Betsy Frahm Artwork
I am currently working on a series concentrating on the reflections of glass, water, and the play of light and shadow. I find ordinary objects or subjects and make them extraordinary. I can find the beauty in everyday things that others do not see. And through the use of super saturation of color and texture can achieve the desired result.
"New Years Eve in Las Vegas" framed 15x12x1/2" Oil on canvas.
I can be anywhere and something random will catch my eye. Here it was the reflection and distortion of the lemon in the glass of water. I decided to over saturate the colors in the reflections to take the ordinary and make it extraordinary.
"J D Shuckers, Lewes , De." Oil on canvas. framed 14x17x1"
Sitting in a restaurant I was fescinated by the reflections of the glass and the stainless steel table and couldn't resist painting it.
"Pretty Privies" Oil on canvas. 16x20x1.75" gallery wrapped with painted sides. No frame necessary.
Walking through the quaint town of Lewes, De. I suddenly came upon on these adorable outhouses. I love the color, the composition and the textures were irresistable. Here I experimented with sgraffito to achieve the results I wanted on the weathered wood.
"Townsend Farm No. 1" Oil on board. 12 x9x1" unframed
Driving on the back roads, I ran across this deserted barn. I had to stop and take a photo of it. I love the way the vines and ivy are trying to swallow this huge building, and figured I better work on it before it does. This is the first in a series I am planning for this barn. I am photographing it in every different season, and at all different times of day. Look for the others in the future.
"Fido's Fountain" 9x12" colored pencil on Bristol.
This was a rare moment in time. I have to say I was a bit intimidated by all the water droplet and wanted to make it convincing. A not so funny side note....half way through one of my 5 years old granddaughters decided she wanted to help Grandma by drawing on it. Guess I should say scribbled on it. I held my breath and for three hour I gently erased the dark pencil lines she had done. Both of us were relieved when it worked. From that moment on, I have been giving her and her twin drawing lessons and so they have something to work on when I am working. Turns out they have surprizing talent and they are really great with shading. Dodged a bullet this time.
Balsa wood wine bottle box. Colored pencil.
At a holiday gift show I saw these boxes and loved the soft feel of the wood. Of course I imediately thought of using my colored pencils on it so I bought one. When I finished it I took it to the store where it came from, had drawn a label on it with the name of the store, and left it for the owner along with my business card. I got a call from her ad we met. I am exclusively doing these bottle boxes for her store for a minimum of one year, and then after that I can either do them and sell them myself, or for other who may sell them. This is one side (sorry for the blurry photo) and there is a label area for personalizing, and a few grapes scattered around so that there is something to see from every angle. The boxes are used as gift boxes for sine and champagne. But I am making them pretty enough to be displayed.
