Koffee

Renee Reed-Payne is an American costume designer and mixed media artist. Also affectionately known as aka "Koffee"- b.1956 Detroit, MI . Koffee became a costume designer because she saw a need.  She got tired of seeing the children performing Christmas and Easter Pageants in sheets and bathrobes. Koffee mixed media works include "Sand Art" paintings. She happened upon the art form by mixing sand with glue and placed the mixture in a bowl to let dry; the outcome was a beautiful object. Something clicked, "What would happen if I painted with the sand". She took off looking for colored sand, then something clicked again; just buy white sand and tint it with water base or acrylic paint. Koffee is also inspired by the paintings on the walls of Egyptian tombs. While studying their purpose she developed a strong spiritual connection to all Egyptian art and felt a strong desire to contribute to the preservation of these ancient artifacts. Koffee's work is influenced by Harlem Renaissance Artist Lois Mailou Jones. Koffee's goal is to add to the enrichment and understanding of our ancient past and the present.