Links to my Main Social Media

Keep up to date with my work on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethlouella

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beth_louella_art/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bethlouella_art

Tumblr: https://beth-louella-art.tumblr.com/

Development of Mixed Media Pieces

I have revisited an old mixed media piece and updated it with elements from my more current mixed media work.  Here are the progress pictures.  I am pleased with the outcome and have already started a small series inspired by this piece.

 

NEW series

I'm very excited about this new series, I am not going to say too much now but here are some pictures so far....

Self Portrait From A While Ago

Self portrait from a while ago - my native american heritage coming through! I was doing a lot of metal embellishment on canvas at the time as you can see here. Someone commented they thought I "look prettier in real life" than in this portrait 😂 Have to admit I disagree, this painting is a very close likeness - sure I didn't go for a glamorous pose but then self portraits (generally) aren't about making yourself look attractive but about depicting & expressing yourself, inside & out. Often the artist is the artist's best sitter as they know that face so well & they know everything that goes on inside. For the record, I can & I do create many flattering portraits, but that wasn't what this painting was about 😉

You can check out the full painting and more images on my website: www.bethlouella.com (portraiture - fine art).

#womanhood #feminism #heritage#history #ancestry #nativeamerican #african #kenyan #dreads #emotion#spiritual #faith #culture #multicultural#ethnicity #artist #selfportrait #fridakahlo #painting #portrait #portraiture #art #artblog #artblogger #nuture #familytree #genetics #dreadlocks

Progress Video 'My Brothers'

Progress video of 'My Brothers' painting - it shows my brother & the name of our deceased, adopted brother tattooed on his arm. I love this painting because it celebrates both my brothers, it fills me with a sense of love & warmth.

The painting is 80cm x 60cm, on canvas. Interested in seeing more of my portraits? Check out my website: www.bethlouella.com

Start of 'Deborah' Illustrated Portrait

Start of 'Deborah' illustrated portrait for 'Inspiring Women' series. Deborah was a Jewish Prophetess & Judge of Israel (12th century BC) - a truly awesome & powerful woman from a VERY long time ago!

Want to see more? Check out my website: www.bethida.co.uk The 'Inspiring Women' series so far is under 'commercial & editorial' illustration.

#deborah #prophet #prophetess #jewish #jew #jewishwomen #powerfulwomen #femalehistory #feminism #history #art#illustration #portrait #illustratedportrait #artist #artblog #artblogger #bethlouellaaulton #drawings 

Adoption Photo

Came across this photo of me finishing 'Adoption', a painting that celebrates physical & spiritual adoption. I have a canvas print of this painting on my wall at the mo (much smaller than the original) & I find the regular reminder of awesome love everytime I pass it really inspiring & uplifting.

Progress Video of 'Fit'

Here is a progress video for my painting 'Fit'. My fine art work centres around celebrating people (& places) holistically, not just their physical form. I find people and places inspiring and my work is a response to that which, in turn, inspires & encourages others.


If you want to check out more of my artwork please go to: http://www.bethlouella.com/

Surpasses All

This painting, 'Surpasses All' was recently chosen as a canvas print (a great affordable art option). It's an older work of mine that explores spiritual peace & comfort that doesn't really make sense ("...surpasses all understanding..."*). I have experienced peace & comfort like this in particularly tough times, such as bereavement through suicide. It is hard to depict the unseen but it's something I often try to do in my artwork.

The woman is holding a plant in her bleeding hand, the wind blows her hair obscurring her face and flame like brush strokes rise in the background suggesting hardship and pain. Despite this, the woman exudes peace and calm through her glowing skin, the ethereal gold, her relaxed closed eyes and out stretched hand on her chest. The plant is olive blossom which is a symbol of peace. Original 50cm x 100cm, paint & embellishment on canvas.

If you are interested in a canvas / art paper print, please visit: https://www.saatchiart.com/account/artworks/428253 and/or message me.

