Artists Statement
I am emotionally drawn to stark landscapes and inspired by the vast spaces existing in unspoiled lands, tall trees, forest views and horizons. I paint expressionist landscapes in acrylic on canvas that evoke a sense of place. They are alive and fresh with unexpected saturated color and resonating with the lustrous texture of the earth. I utilize radiant colors that often create a tension between land and sky.
The process is contemplative. Each work is a place to which I have a connection to. I am inspired by nature and gather my compositions from my extensive travels. I strive to convey a sense of fleeting magic, a moment in time, the elusive quality of the light, the sentiment and all that the stark and beautiful vast landscape evokes. I want the viewer to use the imagery to form a connection to the landscape, a connection to earth and sky. I want them to be inspired to spend time in a different place, to observe, to explore and strengthen their own relationship with the beauty of the never-ending landscape.
Process
The paintings are composed by utilizing simple sketches and photographs gathered from my travels. These reference images depict the vastness of the landscape, they may randomly blur the image, provide compositional references, spark a memory of a place or may be used for color or design ideas. I work on multiple paintings at the same time all in different states of completion. I utilize heavy bodied acrylic paint and begin a piece by applying an under-layer paint color on the canvas. This color may be bright or muted and may not even be detectable in the completed work. Once the under-layer is established I complete a basic compositional line drawing, sketching on top of the under-layer in brown, blue or white paint. Utilizing the line drawing I begin to block out the various sections, the color of the sky, a horizon and the foreground. I continue to build layers of paint, often scratching or rubbing to blend or unveil colors underneath. I adjust the colors as I work to harmonize, contrast or create tension. I may use an impasto medium with a palette knife, mixed media materials glued to the canvas, oil crayon, paint markers or stiff brushes to create rough textures. Generally the resulting lines of the finished work remain simple. The works may be tranquil, dark or nearing abstraction. They may be vibrant or magical with enough expression to reflect on the beauty of the vast and expansive landscape.
Bio
Betz Steichen lives in St. Cloud, Minnesota and is an avid traveler, landscape painter, photo essayist, activist, retired Management Consultant and IT Project Manager. Betz is an active volunteer, providing organizational assistance to Heijeu Arts and has participated in Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) grant review panels and provided event support for The Whit Gallery, Bruno Press and TedX St. Cloud. Betz holds a B.S Art Education from Northern Illinois University and a Master Certificate in Project Management from Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.
Recent Works
Recent Works that are not for sale are displayed on their own page: Recent Works NFS
Works available for sale are displayed on their own page: Shop Works for Sale
Exhibitions
(scheduled) Desert Botanical Garden, Toward 2050, Public Engagement Artwork, Phoenix, Arizona, January - May 2025
Art in Motion Group Show, Holdingford MN, July 2023 Group Show, July 2023
Great River Regional Library, St. Cloud MN, Waite Park Library Solo Exhibition, May - June 2023
The Whit Gallery, St. Cloud MN, Trail Mix, a juried Group Exhibition, 2nd Place Award, November 10-December 10, 2022
Northside Arts Collective (NAC), Minneapolis MN, Heritage Park Group Exhibitions, The Things We Love November 19th, 2015 - February 25th, 2016 and Color, March - May 2015
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