Getting to Know Artist, Bethany Harper Williams

Repost: Bethany Harper Williams joined Maine Art Hill in the fall of 2017.  Because she hasn’t spent a summer show season with us as of yet, we wanted to take a minute to reintroduce her. She has found great success with us over the last few months, and we are excited to have her involved with David Witbeck in their dynamic duo of a show at Shows on Maine Art Hill at 5 Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk from June 30 to July 19. Please read on to learn more about this amazing artist.

 

In the Sun and Salty Air

“Water, sky, and beach inspire me, I love the big expanses of landscape. Couple this with the changing ocean light, and it’s magic,” says Bethany Harper Williams.

Maine Art Hill is happy to feature Bethany Harper Williams at Shows on Maine Art Hill at 10 Chase Hill Road from June 30 to July 19.  There will be an Artist Reception from  5-7 pm on Saturday, June 30. 

“I don’t like to paint the obvious. I like the viewer to look and find new things like the shapes of colors, textures, playful shapes and scribbles. The vast areas of sky or beach or water give me the room to play,” says Williams. “When looked at up close, all these interesting and unexpected shapes and subtle textures and colors can be found. From a distance, it is clearly a sky or beach or water.”

Red Boat White Boat

Williams often has figures in her paintings. “I am trying to capture a moment in time. I’m not concerned with who the people are, but I’m trying to invoke a memory others can relate to,” shares Williams. “My people have become even more simplified, much less detailed.” In her latest series of Beach Days, the figures are simple strokes of color. But as simple as they are, she still captures the movement and interaction, the mood and activity.

Spring is in the Air

“I work mostly with palette knives, big and small, always using a palette knife for my figures. It helps me to stay away from focussing on details,” says Williams. “Recently I have started to bring brushes back into my work to add texture, but I like using big brushes, like a broom!”

Williams’s work is often described as having energy but also a calmness and playfulness. “It is reflective of who I am. I am a doer. I’m very active. I love sports, tennis, golf, biking, swimming, and skiing. However, I’m also a very relaxed, calm person. I love to travel, especially adventure traveling.”

Ocean Blue

One gallery owner says this about Williams and her work. “Her work represents the youthful energy of the present day yet has peaceful and calm roots planted in nostalgia. This paradox is expressed beautifully in her simple yet sophisticated style of painting.”

What does Bethany Harper Williams say about her work? “It makes me happy that I get to do what I love and other people enjoy it too.

 

To read more about Bethany click below

Artist Insights – Bethany Harper Williams

To see our complete collection of her work click below

Artist Page  – Bethany Harper Williams

Join Bethany and David Witbeck, co-artist for this dynamic duo of a show at Shows on Maine Art Hill, at 10 Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk, is open daily at 10 am.  The Williams and Witbeck show will run from June 30 through July 19. FMI 207-967-0049 or maine-art.com.