September 2016 – bgarthart.com

From September 2016

Goddess/Surreal Art: Combining Heaven and Earth

I have to say my artwork is not overly sentimental despite my having chosen the title Goddess/Surreal to describe it. I often critique relationships and feelings for example. My sense of humor often shows up, as well as a desire for elegance yes while exaggerating the reach and size of our joints and limbs. Often there is something amiss that one has to think on. Its not altogether obvious but its there. Why isn’t she or he happy?? I feel like I am directly connected with the Dreamtime. My explorations of relationships and body language often tie in with the environment. All of the above makes my work fit with title “Goddess Art.”

Eating Out pen and inky by Bea Garth — “Eating Out” pen and ink by Bea Garth, copyright 2015

My artwork also combines with Surrealism given its sinuous exaggerations and mythic/symbolic imagery and Inner Vision connected with the unknown. I very much believe in Carl Jung’s idea of the Collective Unconscious for instance–and its effect shows in my work.

My work has been influenced by my early exposure to the art of Basque, Celtic and non European peoples while also being married to our contemporary culture and the surrealists of old.

So this all makes it kind of hip and kind of earthy and kind of ethereal combining Heaven and Earth. Is that right? For me its just what I do, although I also try to develop and challenge myself, and thus push the envelope.

I hope you enjoy! And think about buying (or showing) some of my pieces. Shortly I will be connecting this website with my sales page on Fine Art America. You can also contact me directly at bgarthart@gmail.com if you are interested in buying some of my pieces — or showing them in your gallery!

The Mermaid’s Dilemma

I just got my new art biz cards in the mail. I am jazzed! I used this image on it which I call “The Mermaid’s Dilemma” by Bea Garth. I finally completed it late last year. Its based on a coastal Native American myth here in the Northwest. The mermaid princess has fallen in love with a landlubber. As a result the weather changes; it stops raining. Trees are falling and people are beginning to die. Even the ocean water is at an all time low! The whales try to beckon the princess, come home! She needs to return to the sea to be with her own people, but its breaking her heart…

I definitely think of this piece as being related to current day ecological issues.

This piece shows the great ability of gouache on paper to capture subtleties of color and feeling.

If you are interested in buying (or showing) this or other artworks of mine, please let me know at bgarthart@gmail.com.

The Mermaid's Dilemmagouache by Bea Garth — “The Mermaid’s Dilemma” gouache on paper by Bea Garth, copyright 2015

Listening To The Iguanas

I made this pen and ink drawing some years ago for a poetry reading series I was hosting in Los Gatos at Cafe Rouge. I always thought it would make a great painting.

The iguana is whispering something in the guy’s ear. I think maybe he’s listening even though there is a pretty woman sitting next to him looking expectant. Or is she just figuring him out, as in is he really real?? Outside there is an alligator, who seems to know what is going on. Yes really, what is up? Why are you so self protective?? Why look at me and not her?

So many of these drawings I can choose to make paintings from. I am getting pretty excited!

the conundrums of updating my blog

I’ve been having difficulties updating my website and blog. Am hoping I can recover my older blog posts with this entry. Patience is golden! I learned a long time ago…

Devil pen and ink by Bea Garth — “Devil” pen and ink by Bea Garth

To celebrate this possibility, am adding in a pix I did a while back depicting my frustration at the hands of technology, lol! Poor little artist, eh? How dare I try to do what I do without paying all those experts!!

So I’ve been tearing my hair out all day trying to fix this stuff. I think I am close to it! Snark, take that you monsters!!

Or was that him eating me??

Rooster Rock Beach on the Columbia

These photos were taken when we went to Rooster Rock Beach the other day, getting towards sundown. Am enjoying being so close to such a large and beautiful river as the Columbia! Its so big it has islands. Rooster Rock Beach represents one of them–you have to walk out to it, often through shallow water, though we didn’t have to in this particular case since the water was at low tide. My experience previously has mostly been of ocean beaches–even though I often depict river beach scenes in my artwork. Interesting fact, eh? It may be because I was born near the Columbia river and spent time there as an infant and small child…I lived in Portland years ago, but did not spend much time at the beach on the river. Instead I went to Coast. The nice thing about the river in places like this is that the water is warm and not too deep. Makes it fun to swim in.

Bea Garth laughing at Rooster Rock Beach. Photo by Chris Arcus. — Bea Garth laughing at Rooster Rock Beach. Photo by Chris Arcus, copyright 2016.

