This week’s Welcome To Sanford Artist of the Week is popular area watercolor painter Beth Bale. A Sanford resident, Beth is a member of the Sanford Brush & Palette Club, the Chatham Artists Guild and is a signature member of the Watercolor Society of North Carolina. Beth enjoys a dedicated following for her colorful and loose style. She works mostly in watercolor, with occasional forays into acrylics. Beth’s primary subjects are animals and nature and she will also paint murals on commission. Beth is especially skilled at incorporating light and shadow into her works of art.
Beth has won numerous awards and has earned a great deal of public accolades from her exhibits with the Sanford Brush & Palette Club, WSNC and the Chatham Arts Guide. Beth’s work is also frequently on display at venues such as the Temple Theatre and the old Belk Building in downtown Sanford, and at the Joyful Jewel in downtown Pittsboro, where Beth’s show called Something About Spring will continue through the end of April.
Beth considers herself a watercolor naturalist, and her passion for nature and the environment is evident in her life’s work. In addition to her painting, Beth is a caregiver to all types of animals and is also an avid gardener. It’s not uncommon for Beth’s chickens, horses, pets and flowers to find their way into her artwork. In addition to her own personal menagerie, Beth enjoys painting from photos she’s taken at the North Carolina Zoo and other natural settings.
Although she studied art at Georgetown College, Beth feels that much of her skills and style are self-taught. Her efforts are truly an act of love. She comments, “I love the freedom I feel when painting with watercolor while watching the flow of colors onto white paper or clayboard. The way colors interact, merge and change into something new with watercolor fascinates me. The mental challenges of watercolor, and finding their solutions, keep me curious and searching. Some of these have almost spiritual qualities; teaching lessons of letting go, staying present, and working with life’s mistakes. I am forever grateful for eyes that get to see the glorious colors on my palette and for hands that can try to do them justice.”
In addition to offering original artwork and prints for sale, and doing commissioned works, Beth enjoys teaching watercolor painting classes. Her teaching style has been described as fun and encouraging. She’ll be offering classes for beginners and for intermediate painters on Sunday afternoons at the Joyful Jewel on Hillsborough Street in Pittsboro beginning this coming Sunday. You can visit www.bethbale.com or Beth’s Facebook page to see dozens of samples of her work. To learn more about her work, contact Beth directly at [email protected] or 919-323-6146.
Artist of the Week is a feature that is devoted to Sanford’s dynamic arts community and the hundreds of talented individuals who are a part of it. Painters — potters — performing artists — musicians and much more! If you, or someone you know, is deserving of recognition, please click here, or on the Artist of Week badge and fill out a nomination document.
