I finally finished my new painting “Discovering Joy.”
“Discovering Joy,” acrylic on canvas by Bea Garth copyright 2017
My paintings are a lot like dreams where everything gets mixed together–thus the surrealist edge. For me what I am after is an exploration of the unconscious that helps me realize what it is I am feeling and thinking of underneath.
In this case it was and is the joy of experiencing summer after a difficult winter earlier this year. It got me to remember joyful times in the past such as swimming in Mexico when I was seventeen. I remember swimming in the warm waters off of Guaymas and being thrilled by all the fish! And yes I loved being on my own with my sister and enjoying the Latin culture.
I think my trip to Mexico as a teen reminded me of my early childhood when the boy I played with next door had parents who were from Spain. I was in love with their music and dancing and very different approach to life to that of my family. I was sorry when we had to move away.
This painting mixes experiences since quite obviously I am not a red head, nor did I even have a boyfriend at age seventeen except perhaps in my imagination.
I am thinking of visiting Mexico again sometime soon when I get the chance. I bet it will help foster a whole new series of paintings celebrating life!
I am nearly done with this painting. Just needs a bit more shadow and other little fudging. I have had some delays finishing it, but now am on it again. This painting seems to express the dilemma of the feminine principle going through a rebirth in the world. She wants her male counterpart to participate, but is having some trouble getting that point across…
“The Dilemma of Venus” painting in progress by Bea Garth, copyright 2016
Its been a rainy Thanksgiving so far. Plenty of chance for me to work on my painting! Though today I was able to go out for a walk before it started raining again. I wore my poncho just in case!
This painting is changing before my eyes. I am really uncertain what I will call it. How the pillow or rock/Mayan Calendar (!!) turns out will affect it quite a bit, of that I am certain.
Legs Like Vines, painting in progress by Bea Garth copyright 2016
I still have to work on the male figure quite a bit, it needs the definition shadows bring. I also need to finish the edging around the carpet.
And yes I do like the carpet. The rectangles and triangles are subtle but effective. They echo the Calendar symbology nicely.
This piece is kind of blowing my mind, such as it is. Not at all what I expected! But that is the fun of painting for me–I let my unconscious come through and have free reign.
I had a dream last night that suggested I put in roots around in the blue area, but today am uncertain that would be right for this painting. Maybe the next one? Might be too busy and unnecessary. However I will play around with it and see if it could work or not…
I just got started putting the color in. Thought I’d do something a little different, more like what I sometimes did working on clay. Let design have it’s say more and keep it playful.
As you can see, I am not done!
Legs Like Leaves in progress by Bea Garth copyright 2016 acrylic on canvas
I have not worked on the bodies or pillow (except for the sketched in underpainting) or even finished the background. I like the bold design and colors so far however.
I may or may not put any actual leaves into the painting. I’ll be playing around with that concept in my head whether or not I try it.
As you likely can see, the painting is in my studio in the unheated garage next to my kilns. I was working there late tonight all bundled up. The weather is starting to get chillier. Nevertheless, the act of painting seems to keep me warm!! I even took off my coat and hat! Though this time my second sweater stayed on…
I had some excitement today–finally got most of my studio together! Am looking for just a couple more things (my paint pallets and some of my paints etc.) and I should be back at it likely sometime tomorrow. Tonight sitting there, I was feeling a rush of bliss! Fortunately my friend Graeme was able to capture this wonderful moment with my phone camera.
“Bea Garth in newly created art studio with her cat” photo by Graeme Jones, copyright 2016
This after having had a very painful couple of days. I made myself a new table and then tried to move my heavy studio furniture around by myself the other day. Moving the furniture was a big mistake for me. I was in intense pain the last two days. I just am not strong enough to move things like that likely due to my old injury to my L-5 vertebrae and sacrum as a kid. Plus EDS (Ehrlos Danlos Syndrome) as it turns out. It makes me super flexible, but not as strong as I might otherwise be due to having weak joints.
After joining a couple of EDS groups on FB, I have just been learning however how to increase my collagen, which should gradually help strengthen my joints a lot. And some of it is working already, since normally my neck would have been out too, but it wasn’t!! Taking diatomaceous earth and d-ribose appear to be godsends for me.
The other good news here is that I went to see a new chiropractor today who was able to adjust me better than any other chiro I have seen. Turns out she has 5 other EDS patients. So she knows gentle is the way to go.
The fact I am still very flexible at age 67 is why I am usually able to adjust myself using yoga, or my sacro-wedgy, or get Chris to pull on my leg. But it does not always work since sometimes something gets stuck, mainly I think due to that pesky childhood injury.
My plan is to slowly get stronger again. I go for walks almost daily. And do yoga at least every other day. Next I need to use my modified pilates chair again to create more strength. The nice thing is that these days I can do modified push ups and crunches too, when I haven’t gone and hurt myself over again, that is! To be an artist, I have learned, its important to be strong. It just won’t do to have joints etc. that don’t work. Thankfully through persistence and figuring out that I need more silica, plus of course, avoid things like gluten and, in my case, also high histamine, it has really paid off, and will likely just keep getting better.
“The Turtle’s Complaint To Gaia” acrylic on canvas by Bea Garth, copyright 2015
My artwork, as you might be able to tell, has a style that exaggerates but really expresses this EDS condition. I think of how we are often like mermaids and mermen, lol!! It is kind of amazing that I created this style without knowing I had EDS. It just came out of my being. Although of course I discovered my body was super flexible since I can’t remember when.
Now finally after a year of getting our house ready to move, selling it, finding another and moving into it in another state, I can express that flexible sensitivity I have again in my new art studio. I believe I have earned it!!
I am very much looking forward to completing my painting of the “Music Genie”–inspired by my husband (Chris) playing music. Its the painting you can see me sitting next to in the pix above. More on that and lots of other art projects as I go along, eh?
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 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!
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.
“Listening To The Iguanas” pen and ink by Bea Garth, copyright 2016
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!
Yes. The Move from San Jose to Vancouver, WA. Its been quite a ride!
It has altogether actually taken more than a year to do given all the renovations Chris and I did on our house in San Jose plus work I had to do as a property manager for my family (esp. with all the finishing up), then finding a place up north, moving, and then getting at least somewhat settled in. Of course that was only the half of it. We got married too!
“Chris on Couch Exhausted” photo by Bea Garth, copyright 2016
Still more to do in regards to fixing up our new place, especially my art studio… Yes this really is a “work in progress”!!
At least the office upstairs is functional. So here I type! My hours all messed up. Its late now even for the likes of me…
But yes I do love it here in Vancouver. I have never met a sweeter town. I have no desire to complain. Its not likely however I will want to move again. Too much effort! Really hard on the nerves I must say. Better to go on trips, if you get my drift.
Meanwhile, I’m finally going to go to Eugene on Sunday for a poetry reading (Lane Literary Guild) my good friend Joan Dobbie is hosting. Both Chris and I plan to bring some poems for the open mic. It will be wonderful to see Joan again!
I finally finished the pen and ink I shared with you all a few days ago. Its now transformed
“Picnic At Sundown” by Bea Garth, copyright 2016, mixed media
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.
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!
bgarthart.com 