The start of my Art story...

When i left High school in May 2012 i had little plans. I knew i didn't want to go to University, and i didn't want to continue with education for the time being.

It was then that i found myself picking up a paint brush, blowing the dust off my acrylic paints and get a canvas out. I painted for the first time in 2 years. In 3 days i'd finished my piece of art (a colourful abstract contrasted with a black and white tree). Although i'm not particularly proud of that painting, it started a whirl wind adventure of me planning my future as an artist.

At this point i'd recently been given a small amount of money by family, and instead of spending it on some new clothes, i went and bought some more canvas'. Here begun my adventure.

I was soon scouting shops for the best deals in paint and materials, soon after came my Facebook page. I'd done a couple of paintings, that had actually turned out quite well, but what to do next?

I'll write again soon, telling the next part of my story. Thanks for reading, Have a great day!

Beth :)

The Opening Of my first exhibition!

So the night has been and gone...the opening night of my first exhibition at The London Street Gallery, Derry/Londonderry

The Exhibition is called 'Emerge+See' to capture the variety of different artist's (Emerging and established) but also to capture the difference in styles.

This was in fact my first exhibition experience ever. I never really got to go to art exhibitions, and although i'm constantly admiring others art and gaining inspiration, i am ashamed to say it's mainly through the internet not through galleries. My view on that has now changed.

I was putting a brave face on it, but really i was nervous walking into the gallery. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and i was prepared for that, but i had some daydream where people would be avoiding my painting in the gallery haha. I'll put that down to inexperience.

It was an all together lovely evening. The London Street gallery thrived with people! It was a lovely sight to see. Everyone staying quite a while and soaking in the creativity. The amount of work and talent that the exhibition displays astounded me.

I was so proud to be a very small part of it.

Here's me with my painting:

As Always you can keep up to date with everything going on with me Art wise on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/inspirebybethanyrogers

Find out more about this wonderful gallery on their website:

http://www.londonstreetgallery.org/index.html

Articles about the exhibition:

http://www.derrycity.gov.uk/News/NEW-EXHIBITION-AT-THE-LONDON-STREET-GALLERY#.UaOz7aJJN0A

http://www.cityofculture2013.com/2013/05/new-exhibition-at-the-london-street-gallery/

http://visualartists.org.uk/events/%E2%80%98emerge-see%E2%80%99-group-exhibition-at-the-london-street-gallery/

My first Exhibition....

As my first exhibition looms i'm getting more nervous. The piece of art has been picked and all the details sent off to the gallery and yet i feel anxiety as this is my first exhibition. I don't know what to expect.
I am very thankful that i will get the oppertunity to share, publically, my piece. I just hope it's recieved well and ofcourse i am hopeful it might lead to greater things.

I'll be taking photos of it at the exhibition for my blog and those who cannot make it. In the meantime, here's the piece i'm featuring. What do you think?

Much Love x

You can see more of my art HERE

A wonderful organisation and my personal portfolio...

I am absolutely awful at blowing my own trumpet and although I've had an online portfolio for a while i haven't really told many people about it!

A few month's back I came across this wonderful organisation called 'New Irish Art', they do a fabulous job at looking after Irish artists and helping them to have a platform to share their artwork. The team have been more than kind in helping me out, and now i have a portfolio through which i can share my artwork.

So please show your support in visiting the site by clicking here and sharing it with your friends. Also, take a look at my portfolio by clicking here and let me know what you think.

Keep up to date with my art and see the latest photos: http://www.facebook.com/inspirebybethanyrogers

Struggling...

I go through stages of being well and not. Also of being inspired and not.

To be honest, I've been struggling. It's like a little switch in my head has said "Nope, you're not well so i'm just going to switch off your inspiration for a while" which is frustrating.
I am getting better, I'm taking it steady. I don't want to push myself, get stressed and take 3 months or so to get well again. But I've been working away at this one painting for 3 weeks, and it's driving me insane!
I don't want to move on to another painting as i'm afraid i'll never come back to the current one. I am nearly finished it now but there's one part i can't quite seem to get right.
As with life, Artist's too have their struggles and times when it's harder. But i will finish this painting and find inspiration once again...Never give up!

I might actually have something to show you once i get this painting done hahaha :)

http://www.facebook.com/inspirebybethanyrogers

Art related Quotations :)

Art can help when dealing with health problems?

Living with a long term health problem is something that i don't like to discuss publicly too often. But it is such a big part of my life, as is Art, that it was inevitable the subject would come around eventually.
   Art can be a means of escapism. Being able to wander off into the freedom of your creative brain and stay there until you've run out of paint, canvas, or daytime (which ever comes first). So as you can imagine, art is not only a passion of mine but a release from the everyday pain that my health causes.
It's probably appropriate that i tell you my health problems. Well mainly its Chronic pain caused by Joint Hypermobility Syndrome (an arthritis related condition) which has lead to the development of chronic fatigue syndrome and the many wonderful side affects that taking medicine brings.
 But don't feel sorry for me, it runs in my family and when i'm feeling down in the dumps i remind myself that my auntie has got so many health problems she struggles to remember them all. Trust me, my problems are minute by comparison.
Still, emotionally things can get worse when i'm stuck in bed and I've got about 10-20 different paintings being formed in my head, and i just can't do anything about them. But on the whole, it's a joy to be an artist. Being able to find happiness in something so easily accessible is really important and amazing. So if you struggle with physical, emotional or mental health problems on a short or long term basis give art a try. At the end of the day when you paint your not trying to match up to another person, you don't have to do everything a certain way. There is a freedom in being able to paint, and you will gain much joy from getting lost in a painting and letting your ideas run free...

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Trying something new..

“Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge.” ― Eckhart Tolle

So today i wanted to talk about not being afraid to change direction.
Don't worry, Not life altering change! Just..baby steps. That is presuming you have found your direction...
Anyway bringing it around to art. Recently i have loved painting different objects or even changing my meduim. Honestly i loveeee acrylics but also watercolour's can be really fun to experiment with! And as a result i have taught myself new life skills whilst discovering that i am good at something i never thought i could do. The opposite is also true!

Your Task:

Pick up a an art techniques book from the library and pick some lessons from it! And give it a go. Here's a picture of the book that i would recommend, I've loved going through it! Things don't always turn out great but it breaks from the norm and you may just find yourself heading in a new direction

Some results:

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