Some quick updates

Hey everyone! I wanted to check in and update you on what's going on lately.  First, I have a new Facebook Art page where you'll be able to catch the most up-to-date new paintings and information on my art shows and whatnot.  I'm excited that my newest painting "Khan" has been included in a juried show at the Quinlan Visual Arts Center that will be running from the end of this month through December.

"Khan"; 36x48 inches; acrylic and oil on canvas



I also have about 8 paintings available at Martin Furniture Company in downtown Gainesville, so if you're in the area go check them out!  I'm booking up Christmas-time commissions, so if you'd like to have me paint or draw a picture of your beloved pets or children (or anything else your heart desires), let me know soon!

And finally, I will be cutting silhouettes at Frames-You-Nique on the Gainesville Square on DECEMBER 1 from 11-4 pm.  Silhouettes are a perfect Christmas present for family members. They're visually stunning and very affordable, and it only takes me 5 minutes to complete!  With framing, each silhouette will be about $35.  Without framing in the store, it's only $25.  The grandparents LOVE these!!

2 of my silhouettes!



Appointment slots are filling up quickly, so call 770-532-7074 to make an appointment. 

That's pretty much it. I have to run and head to a Microbiology class now. 

Have a great Thanksgiving week you guys!!!

XO-
Beth

It's another beautiful fall day

Just some pics from the iPhone on this October Sunday...this is by far my favorite time of the year...Happy day everyone

I'm Still Here!

It's really been awhile this time!...over 2 months. I will have to say that it is a good thing to take some time away from social media once in a while.  I have not had many minutes minutes to spare;  taking an accelerated biology class that met 5 days a week at 8 am, with exams every few days...in addition to the other things going on in my life like my sweet angel Jack (turned 1 on September 24th!!), paintings, work, and trying to squeeze in time to see friends.  I've learned that my life has to be strategically prioritized these days.

My big boy in September.
 

"Falling" 24x30 acrylic on canvas

"October" 2012, 30 x 40, acrylic on canvas

(I'm trying to sell some work right now, and all new paintings (including the above) that you see on my site will be for sale.  If interested, please email me at bhenson25@gmail.com) 

Also thrown into the mix is a new venture with a local company in Gainesville called FloatMobile.  I am working with them and managing their social media presence, focusing currently on Facebook and Twitter.  I am a relative newbie in social media marketing, and have found it very exciting to be involved in the process of a new company gaining a following online. 

That's it for now.  I will be posting some new painting pics and other random thought trains asap. 

Until later peeps,

Beth  ;)

Weekend In the Mountains

This past weekend I was finally able to get away for a much needed few days of relaxation to my grandmother's mountain cabin in North Carolina.  This was Jack's first trip to the place and I was so excited to spend 3 full days of painting, reading, napping, and taking pictures without worrying about a million things.  I actually forgot my phone charger and spent over the half the time with no cell phone, which lent to the feeling of escapism. 

Amongst the naps and reading jags, I also was quite productive with some new collage-paintings inspired by three things I found while spring cleaning the cabin: a 1952 original Life Magazine featuring Ginger Rogers, a 1950 original Sears Roebuck Catalog with illustrations, and an old collection of classical sheet music.  Can you say "collage time"??

These images and texts were perfect for some small panels and so I got to work. Here's my little work station in the corner.  I'm so into Modge Podge.

This is only the beginning of this little series as I have much more material to use!

I also was able to spend plenty of time walking the mountain roads taking pictures.  Of course.

Jack loved the mountains, and we spent much of the time on the front porch listening to the creek and various birds chiming in. 

He also enjoyed some quality floor time after dinner. 

The requisite sink bath following.  Such a happy "little tyke".

That's it for now.  I'm feeling pretty good about things.

Xoxo,
Beth

Wedding Invite Watercolor

I had the honor of being asked to paint a little watercolor for my buddy Amy's wedding invitations.  I'm in the wedding so I was extra excited to do this!  She and Mike are tying the knot in June; it's gonna be a blast. They are such a cute couple!

I am lucky to live just down the street from her, and I get to enjoy this view when we have a cocktail outside! She definitely has one of the best scenic side porches in all of Longstreet Hills. I am loving the ambiance and the uninhibited view of nature!

Anyway, back to the wedding invites.  I think they turned out great.  She will be utilizing the green hydrangeas and chocolate brown in her earthy color palette for the big day. Gorg!  I'll make sure to post pictures after the festivities.

I would love to do more like these in the future.  For inquiries concerning this type of watercolor for your wedding invites, Christmas cards, birth announcements, etc...please email me at bhenson25@gmail.com.

Value Painting with Sarah

Hi everyone! Today I'd like to give you a little insight into one of my painting lessons, and let you peek into my very messy and small art studio.  Yesterday my sweet student Sarah, 13, came by for her second lesson with me, and we were working on value painting.  In a nutshell, value is the lightness/darkness of an object.  For still lifes, I consider it to be the second most important facet of a successful painting, following the accurate rendering (drawing) of the shapes. 

