The Art of Caring, St Pancras

Three of my pieces are on display at the Conference Centre Gallery, St Pancras, London until 19th October. This is the second part of the Art of Caring exhibition. Here are the selected pieces that are on display, all of which are connected with the theme of caring - love the concept of this exhibition.

NEW exhibition

Thrilled to find out two of my paintings have been selected by the CARISCC competition for a touring exhibition which will be in London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Leeds. Here are the two selected portraits: 'Koko' and 'Lineage'.

Fine Art Heroes

I am inspired by many artists but these very influential artists are my all time favourites and have played a big role in shaping my work:

FRIDA KAHLO - 1907-1954 (Mexico)

GUSTAV KLIMT - 1862-1918 (Austria)

AMEDIO MODIGLIANI - 1884-1920 (Italy / France)

Small Faces Exhibtion

It has been great being a part of the HUGE Small Faces Exhibition which is made up of LOADS of postcard portraits displayed in the Solent Showcase Gallery in Southampton. There were nearly 600 people at the private view and they expect many, many more to visit the exhibition which is up until 21st April.  It is great seeing so many different mini portraits side by side, especially if you love portraiture like me!

You can take the impressive 360 virtual tour if you wish (you should be able to spot my 'Red Queen' straight away): https://www.solent.ac.uk/360/showcase/s

To see more detailed versions of my postcard portraits and information about them, please click on the Saatchi Art links below:

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Drawing-Spiritual-Boadicea-Green/428253/3479117/view

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Drawing-Self-Portrait-Silver-and-Purple/428253/3478904/view

https://www.saatchiart.com/art/Drawing-Red-Queen/428253/3478715/view

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 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

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 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 

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

Portrait Painting

Portraits are my huge passion! I find a broad range of people inspiring and love the challenge of expressing the unseen.  Here are some of my more recent portraits... (you can view them at www.bethlouella.com and some on Saatchi Art www.saatchiart.com/bethlouella)

Koko 80cm (w) x 60cm (h) paint on canvas 

 Murunga  29cm (w) x 20.5cm (h) paint and ink on paper  

 Peter  46cm (w) x 61cm (h) paint on canvas

Retrospective Sisterhood  (Diptych) 120cm (w) x 80cm (h) paint on canvas with embellishment 

Self Portrait Gold  36cm (w) x 46cm (h) paint on canvas with embellishment

 Self Portrait Red  51cm (w) x 61cm (h) paint on canvas with embellishment

  Spiritual Boadicea I  61cm (w) x 91cm (h) paint on canvas with embellishment