Here’s a new painting from a pen and ink I did while waiting for an old boyfriend who was at his therapist’s. Am calling it “The Devil’s Lair,” watercolor and ink by Bea Garth.
I like how pen and ink and watercolor really go together. Am thinking of doing more for Clark County Open Studios this November 11th and 12th and beyond!
Here’s what I am working on right now–I am temporarily calling it “Under A Red Sky.”
Its mixed media–ink and colored pencil on parchment paper. I’ll likely tweak it a little, but it is mostly done.
I like the female figure’s dreamy look. I don’t think she really wants to be interrupted!
I have always really enjoyed making pen and inks. I am liking the fact I found a way to make them work with color.
Combining ink with colored pencil is really fun to do–it is so direct! I have found that the parchment paper is a dream compared to many other papers for this kind of treatment.
I am thinking of doing a series of these small 8.5 x 11 inch pieces for the Clark County Open Studios in mid November, and then a show I may have the following month in Portland at an alternative gallery–assuming it all works out. More on that later!
I have been musing about what style is it I exactly have–at first I thought it should be called “Ancient/Modern/Surreal Art.” But now realize “Goddess/Surreal Art” is better. “Goddess” is inclusive of both the ancient past and issues of ecology as well as how we feel and relate. In addition, often the women depicted in my art are powerful in subtle ways (though its not just the women!), thus incorporating both ancient and contemporary feminist values. And Surreal given how much I tend to add extra joints plus combine personal or mythic symbols and unusual environments and color.
Yes it is true, I obsessively focus on feelings expressed in body language. To tell the truth, part of my obsession no doubt is influenced by the fact my mother simply could not read body language at all. I have thus had to learn what body language means on my own. It has not been a given like it is for most people. My art thus helps me figure out what this or that movement or expression means. In so doing I believe it is also helps the viewer since many of us may miss these nuances of expression otherwise.
Both of my parents worked as archaelogists when I was very young. Thus I have been influenced by ancient art from an early age–and certainly its influence shows up in my artwork. I was exposed to Native American art here along the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest as well as ancient and indigenous art from around the world as a child. In addition I was very much influenced by my great Aunt Lottie’s amazing artwork and rugs she brought back from the Philippines.
Further I’m very much interested in imagery inspired by Carl Jung‘s notion of the Collective Unconscious as well as the New Age Arts such as Astrology and the Tarot.
I see the changes beginning everywhere: spontaneous expressions of Love rather than Hate, Renewables rather than robbing the Earth of its finite resources, values of Nurturing the Earth rather than killing off its plants, animals and oceans etc. The thing is that we are all connected.
I believe the Alienated isolated individualist is becoming an Icon of the Past. Of course, the old Paradigm is not going out without making a huge struggle to stay Top Dog. So this is not an easy time. But I believe we are winning on the side of making progressive change simply because we have to in order to survive.
It is my hope my art can make some small difference in helping create this paradigm change by expressing some of these new values while reconnecting with the ancient Goddess in a new and contemporary way, by having the Goddess and the patriarchal God finally begin to work together rather than be at odds.
It is my opinion we simply cannot forget what we have gained through science, technology etc. However we have to temper those gains with the realization we live in a finite world and must learn to take care of it and each other as stewards rather than continue to destroy our world out of greed.
Now finally back in the Northwest, I am focusing on being the full time artist I was meant to be, and was, many moons ago. Though now hopefully, both healthier and wiser.
To keep at it, I will need your support, whether just as a friendly “like ” or note, or a purchase of some of my sinuously expressive Goddess/Surreal art.
If you get a chance, please check out the blog pages as well as the art pages too of course! And feel free to contact me at bgarthart@gmail.com in case you would like to purchase (or show) some of my artwork.
Blessings,
Bea Garth
bgarthart@gmail.com
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.
bgarthart.com 