Brant with one of his pieces at an art opening
Brant was first introduced to making neon in the 1980s. His cousin Steve was in the sign making business at that time in Knoxville, TN. He demonstrated the method of transforming glass tubes into a glowing light and Brant was hooked. In his own words, “When I first saw it done, I knew I had to do it. It was just something I had to do”.
Brant had always been a creative person: carving canes, designing logos, landscaping, fixing just about anything, and making thoughtful hand-made gifts for family and friends. But NEON, neon was a whole new level of creative challenges and ideas. Brant was inspired, enthusiastic, and went against all odds to make it as an artist with a family. But that didn’t stop him.
Staunchly dedicated to making art (not “open” signs or a martini glass for a bar), Brant found time before and after work to develop the skills he needed to bring his surrealistic ideas to light. In an interview in 1996 he expressed "I feel this is a calling. I have never had any formal art training but I have a certain style and a way I want to go.” Where he was going was uncharted in many ways. He had never seen neon used in the way he was using it. He blended the modern neon with natural wood forms, glass, or agate to create a dynamic conversation between these natural and modern forms. He ventured away from the depiction of reality and into the surreal.
The bombarding table of Brant's shop