Brooks Brown

A note from Brooks Brown:

My goal in retiring here was to spend my full time dedicated to creating art in and around Aiken, to be with horses either with the Great Oak Theraputic Riding Center or on the sides of the road, and to put my artographs in the Aiken Center for the Arts exhibits.

I like being surrounded by horses, equestrian eventing, and polo riders that afford me the opportunity to use my iPhone to capture their beauty wherever I see them. I love being in the moment where it’s me, my iPhone in hand, with a horse, or nature, gardens or flowers or rolling hills on country farms, and endless landscapes where I can render what my artistic eye captures onto canvas or fabric as I always wanted to have happen. I have arrived and feel lucky that Aiken has welcomed me here so openly!

Brooks Brown | Photo Of The Month | Palmetto Bella

Once Upon a Time Book Club

Editor’s Note: The answers to the questions below were written by 11-year-old Liyla without any help from an adult. What is the book this month? The book The Ravens by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige took me on an adventure like no other. This Book Club is outstanding. It sends you a box with a book and 4 gifts. The gifts go along with the book. The Ravens is a story about sorority girls who are actually witches. Not the green and old warty kind. The girls are divided into 4 groups: water, earth, air, and fire. Vivian and Scarlett are the main characters and are trying to find out

Love Is All That Matters

Our love stories are a testimony to the best part of our lives. My first boyfriend was in my kindergarten class. He came to my house one day and we sat in the garage on a stack of newspapers that were waiting to be recycled. He said, “Let’s kiss on the count of three.” I puckered up and never forgot the thrill of that first kiss. My dad told me that he had kissed 50 women before our mother appeared in his life. I did not really believe that because he was a quiet and reserved man. Even so, I asked dad, “How did you know when you found true

How to Protect Your Energy

Have you found yourself in a bad mood but you can’t pinpoint exactly why you feel that way or where it came from? When that happens, something negative has invaded your energy field or spirit. Let’s talk about some practical ways to protect your energy from negativity. Protect Your Ear Gate What you allow yourself to hear affects your energy. Ever listen to the news and feel fearful afterwards or like the world is coming to an end? Or perhaps you listen to a particular song that triggers certain feelings within you and changes your whole mood? What about listening to salacious gossip? How about hearing the same negativity over

Photo Of The Month | RJ Bednez

This tree has survived three major hurricanes and it continues to stand tall and strong on Jekyll Island in Georgia. This image was taken right after Hurricane Matthew just as high tide was coming in. As I was sitting there looking at its reflection in the water, I couldn’t help but think of a poem called “The Tree.” Look at you standing tall and strong like a god or goddess of the clouds. Can you speak? Maybe the message you carry is of nothing to speak about. You have seen it all; your age can only mean your wisdom is immense. Won’t you tell us of what you have seen,