* "And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding..." (Philippians 4:7)

Here is my new painting: ‘Mothers’, a self portrait (60 cm x 76 cm paint on canvas with photographs). 

I love the genre of self portraiture and the freedom of expression it brings. I painted the self portrait ‘Mothers’ because I wanted to explore the concept of heritage (physical, cultural, emotional, spiritual) and womanhood.  I have Native American heritage and am connected to Kenyan culture hence the hair style, choker style necklace and wrapped material. The necklace depicts my female family tree, showing the eyes of my mother, mother-in-law, grandmothers, great grandmothers…etc.  I focused on the females in my family tree because of the emphasis on womanhood and the influence mothers have. The pose is unusual; I chose to look at the viewer as if I were looking down to give the impression of strength and power.  I wanted to convey that my heritage and the women/mothers that are part of that heritage, empower me.

You can view this painting on Saatchi Art: http://bit.ly/2q23R5i

Postcard Portraits Exhibition

I created some 'small' portraits for an exhibition in spring.  I have been really enjoying experimenting with watercolour and combining pencil, ink and paint so I decided to use these to create my postcard portraits. I am experimenting with the concept of absence in some of my work (especially pencil work).  As hair is often an identifying feature I have been exploring leaving it blank; I like the aesthetic, that it is a bit unusual and also draws more attention to the face.

 Red Queen

 Self Portrait Silver and Purple

Spiritual Boadicea Green

  

January Work

Happy new year! Over Christmas I have been experimenting with watercolour which has been fun.  I am currently working on some pencil and paint portraits for an exhibition in the spring.

NEW Fine Art Website

My new fine art website is now live! Check it out www.bethlouella.com

New website on the way...

Soon my new website will be launched! 

For now, I created an additional online portfolio using portfoliobox (I would highly recommend using them). You can check mine out at: 

www.bethlouella.portfoliobox.net

Below the Surface...

‘Below the Surface’ is a body of work consisting of portraits created with hard pencil, ink and paint.  The paint is expressive, depicting elements of the subject’s character.  Here is one of the portraits, there are more to come!

Woman Yellow 29.7cm (w) x 42cm (h) pencil, ink and paint on paper

View / buy prints on Saatchi

WhatIsItToBeHuman

The WhatIsItToBeHuman year long touring exhibition is drawing to an end. They calculate over 10,000 people have visited the exhibition which is great. I am really pleased to have had 'Retrospective Sisterhood' selected for the exhibition and the organisers have been fantastic.

The exhibition from the WhatIsItToBeHuman website.

This is an old London exhibition advertising image - I think it is pretty clever (and fun), 

I am on the right, under the painted man's feet.

New Portrait - FIT

Fit  36cm (w) x 46cm (h) paint on canvas 

View / buy prints on Saatchi

Here is my documentation of 'Rebecca'...

New Artwork

I am excited about some new portraits... I was in London sketching and photographing models / sitters with amazing hair at the weekend.  I'm really looking forward to creating the final pieces.  I plan to document my process (something I don't usually do) so look out for some videos!

From Retrospective Sisterhood (Diptych)

Contemporary Art Response to Dramatic Charity Event

I ‘documented’ a hairdresser losing her hair through three large paintings on canvas (The Gift I, II, and III).  

Reading based Hairdresser Mel, had her long, multi-coloured hair shaved off publicly in her Salon to raise awareness of human sex trafficking and to raise money for a charity supporting victims.  The three vibrant paintings depict different stages of the event and the changing atmosphere.  

Fellow hairdressers wept as Mel had the last of her hair removed; her sacrificial ‘gift’ was a touching act to witness.  25% of profits from sales of prints and the paintings are donated to The Mustard Tree Foundation’s Rahab Project.

The Gift I  91cm (w) x 61cm (h) paint on canvas with embellishment  

 The Gift II  61cm (w) x 91cm (h) paint on canvas with embellishment    

The Gift III  61cm (w) x 91cm (h) paint on canvas with embellishment

For more information about these paintings, please go to www.saatchiart.com/bethlouella