide range of techniques that can be used to enhance each piece. I am drawn to the way encaustic painting engages my senses—the way that it looks, smells and feels. Color combinations, texture, layering, de-constructing, reconstructing and form are all influenced by the beauty of my surroundings. It is a process of building up and scraping away to reveal what lies beneath the surface.

“What Lies Beneath,” is a collection of work reflecting a moment in time, a memory, a sensation and feeling. My artwork is inspired by the natural journey of discovering the process and qualities of wax. I am inspired by the beauty and sensations I have experienced in the many environments I encounter. I am drawn to organic repetition found in nature, soft edges without hard boundaries. My intention is to share my love of rich, dimensional and mysterious surfaces that fascinate and surprise. Since art lives in my heart, it will continue to evolve with me. I make art because it ignites my passion, and then flies away into the world and brings light to others.

Visit the link below to view the artwork

Mural, Mural on the Wall

Murals make our neighborhoods beautiful! They add color to building walls and streets that would otherwise go unnoticed. This summer, we started planning and preparing for a mural painted on the concrete wall outside the De Soto HS/MS. I worked with a colleague to grid and draw the images on the wall prior to painting. Mrs. Buchner and middle school students, from the Summer on the River, helped to paint the mural a solid color before drawing could begin. De Soto students, teachers and myself have been painting the wall since summer school started. The mural is a visual collaborative project to illustrate our Pirate pride, quality education, and community history. I am proud to support this wonderful opportunity to collaborate with our students, staff and community.

Welcome to ART! 2021-2022

Hello, my name is Carissa Brudos. I am the new visual arts educator at the DeSoto MS/HS. Some of you may already know me as I live in Retreat with my husband, Jason. We moved to Retreat 22 years ago. I have two English Mastiff dogs, Cash and Tugg, who are my gentle giants. Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, creating my artwork and spending time outdoors.

I previously taught art in the School District of La Crosse for the past 19 years. I began teaching at Central High School and Hamilton Elementary. The last 16 years I taught at Summit Environmental School. I am very excited to bring my knowledge and experiences to the DeSoto School District. I look forward to enhancing and strengthening the Visual Arts program and creating valuable relationships with students and community. My previous experiences have taught me the importance of building relationships and making connections. As a professional artist and educator, I know the importance of the arts. The arts challenge us with different points of view, compel us to empathize with “others,” and give us the opportunity to reflect on the human condition. I want to challenge my students to see the importance of the arts in our community, society and world.

“There is a universal need for words, music, dance, and visual art to give expression to the innate urging of the human spirit.” (Eisner, 1987)
Thank you for welcoming me to the school district and I look forward to meeting and seeing you in the school and community.
Artfully Yours,
Carissa Brudos