Meet German Village resident and artist Betsy Defusco!
From Betsy:
My art inspiration originates out of my love for nature. I am a colorist, primarily painting with oil. I create art by inventing color schemes, overlapping organic forms and shapes, and adding many thin layers of glaze. I like the idea that visualizing spaces in nature, whether it be in an abstraction or in a more representational painting, can bring calm to the viewer.
My art inspiration originates out of my love for nature. I am a colorist, primarily painting with oil. I create art by inventing color schemes, overlapping organic forms and shapes, and adding many thin layers of glaze. I like the idea that visualizing spaces in nature, whether it be in an abstraction or in a more representational painting, can bring calm to the viewer.
I grew up in the small town of Jamestown, New York. My initial artwork was creating paper dolls with my sister. After my undergraduate degree at University of Dayton I received a Masters of Fine Art in Painting at The Ohio State University. My favorite Influences are Bonnard, Matisse, and Diebenkorn. All of them are very much colorists, and express the joy of living through their work. Art is my life’s passion, and my profession.
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Artistic phases:
1. Cloud Series 2. Pine Creek Series 3. Light Crossings Series 4. Pond Vine Series 5. Plants and Foliage Series 6. Diary Series |
CLOUD SERIES
I have always been inspired by the sky and clouds, the changing colors and shapes, and peaceful imagary. "To watch the clouds is to invite wonder, to listen to the clouds is to bask in silence."
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PINE CREEK SERIES
The Pine Creek Series is inspired by the reflection of the surrounding trees in the shimmering water, floating concentric circles and/or fish swimming within.
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LIGHT CROSSING SERIES
The Light Crossings Series is about color, light, balance, and serenity. Begun in 1998, the paintings began as stripes and soon moved into ‘plaidlike’ images with the emphasis on light emanating from within. Some of the early pieces had references to windows, and light spaces within another space. More recently, the plaids became a backdrop for calligraphic lines which suggest possible meaning, although that is not planned during the painting process, which is intuitive. The plaids have evolved into landscape like spaces where the lower half of the piece becomes the land, the sea, or a field of clouds viewed from an airplane. The paintings demonstrate how the horizon becomes a calming entity in our line of sight.
Sacred Sea, Oil on Canvas, 30x30
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Castel Plage, oil on canvas, 60x60 in
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Breezeway, Oil on Wood, 12x12 in
Closer to You, oil on canvas, 60x60
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Summer Sweet, Oil on Wood, 12x12 in
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POND/VINE SERIES
The Pond/Vine Series began in 2011 while at an artist residency in Massachusetts. The ‘pond’ is my fish pond at home in Columbus, Ohio, and the ‘vine’ is a wisteria vine that grew outside my window in Massachusetts. The pond images have evolved to include fish and lilypads, sea snakes and overlapping rounded shapes that suggest marine life. Some of the fish pieces have a lot of movement, while the paintings with the lilypads suggest a calmer and quieter place in nature.
Seasnake Sushi 2, Oil on Wood, 9x12
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Resting in Blue 2, Oil on Wood, 12x16
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Splash Party, Oil on Canvas, 30x40 in
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Mystery Meeting, Oil on Canvas, 24x36 in
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PLANT AND FOLIAGE SERIES
Plant and foliage series is inspired by the gardens around German Village.
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DIARY
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My most recent works which I am calling “Diary” are small works that make an effort to take images from my life that I find special and inspiring. The subject matter is all over the board, I take pictures and use what I find worthy of a small painting.
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My husband, Nick, and I love living in German Village, the most beautiful spot in Columbus! We enjoy walks, especially to Frank Fetch and Schiller Park, and all the restaurants, our favorites are Lindeys and The Sycamore.
You can see my work in person by coming to my studio on Spring Street. Call 614-327-3512 to make an appointment. Online look for www.BetsyDefusco.com and https://www.instagram.com/betsydefusco/
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