On The Design Boat

Tuesday 9 December 2014

R e a l a n d M y t h i c a l - A n A r t i s t ' s P l a y

Artists's sketch books are a delight to peruse.

They are a window to thought processes, a chronology of artistic evolution; a repository of ideas and inspirations.

The canvases of our featured artist today, Betsy Walton, give one a feel of delving into such a treasure. Walton is a Portland, Oregon based illustrator & painter and her work portrays life in its multi hued mystery. One sees an abundance of motifs and forms in her work.

"Many of my paintings and drawings explore the tension and balance between the mysterious nature of our existence and the objects and environments we find in everyday life. My style is informed by a range of influences including Byzantine icon paintings, American folk art, geometric abstraction, and the work of many contemporary illustrators and painters." Betsy Walton on escapeintolife.com

Betsy's interests include "undersea exploration, psychology, mythmaking, and being in the present moment". littlepaperplanes.com

These interests are reflected in her illustrations which are replete with motifs of marine flora and mythical figures.

Betsy's grasp on color is intense. Her choice of palette captivates the viewer, pulling one into the complex maze of her imagination.

Betsy's work is special - it emanates the sensibility of a child coupled with the depth and grasp of a skilled storyteller.

"I work with a spontaneous approach and few expectations of specific results. I rarely sketch preliminary drawings before diving into a painting, in the belief that the image formed through the painting process itself will be rich, revealing, and vital." Betsy Walton on escapeintolife.com