(Image: Jessica Kaminski)

Hi, I’m Barbra.

I make things pretty, with a rebellious edge. I’m a color, print and pattern artist that helps people express who they are through my artwork by offering my art on items such as fabrics, wall hangings, stationery and apparel. 

I share inspirational finds that make life more enjoyable, useful art techniques, and my adventures in making art + creative entrepreneurship via my videoblogging show “Prettified“. Print, pattern, surface design and sultry artwork are things that rock my world and I want to share that with others.

After graduating from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design with a BFA in Illustration, I worked in several in-house design departments, creating artwork for products such as party ware, wall art, scrap-booking papers, stickers, and shirt graphics.

After leaving the corporate world, I dug deeper into the surface design and art licensing world and taught myself how to create repeat patterns, which I LOVE to create. I share what I know, because I love to.

Whenever I have something new going on in my life or something cool I think the world needs to know about, I tell peeps who are subscribed to my Museletter.

I am oftentimes a dorky goofball – I mean just look at the photo above? What am I doing there?

I love new food experiences, travel both near + far, dance music and am a singer and hoop dance freak. Check out my line of goods for hoop dancers and circus freaks at www.hooppretty.com, designed by me + my sister, Rachel.

Here’s a bit about my style:

Barbra’s work, as well as her personality, has often been referred to as “sassy”. Her sketchy, playful style and sultry color palettes have been described as “Lolita-esque”. Playing off of her sense of humor, love of quirkiness, and all things clever and fun, her style is sometimes edgy, always pretty, and never takes itself too seriously.

Her art is for those who love color and living a life that defies convention.