Native American Art Series...

Darker feathers for my Native American man... I think this painting is finished now - there will be more similar paintings soon. I love portraiture, paint & mixed media. I have Native American heritage & often explore themes of history, culture & heritage in my work as well as strength, the spiritual & emotional / social. I regularly use gold & silver in my fine art work - often representing the unseen...

#nativeamerican #nativeamericanart #portrait #mixedmedia #gold #art #artist #artblog #artblogger #watercolour #portraitseries #insideart #victorian #spiritual #ethereal #artprocess #americanindian #mixedmedia #deity #beautiful #beth_louella_aulton_art #american #firstnation #celebration #history #heritage #culture #unseen #artwork #travel

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

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)

'Adoption'Progress Pictures

Here are some progress pictures of 'Adoption' (100cm x 150cm paint on canvas).  I don't usually change colours whilst painting but the blue wasn't quite working for me.  The painting is a celebration of adoption (physical and spiritual) and I think the warm, ethereal yellow was the right choice in the end.

You can view a higher resolution of the final painting here  

and the same painting plus other artwork on my website 

Painting Identitical Twins

I have nearly finished a portrait of an identical twin, I am painting her twin sister soon.  Painting identical twins is fascinating as the differences in facial features are so minute. As a portrait painter you have to be spot on with accuracy but the precision is so important when painting identical twins, I have to confess that at one point in the early stages the portrait looked more like the other twin! All the facial features are honed and correct now (the portrait definitely looks like the correct person), I just need to finish off the clothing.  Here are some progress pictures, I'll post more photos once completed.    

NEW work - Mountain

I am enjoying experimenting with a range of media. This piece is a self portrait exploring belonging, hopes and dreams. I often use gold and silver in my artwork and wanted to have a gold object as a focal point. I like to show elements of the 'unseen' in my artwork and have focused on the intangible; hopes and dreams. The belonging elements of the image link in with my Native American heritage and are subtly referenced.

Saatchi Art

Mountain 29.7 cm (w) x 42 cm (h) mixed media on paper

NEW Painting: My Brothers

This is a new painting of mine, I think it has to be one of my favourites. It makes me smile and also tearful when I look at it.  It depicts my brother and his tattoo of our deceased brother's name, hence the title 'My Brothers'.

My Brothers paint on canvas 80cm x 60cm

View a larger version and print options at Saatchi Art.

View on my website: www.bethlouella.com 

Adoption

My newest painting:

Adoption  100cm (w) x 150cm (h) paint on canvas

It is about physical and spiritual adoption.

View / buy prints on Saatchi

Lineage

Here is another recent painting. It is a self portrait (not a very flattering one, but then that is not what self portraits are about!).  It is called Lineage, the painting is about heritage, ancestry, what gets passed down to us and what shapes us.  My dreads look like tree branches so I created a 'family tree' / 'tree of life' with the layout of my hair.  The splashes of colour represent different elements being passed down, the things that impact / shape us and the results. The turquoise represents bitter sweet elements and the yellow represents positive elements, such as love, joy and faith. 

Lineage 61cm (w) x 91cm (h) paint on canvas 

View / buy prints on Saatchi

A Nice Surprise

I accidently came across this online...

I'm pleased to have been picked - a nice surprise!

New Portrait - FIT

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

View / buy prints on Saatchi

Here is my documentation of 'Rebecca'...

New Portraits

Here are some new portraits of beautiful sitters...

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

 Rebecca II  46cm (w) x 36cm (h) paint on canvas 

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

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