Bethanie is an artist who works in a variety of media, including acrylic and oils on canvas, watercolour, linoleum and monotype printing, and collage.
Images top row, left to right: Koi Pond acrylic on canvas; Weave watercolour; Dancing Cranes monotype and linoleum print, bottom row, left to right: Bethanie, Dancing Cranes monotype and linoleum print, Blossom watercolour.
Tell us a bit about yourself
I live in Karrinyup with my husband and 2 of my grown up children, a 3rd lives in Edinburgh, Scotland. We have been in this amazing Australia for over 30 years, and I am still excited by the local flora and wildlife. I have had an extremely creative life, indulging in every craft or building area imaginable, including brick laying, tiling (and of course, mosaic), basic plumbing, plastering, sewing, knitting, crochet, paper crafts, etc, etc etc….
I am a relief teacher in Primary School, and try to bring a spark of creativity to my lessons. Back in a life before I had my children, I was a freelance contemporary dancer, teacher, and choreographer. Since moving to Australia, mostly teaching in high schools on specialist dance programmes, and also teaching at WAAPA until my third pregnancy made up my mind for me to pursue the underlying creative love that had been simmering away beneath everything - art.
What does your work aim to say?
I aim to showcase the details of our world, its beauty and environmental importance.
Who (or what) are your biggest influences?
I am primarily inspired by nature - particularly Australian flowers, insects and birds. For this exhibition I was inspired by my travel to Japan. I see these particular works as an expression of the level of design and curation in everyday Japanese life: even the ground we walked on in Tokyo became a source of inspiration, and they took advantage of every small practical lid, handle or post to celebrate their culture.
How has your career developed and evolved?
I have always painted and been creative, however I have been able to properly focus on painting, printing, and drawing over the last five years, since my children have been sufficiently grown up for me to reclaim time for myself. It has been a natural progression for me to show and sell my work. I have also never considered that I have to make a choice between a dance career, a full family life, and an art career. Moving from one to the next has always felt a natural progression, and I feel that trading off one for another would have left me a lesser person.
Describe your studio or workspace
As per my Instagram handle: @inmysmallspace, my studio is a small converted office space in my home, looking out to the garden. It is very full. Odd pieces of furniture allow me to squirrel away a huge amount of stuff, and a wall of shelving and cupboards houses a combination of art supplies, reference material for my job as a primary school relief teacher and storage for finished work, papers and even a sewing machine!
Describe your dream project
Most of the time, I would describe my current work as the dream piece. I feel I am growing, creating and thriving all the time. Each new work fills me with a sense of challenge and enthusiasm. I am absolutely loving working on my current piece is a thing I am constantly saying.
What is the best piece of advice you've received?
There are two things that have been said to me that have steered the way I approach things. My Mother often told me as a child: There’s no such word as ‘can’t. I feel pretty much that I am capable of anything if I have the right tools, patience, and am prepared to try.
The second piece of advice is that if you want something done, ask a busy person. I am a busy person, and every day I ask more of myself. I believe that if you put in the time and effort to be productive, you will get results.
How do you overcome creative blocks?
I don’t know that I have creative blocks, inspiration usually comes - I have been lucky. However, spending a morning out somewhere like Kings Park with a camera and a keen eye, usually provides me with good reference material and ideas for future work.
How do you stay motivated in your art practice?
My arts degree at London School of Contemporary Dance, the previous years of dance training and subsequent work in the world of contemporary dance has left me with a discipline that I feel is very much a part of who I am. I don’t find motivation difficult, I feel honoured to be doing something that I love, and find the process of creating beautiful things is motivation enough.
How do you balance your personal life and your art practice?
My studio is ten steps from the kitchen, fifteen steps from the laundry, and a three minute drive from the supermarket. I am a born multitasker, I have always managed my time well.
If I am super busy, there’s nothing like making a good list to help get things done and stay on track. I have been called prolific, but I don’t think I am … my dad used to say you’re a long time dead. I really did grow up with some old fashioned values, but I feel grateful for them. They are sadly lacking these days, and they have helped me pack my life with creativity.
Exhibition poster:
Connect with Bethanie
Website: https://www.bethanieprovanart.com
Instagram: @inmysmallspace
Facebook: In My Small Space - Art
