Montana Artworking by Cindy Betka

This week end brought the ending of the Olympics and the last episode of season 4 Downton Abbey. In both of those we all had our favorite events/athletes or characters. In the Olympics, there were many featured athletes with their life stories to how they got to the Olympics. Their struggles and frustrations that they encountered along the way. Skijoring is the new sport that just might make it into the next winter Olympics. The World Championships are held right here in Whitefish, MT.; "Modern skijoring combines Whitefish's signature ski racing heritage with Big Sky Country's cowboy roots into a wild, fast-paced and entertaining spectator event." In art, we also have our favorites. I have mentioned a few of mine throughout my blogs with tidbits on their work and life. It is fascinating to read about the lives of such masters as Anders Zorn, John Singer Sargent, Michelangelo, Monet, Rembrandt, and many others. All geniuses in their own right; artists continu...

Last week was the opening of a new art center in Butte. Butte Imagine Resource Center is in uptown Butte. They are promoting education and a place for artists to gather and exchange ideas all to promote and grow the arts in Butte. The main focus is on printmaking, as they have a large room with all sizes of presses and supplies available. Etchings are great fun. Printmaking is challenging and really forces you to experiment. Below are a few etchings I have done in the past. The first one I am sure a few of you will recognize. James McNeill Whistler is known for his paintings, however was more proclaimed for his etchings. Whistler received critical acclaim for his prints; winning a gold metal in the 1863 international exhibition in Amsterdam. Comparisons of his work to Rembrandt were often made to Whistler's side. He started his work in playmaking when working for the US Coastal and Geodetic Survey after being dismissed from West Point from failing chemistry. He tri...

In the last month, I have worked on eight paintings. Most of them are on the small side. Out of those, four  were completed to a point that I could be satisfied with. One I am still contemplating whether or not to save it, if possible. Three ended up being fuel for the fire, literally. All in all, I can say I have stretched my muscles and grown in the failures. It all comes with the territory. My next batch of paintings I am going with a new series naming it 'Skies Proclaim'. Yes, you guessed it, skies/clouds are the theme. We get many amazing cloud formations with colors galore here in 'Big Sky Country'. Below is one of those that survived the last go round. It is part of my barn series. Rock Solid 14" X 20" Oil

Dating myself back to when I was a student in the medical illustration program; pen and ink was the technique to master. This was primarily because the printing costs of medical text books were much more economical in black and white as opposed to full color. Once the technology and printing costs came together, full color publishing was the market to meet. So, our techniques for illustration moved to watercolor, gauche, and acrylic. With that technique we changed our thinking to mass verses line rendering. Now as I paint in oil I look at the masses, which changed the way I sketch as well. Concentrating on the masses of tone; lights and darks. Underpainting with one earth tone color the shapes and the light patterns. This painting has such an underpainting in raw umber. Red On Red 16" X 20"

In starting a painting I look at the basic shapes. I begin with a large brush and block in the masses. Visual interest increases with irregularity and variability of shapes. Spaces between shapes also need to be visually interesting. Every shape in nature is interesting and so should be for the shapes in a painting. Visual appeal comes with varied indents and projections of those shapes. The closer the shape is to the basic square, triangle, and circle the closer it is to boring. Strut 8" X 8" Oil While grouping positive shapes, watch for the negative shapes formed by them.  Pick out the shapes in these Anders Zorn paintings. Anders Zorn "Mrs. Eben Richards" 1899 Oil 60 X 42.25 in There is a nice, rich, strong black background shape formed from the off white figure. Anders Zorn "Francis Folsom Cleveland" 1899 Oil 54 X 36.25 in In this painting the shapes blend in to one another except for the 2 + sh...

All Who Wait 12" X 16" Wholesome 7" X 16" Endured 9" X 12" Valley of Decision 8" X 8" Today Counts 7" X 16" Sing for Joy 9" X 12" These paintings are being shipped out this week to the Lewistown Art Center. They will be available in their gift shop.  http://lewistownartcenter.org Lewistown is a charming, small western town founded in 1882 with the gold rush. It is geographically located in the center of Montana. 

'Stood The Test' Oil 16" X 16" I am please to have this painting selected for 'The Square' Art Auction.