Panoramic View of Rooster Rock Beach. Photo by Bea Garth, copyright 2016

Picnic at Sundown

I finally finished the pen and ink I shared with you all a few days ago. Its now transformed

with color and a few other additions–though to do it justice I really should do a version of it as a painting on canvas. We had a picnic at the beach last week during sundown, thus the colors and the theme…

I decided to let my natural surrealistic tendencies to come in with more force by adding the Earth Sprite reaching towards the Tree’s all knowing Eye. I almost called this piece “Connected” since that is the energy I was trying to express, how we are connected to the Earth and the Universal Spirit around us.

And yes its mixed media (ink and watercolor pencil and colored pencil) on watercolor paper.

“Music Genie” painting in progress…

This will be one of my first projects I get back to when my studio is done (which should be soon!!): the painting “Music Genie.” I had to quit working on it in order to focus on fixing up our old house to sell and then our move north. The painting was inspired by my boyfriend (now husband). I had made a pen and ink drawing (please see below) and then later decided to make a painting from it. Its all about music and the altered state it inspires. The Genie emanates from out of the music, which really makes sense given my husband’s trance like state when it comes to composing music.

Yes I am now thinking I should call the type of art I do “Magical Realism.” I have long felt a kinship with the art in Mexico and South America for starters, although as said, I also have many other influences too. Feedback on this? Is “Ancient/Modern/Surrealist” better??

Heron About To Take Flight

We saw this grey heron over at Rooster Rock Beach along the Columbia River a few days ago. The sky was magnificent, as was he with his wings unfolding. I felt the bird and I have a connection. It got me thinking of this new phase in my life wherein I am finally released from other obligations and can focus on my art full time again.

Music Genie

This is the pen and ink drawing I did before working on a painting inspired by it last fall. I

made the drawing of my boyfriend (now husband) playing his stringed instruments. A couple of months later he got together to play music with two of his friends. They are still at it and quite amazing, IMHO! I intend to finish the painting once its unpacked. Still setting up my studio in the garage here in Vancouver, but made great progress the other day.

Welcome to Bea Garth’s Ancient/Modern/Surreal Art Blog and Webpages

Dragon's Lair pencil and inkx sepia by Bea Garth copy — “Dragon’s Lair” pencil and ink sepia by Bea Garth

Dear Art Appreciators,

I have been musing about what style it is I exactly have–and have been thinking I should call it: Ancient/Modern/Surreal Art. Or is that just too clumsy?? Perhaps I should just call it Magical Realism?? I need to think on it. My work has never fit into any kind of box, which on the positive side makes it unique. But for purposes of the Internet, I need to find a way to classify what I do to get those who might be interested in my work to have any easy path to my site. So my dilemma dear readers, lol!

Certainly I have been influenced by ancient art from an early age. I was exposed to Native American art here in the Pacific Northwest as well as ancient and indigenous art from around the world as a child. My parents worked as anthropologists when I was very young. In addition I was very much influenced by my great Aunt Lottie’s amazing artwork and rugs she brought back from the Philippines.

I have also been influenced by the early moderns–Picasso, Modigliani, Gaugain, Matisse, Cassat and Kahlo amongst many others.

Further I very much interested in imagery inspired by Carl Jung’s notion of the Collective Unconscious as well as New Age metaphysics such as astrology and the tarot. I tend to focus on feelings expressed in the body language between people and our necessary connection with the Earth and its creatures–including the mythic dimension.

No matter what, I have been going through a major shift, just having moved back to the Pacific Northwest–so I am now setting up my new art studio. I want to continue painting and drawing on canvas and paper. But now, in addition, finally also get back to ceramic sculpture and wall plaques.

My good friend and tarot scholar Christine Payne Towler has also been encouraging me to begin a project of creating a new tarot deck–since, as she says, my work is iconic in nature. I am itching to begin!

Being here by the Columbia Gorge is for me like coming home with its beautiful vistas, abundant trees and wildlife and friendly people. This truly is where my heart is!

New Work in Progress: Picnic Along the Columbia

picnic-along-the-columbia-pen-and-ink — “Picnic Along The Columbia” pen and ink on paper by Bea Garth copyright 2016

We are planning on spending one of the last warm days of summer at the beach along the Columbia tomorrow. In its honor, I just finished working on the black ink part of this drawing. Am thinking of adding color soon!

Addendum: We just got back this evening, and again were stunned by the beauty of the magnificent Columbia Gorge!

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