We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Beverly Carlson-Bradshaw. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Beverly below.
Beverly, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?
I sometimes do wish I had gone to college for a Finer Arts Degree and at least taken a few years out of high school to study with a mentor and seen if I should pursue the one passion I had. At that time I was so naive and felt I could never make money as an artist so instead I got a job and never quit working until I retired at 60 and then started full time. However, I did take night time classes off and on through the years. Painting and drawing from an early age it was the one thing I felt I had talent for and kind of wish I had pursued it earlier. I feel I only have so many years now to do as much of it as I can now. However, I did work as an Interior Design which was a creative outlet to some degree and I did that for years before retiring and moving to Arizona in 2018.
Beverly, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I started drawing and painting from an early age and I felt I found what I was good at it. After High School I did take night time classes while I was working. I moved from Montana to Seattle in 1984 and did work in the legal field which I had done in MT. That did help me to learn to work with potential customers, as did my next career as an Interior Designer. It also helped me as an artist to see balance, composition and my strong color sense was truly beneficial. I did work one-on-one with a pastel artist, Clark Elster, for a year while working. For ten years I did no art as my business was just too busy to find the time. After moving to Carefree, AZ in 2018 I started in 2019 to paint again full time. I am very proud that I have won awards with Camelback Gallery, Arizona Pastel Artists Assoc., Sonoran Arts League, Desert Foothills Land Trust and have been showing in The Finer Arts Gallery in Cave Creek, AZ. I discovered pastels in my 20’s after using oils and watercolors and it just clicked for me as it felt like a combination of drawing and painting together. I’m not a real patient person so it felt more immediate and the colors are much more vibrant. I grew up on a farm and have always loved animals so that is probably the subject I paint the most. However, the last year I have started painting plein air (outside) more which I really becoming to enjoy. So landscapes are my second favorite subject. I do get bored easily so I also do floral and old trucks or cars at times.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I get the question quite often “how long did it take you to do that painting” and also, under their breath seems expensive. I’ve come to answer it with not so much just the time but it comes with years of practice and workshops that I have taken. One painting may come easy to me and it just flows quickly and another I may struggle with it. All of it comes with days and years of just doing it. I have alot more to learn and with that artists prices do go up if you are selling. I don’t think the public understands some time how much money goes into making that one piece of art for artists. There is the materials that are expensive no matter what medium you work in, the time and effort, the framing and in my case with pastels glasses well which sometimes is the most expensive and also, once in a while matting. Also, buying local art is so helpful to so many artists and its nice to have something from someone where you live.
: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
One is time – I just want to make as much art as I can but also, learn as much as I can along the way. I’ve started teaching introduction to pastel art classes through a couple of art institutions here locally. That pushes you to breakdown the basics and reminds you what is important from all the workshops I have taken these past 3 years. It is a never ending learning process I enjoy trying to push yourself. I have always painted more realism but would like to stretch myself to loosen up not abstract but more impressionistic.
Maybe some day I’ll get good enough I can enter into the “Cowgirls Up” prestigious women’s show in Wickenburg that I always love to go to that inspires me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beverlybradshawart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beverlybradshawart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beverlybradshawart
Image Credits
Cone Flower – photographer AR Mason Squirrel – photographer Gillian Merritt