Artist Betty Jean Billups
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The Artist Says:
The nuances that dance
between a mountain and the sky
that embraces her,
creating a symphony
that the eyes perceive
but only the soul can remember...
This celebration of light upon
the physical and the ethereal
that creates a love affair,
not only between these,
but also the viewer...
it is this special moment in time
that excites me,
that drives me to risk even failure,
if I but take the chance
to capture only a fraction of what I see, of what I feel,
from this wonderful thing we call Life!
Collectors Say:
I have often wondered where your inspiration of the women in white came from.
They are posed so naturally and look so Toulouse Lautrec
in their movement you have created on the canvas.
I can almost hear the material in their dresses rustle as they lift their skirts.
Do I remember correctly that Laurie had one of a lady in white with a goose?
So long ago, not sure.
Jennilyn Weight
Other Artists Say:
January 31, 2006
Hello! I just have to say that your art speaks strongly to me.
I love your direct approach and wonderful composition.
I've seen your name on the CAC roster but just discovered your work today.
You inspire me to paint! Thanks, John
PS: I went to Chouinard and Art Center in the late 50's,
early 60's and my how time flies!
John Stewart
January 21, 2007
G'day Betty, I live in Queensland Australia:
I just received your book Artist's Projects You Can Paint in the post today.
I read it cover to cover and on the 2nd last page found your website.
I'm not as young as I was and today was not a good day;
when I saw your website I went straight to it
and spent the afternoon looking at every painting,
what a wonderful afternoon it was, so exciting,
I just had to write and let you know how much I enjoyed myself.
Regards, Lee McGruer
Biography
BE TRUE TO YOURELF!
"Capturing an inner feeling,
a moment in time so quickly passing...
A moment that is beyond words,
almost beyond thought.
In art, as music, there are rhythms,
movements, flow and ebb…"
In the summer of 1977, Elizabeth Jean Billups
(AKA Betty or Betty Jean)
had her first one artist museum show at the
Montana Historical Society in Helena, Montana.
This exhibit was the direct results of doing research for a U.S. Army commission that she received,
to create a painting of Sacajawea. And this commission came about because the Army had seen
a painting Billups had in the U.S. Air Force Art Collection (that was created
when she was Vice President of the Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles).
The painting was called "The Nightengale" (U.S.A.F. C-9 Medical Plane).
The exhibit at the museum was titled "Inner Feelings" and
was the sole reason Betty returned to a fine art career.
The trip into Idaho and Montana at that time, also brought her back 10 years later,
to live on a 200+ acre ranch, and eventually move into the mountains,
to a Tudor style home on 10 acres in the wilderness.
Billups, the winner of Grand Purchase Awards and blue ribbons in national and international shows, has been featured in many art magazines throughout her career. In the past 20 years she seldom participates in any "juried" shows.
She feels being a professional in any career, a person should produce THE BEST they can, without some committee jurying "who is best"! If you make it into a major show, that should be reward enough!!
Around 1987 the first Plein Air Painting group was created by Denise Burns of Catalina Island. Denise asked Betty to do ONE national ad, to promote Plein Air Painters of America (PAPA). Betty convinced Denise that an advertising campaign needed to be created. So Billups set up 22 full color ads from 1987 thru mid '96, in Southwest Art, Art West, Artists of the Rockies, and a few other magazines. In the days when there were no personal computers, [...]
Read the rest of this bio on the artist's website >>
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