Bets Cole

I am an artist because through making art I have found a way to learn, speak, question & record my journey. I draw & paint the time, not just the moment in time. My essential concern & constant struggle is to make visible in my work through the use of form, color & gesture, my strength, energy & passion.
Often my images arise from nature or from the subjects that nature provides. I have consciously chosen to live in Oregon, in the country, for it is Oregon’s landscape, atmosphere & color that give me hope, inspire me & bring me calm.
The paper, the media & the process of painting & drawing are as important to me as the subject itself. I use paint (acrylic, gouache & watercolor), pastel & pencil. Each has its own personality & quality of mark, allowing choices & combinations that often challenge & surprise me.
My pieces evolve slowly & I have learned that to succeed, I must be patient & flexible. I continually re-work my surfaces, layer upon layer, which in turn allows the piece to gain depth, a sense of history & a voice of its own.