We started with a value scale.  Sarah first made a rich black from Ultramarine Blue+Burnt Umber ( I never use the pre-made black). 

Next she mixed the black with varying degrees of Titanium White, to arrive at a final scale ranging from white through all the light grey values, to mid-tones and into dark values, ending in black.

Next she sketched out the still life onto the canvas paper with vine charcoal. 

We used a simple still life with basic shapes for this value lesson.

While Sarah was working, I asked her lots of questions to get to know her better: artistic interests, likes/dislikes, favorite music so I can make an appropriate playlist for her lessons, favorite subject matter, hobbies, etc...I do this with all my students early on so I can get a feel for their personality as well as plan a schedule of interesting and appropriate lessons for her.  Since no two are alike, I tend to tailor lessons specifically for each individual. 

A gave her a little demonstration of what we were going for with the painting of the objects.  Nothing super-realistic or perfect, but the aim is to match the correct value for each object and its cast shadow.

Sarah's value painting underway, and she's doing a great job!

Usually sometime around the first few lessons, I put together a little starter drawing kit (graphite pencils 2B and 4B, erasers, charcoal sticks, a little sketchpad...) for my students.  For years, I have been saving the paper palettes with dried-up paint, thinking I would somehow use the dried paint in an abstract painting or collage-type piece.  Today I decided I'd make a special paper bag for her kit, and this is the finished product.  I just peeled pieces of paint off the paper palettes and adhered them to the bag with matte-medium in an abstracty pattern.  Cute for art-related gifts!

Until next time! Have a great day!


Xoxo,
Beth

Some New Work

Hello all! I've had alot going on with me lately (but really, who doesn't?). I finally finished up my Masters degree at Brenau last week.  I'm really glad to be putting that chapter behind me. Jack's almost 7 months old now, and is doing so well.  Still hasn't gotten a tooth yet, but he's crawling and almost pulling himself up.  I am amazed every day to witness his little personality emerge; there is a definite willfulness I am starting to recognize (like his mama!).

He absolutely LOVES to be outside.  He is truly in his element when we are at the park, on a stroll, or swinging.

He is absolutely beautiful, and SUCH a happy baby.

 

He has made several little Baby Friends, and Cokey is his bestest.  We call them Jack-n-Cokey (obviously).

He cleans his plate 100% of the time.  With an endless appetite, his current faves are ravioli, eggs and grits, and green beans. So far we do not have a picky eater on our hands.

My little man also had his first Easter Sunday this month, which was so special and sweet this year.  Of course I had to put some bunny ears on him.

What else? As always, I have been working on some art commissions.  The latest:

A tropical-themed mural, about 9 x 12 feet and acrylic, in the bedroom of a 13-year old little girl whose favorite movie is Soul Surfer.

 

This was a major task, and thankfully I had my artistically talented sister Meg to help me with the undertaking.  It took us about 11 hours to finish, and we had fun doing it. 

Here are a couple more pics from different angles.  There does seem to be a slight glare on these photos from the windows.  The family requested 3 sets of footprints in the sand (mama, daddy, and daughter) as well as a butterfly, which has special meaning to them.

 

 

Another recent piece I have just finished ("Xaiden", 11x 14, charcoal on toned paper)

I'll be back soon to post more finished works and photos!  I hope all of you are having a great April.

Xoxo,

Beth

Portraits and other figurative works

As I've stated previously,  I have painted and drawn many portraits throughout the years. One of the best things about my college (SCAD) experience was the specialized track in learning portraiture and figure painting.   I learned so much about the intricate and exponential tonal variations of human skin, the importance of accurate rendering as the basis for any successful portrait, the appropriate use of blurred vs. sharp edges, and so much more.  Portrait and figure painting is truly a lifelong endeavor, and I still have so much to learn.  I need to practice more. I need to draw more. One of the best things you can do to keep your skills sharp is to attend life drawing sessions and work from live models as practice. If you can afford it, take a portrait workshop with a top instructor.  I am also constantly studying the work and career of top figurative artists such as Amy Lind (a classmate of mine at SCAD), Jeremy Lipking, and Casey Baugh, to name a few. 


Here is a sampling of some of the portraits and figure paintings I have done over the years:

"Honeymoon in Bali."  Oil on linen.  2008

Portrait of Dr. Moye, retired president of Lanier Technical College.  Oil on canvas.  2009.

Self-Portrait.  Oil on canvas.  2006.

Oil on canvas.  2006.

"Weslin."  Oil on canvas.  2007.

Portrait of Wendell Starke.  Oil on linen.  2010.

"Alex."  Oil on canvas.  2007.

Linda Ellis's grandchildren.  Pastel on paper.  2007.

The Jackson Boys.  Acrylic on canvas.  48 x 60 inches. 2011.

Thank you for taking the time to come back to my little space here on the interweb! I hope you have enjoyed checking out some of my work through the years.  An artist's education is never really finished and I look forward to improving my skills in 2012, and completing several more portraits I have in progress.  For more information or any questions on my portrait process, feel free to email me! 

-Beth