Leaving a Mark

With art and design, senior Brody Fincher revitalized his campus
By Alex Hartline

photo by shane darby.

Brody Fincher fell in love with art as a child and has pursued it relentlessly since. Currently a senior at Queen City High School, he has made a name for himself on campus through his artwork. 

“Beautiful things always captured my attention, and I was drawn to the subject [of art],” Brody said. He also has several family members who were involved in the arts who helped to encourage his interests. In particular, his mom, who is a painter and interior decorator, has influenced him to grow his art from a hobby to a professional skill. They now work alongside each other to transform spaces with new art and interior design.

Brody’s first professional job was helping to redesign and redecorate the assistant superintendent’s office, located within the Queen City ISD administration building. 

“My mom was hired to paint and revamp the office, and she wanted some works of art from me incorporated,” Brody explained. “[The superintendent] loved it so much, [and] it grew from there.” 

Brody with his mother, Kasi. photo by shane darby.

Soon after, administrators from J.K. Hileman Elementary School reached out to have Brody and his mother transform their basic gray foyer walls into something that would make the students feel excited to be at school. He spent countless hours during the winter break of his sophomore year painting the elementary school foyer to have it completed before students came back for the new year. It wasn’t only the time crunch that kept him determined. “It’s seeing their reactions that drive me to create something they want,” he said. His dedication to his craft has just as much of an effect on the students as the artwork he created for them.

Painting is not the only art form Brody is skilled in. “I love everything design-related, from architecture to fashion, and keep pages upon pages filled with designs that will hopefully one day be a reality,” he said. He also has a love for antiques, reads the classics, and appreciates music of all types, though he’s partial to Julie London and Billie Holiday in particular. He even plays the piano. These other forms of art, he said, inspire his own creative expression. When he’s not holding a pen or paintbrush, he can be found enjoying hot Earl Grey tea in the afternoon or taking his dogs on a walk through the woods in the evening. 

Brody and his mother also revamped the office of Queen City ISD Assistant Superintendent Shannon Henderson-Walker. submitted photo.

Looking to the future, Brody has plans to attend an art institute where he can further pursue his passion for the arts in all their forms. He has certainly left his mark on Queen City ISD and will continue to inspire students who walk past his artwork for years to come. Not only does it create a safe and inviting atmosphere for them, but it also serves as a reminder that the creative arts are for everyone. 

Kaden, Stella, Kasi, Brian, and Brody Fincher on a family vacation in Sunnyside, Florida. submitted photo.

“For anyone younger interested in the arts, I would let them know how important it is to let your personal interests come forward, no matter how odd they seem to others,” Brody said. “Art is not just in a paintbrush touching a canvas, but [it is] in almost everything, from sports to arranging flowers in a vase. You will always find a hidden meaning in everything you see and do, and if you put your heart into it, it is your art.”