We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful BethAnne Garcia. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with BethAnne below.
BethAnne, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
When you are an artist, it is hard to escape the drive to create. I knew in high school that art would always be part of my life, but I was not sure how. While I don’t make a full-time living as an artist, I consider it a success that I am able to be a stay-at-home mom and create while my kids are at school. Over time, I’ve built up my portfolio and a little business for myself (www.bethstreefarm.com). Before committing to my craft, I always knew there was something missing. Painting allows me to give back to myself, and share joy with the world.
BethAnne, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
While I have painted throughout my life, committed fully to sketchbooks and journalling, I tried very hard to take a conventional route and work in marketing. But it was not the best fit for me. In 2019, I started painting more regularly, studying little leaves, flowers, and other treasures from nature. By 2020, I started painting on recycled boards, and soon found that fence posts were an excellent painting surface, full of character and available freely throughout my neighborhood. When I created a collection of Christmas trees, I launched Beth’s Tree Farm.
I have continued to specialize in paintings on recycled fence posts, and now the collection changes throughout the season; Texas wildflowers in spring, birds, chickens, roosters, and then pumpkins in the fall. I enjoy taking custom orders and creating memorable pieces for others to give as gifts. I also love painting murals on fences in people’s gardens. Neighbors know me as the fence post lady.
My painting style is very accessible and inspired by the Impressionists. My work can be simple and flat or thick, colorful, and full of energy and brush strokes. People find a connection to the subject and my joy in turn brings them joy. Like many artists, I dabble in other mediums including watercolors, pencil, and ink.
I am most proud of the fact that my kids look at this as my job. I have taken what I love and created a small business.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I am driven by the intrinsic motivation to create, realizing that not everyone will like everything. Putting work out there that isn’t perfect is an act of radical acceptance. Putting work out there is brave and it takes courage every day to make something new. Some days, I’m only able to paint for a few moments, but this ritual feeds my soul.
When I look back on my old sketchbooks, I see myself. I see the marks that my hand makes and how my eyes see the world. I used to feel self conscious, that I didn’t have a style. But now I realize that exploration has tied my style into what it is today.
I am thankful for the pages of sketchbooks that I have filled. They have documented my life and travels in a beautiful way.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
Twyla Thwarp: The Creative Habit
Just like exercise, the act of creating needs to be a habit. The more you do it, the stronger you become. The more you fuel your soul.
I wake up every morning before my family, make the coffee, and start my day at my drawing table. It’s like a meditation. When I do not do this, my day is off balance.
Big Magic: Elizabeth Gilbert
Go out and create something, anything. And don’t be afraid.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bethstreefarm.com
- Instagram: @bethstreefarm
- Facebook: @bethstreefarm