Phillips debuts first solo art show at PAA
‘Exhilarated and inspired’ by artistic process
Over 100 people attended the Porterville Art Association reception for featured artist Bethany Phillips on Sunday. The reception was in the early afternoon, and the association had a wonderful array of hors d’oeuvres and harp music.
Phillips is primarily a pastel artist, but began as an oil painter when she was a stay-at-home mom in 1976. She says that family obligations prevented her from accepting a scholarship and finished her art degree at Fresno State after she had studied there for a year.
She later earned her teaching credential, and the rigors of raising a family and teaching kindergarten and first grade for 30 years took the majority of her time. During that time, Bethany and her husband and family lived near Ulm, Germany for two years when he was in the service.
Now retired, Phillips is excited about having her first solo art show at PAA, and can’t say enough about the devoted volunteers and art enthusiasts who worked so hard to make her show work, and thanks them heartily.
“I’ve always loved art and didn’t have a fear of trying difficult mediums, including singing and writing as well as oil painting, pastels and
pencil drawing,” said Phillips. “My parents raised us with a love of the arts and always encouraged us.”
She returned to art four years ago, when her father Bob Bottoms, 89, took her to the Tulare Senior Citizens Center where local artists meet every Tuesday. He talked her into working with pastels three years ago, and she loves drawing still lifes and portraits. She says the abundance of local artistic talent is invaluable in Tulare County.
Phillips' pastels in the show range from bird and animal portraits, portraits of family members, flowers, still lifes and even a bi-plane.
“Bethany puts a lot of detail into her work and has a lot of patience,” says Jerry Kirby. “It must be difficult being a full-time teacher as well as an artist. I used to clean her school room when I was a janitor, and never realized she possessed such artistic talent.”
Phillips finds art freeing and exhilarating, and says working in the medium of pastels fills her with inspiration, and hopes that her style will loosen up as she gains confidence.
“I'm following in my fathers footsteps, and I'm so glad he introduced me to the Tuesday artists gathering at the Senior Center. I have met so many wonderfully talented artists there, who have inspired me and helped me grow as an artist. Their help has been invaluable to me.”
Jo Nell Mauck, PAA vice-president, says that Bethany captures the soul and personality of both her human and animal subjects in her portraits. The light and texture is outstanding in her pastels. One of her sunsets in pastel is especially evocative; the evening mood is perfectly captured.
Phillips' show will be on display inside the PAA gallery at 151 N. Main Street in Porterville until November 10.
She would very much like to thank the PAA and all the people who made the show possible, and appreciates the opportunity to show her art for the first time. She says the volunteers do an amazing job putting on great shows, and the PAA is one of the only galleries open to the public during the week from Wednesday to Saturday10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Artwork in the gallery is for sale. Call for more information at 559-7844342 or email: Portervilleart@gmail.com, or www.facebook.com/portervilleartassociation