Meet Beth Winterburn | Abstract Artist working primarily with inks + acrylics

We had the good fortune of connecting with Beth Winterburn and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Beth, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Really, I’d never intended to create a business of making and/or selling art. I have a Fine Arts degree, and I simply missed creating; and so, I began making work to satisfy my own cravings. Instagram was in its early days – more of the journal-keeping/sharing style and blissfully void of ads or marketing. I began posting as a way to keep a journal of my own work. Over time, I began to get requests to purchase the work that I was making and posting, and a business was born.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work tells a story of interpersonal dynamics in color, shape, line and texture. I utilize my materials to create a record of memories as well as a journal of future aspirations. My own journey consisting of hills and valleys, I desire to display a tension of longing, acceptance, conflict and serenity in my work. I see my work as a language that speaks on my behalf, communicating a history and present reality of the complexities of human relationships. My desire to influence the future with transparency and vulnerability lends to my effort to leave many of my marks and paint strokes to themselves, allowing and encouraging them to speak. I use line and color to bring cohesion and connectivity to seemingly unrelated gestures. I’m highly motivated by process and often find it difficult to get to the end of a piece.My interests lie more in the collected moments that lead to an end, much as in relationships that evolve over time.

I’m proud that in 7 years, I’ve grown this practice into a full-time business all on my own. While I would love an assistant, my limited space as well as the time it would take to train an assistant have kept me from it. Perhaps one day I’ll grow that portion of my day-to-day practice, but I enjoy changing hats, so to speak. It keeps things interesting, and I’m constantly learning and having to expand my mind.

My business is three-fold: Direct-to-client, licensing and gallery representation. I like that I myself deal directly with each of these arms of the business. It allows me the ability to stay connected to collectors, to communicate directly about the work and to set a schedule for myself that fits the pace of my practice.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
In Memphis:

Mornings would begin at Hot Yoga Plus with a good sweat sesh and a homemade smoothie. After cleaning up and resting up, lunch at City Silo. After that, a venture down to Broad Avenue to stroll through the shops (Falling Into Place, City & State). Dinner at Bounty on Broad just down the street.

During the week, we’d take walks at Shelby Farms, pop into Garden District to check out the greenery, candles, and just be surrounded by beautiful flowers. We’d visit South Main and pop up into Paper & Clay to see Brit’s latest creations.

Depending on the time of year, we’d catch a live show at Live at the Gardens or the Levitt Shell.

Other than that, we’d enjoy a low-key, Memphis style laid back week with lots of good food and great conversation.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My high school art teacher deserves a lot of the credit for where I am today. She awakened a passion in me for observing, studying and critiquing art – thinking critically about the process of art-making as well as dissecting individual artworks to understand the intention of the work.

After that, I’d have to name my mom. When I was struggling to decide on a major in college, she encouraged me to follow my interests and pursue an art degree.

Since then, my husband has been very instrumental in encouraging me to continue when the ups and downs of art-making threaten to drive me away from the studio. He was a music major and understands the waves of creativity that come and go, as well as the discipline it takes to stick with it when doubts threaten to derail.

Website: www.bethwinterburn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beth_winterburn/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/beth_winterburn

Other: I’ve recently begun making and selling digital art (NFTs). Link to digital work: https://exchange.art/beth-winterburn/nfts

Image Credits
Ashleigh Coleman Photography (Both images with BW in them)