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Beth grew up in Vermont as part of a very large family. She went to Windham College in her hometown and Europe studying art and history.
A bad car accident brought her to Melbourne, Florida in 1972. Her injuries kept her from obtaining a job so she opened the “Christmas Cottage” designing for homes and business across Brevard. When she sold her business she took a year to study art and travel Europe again. From 1981 to 2008 she was a State Farm Insurance agent, one of the first female agents in the US. She is now a full time professional artist.
Beth has studied with many artists but the artist that had the most influence on her career is Charles Velek. “I used to pay only $5 to take a continuing education course Charlie taught and sometimes I would show up and sometimes I wouldn’t. Back in the 70’s I had no idea how fortunate I was to study with him. I paid my $5 for a few years. I loved his colors, the way he could make his shadows sing.” Last year a week at the Arrowmont School of Art made her realize that being a professional artist full time was her life long dream and now was the time to do it.
Beth is a member of the Brevard Watercolor Society and the Florida Watercolor Society and is an award winning artist.
Statement:
I have always been an artist even though I made a living doing something else. I look at everything in life as though I was going to paint it. Shadows, colors, subject matter, how can I kick that up a notch? I love painting from nature and studying how sunlight and colors are really a combination of interacting abstract shapes making a beautiful object.
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