Bethany J. Sutherland
Boboli Gardens

Art

"Art is a synthesis of what you see, what you feel, and what you understand."

As an artist, my life has consisted of a myriad of endeavors and artistic explorations that shape who I am as an individual. Throughout my childhood, my parents pushed us to explore our artistic sides through visual arts, writing, theater, dance, and visiting fine art galleries. With my grandfather’s vocation as an art teacher and my Great Uncle Dewitt’s vocation as a College Professor and Artist of oil and pastel portraits, landscapes, and seascapes until the age of 95, my background is rich with cultural and artistic flavors. 

Through my art education at Westmont, I learned a deeper appreciation of the process in the form of art itself. The outcome of the work is not the destination, but rather the expression of the journey to create the work. Impactful art communicates and moves the viewer through a story, and to understand and experience content in a different way.

Everyday objects take on new meaning as I look at the process beneath the form, seeking an alternate appreciation for beauty that might not seem apparent on the surface. The perception of art as the synthesis of function and beauty has far-reaching implications to my perspective of life. Coupled with my study of physics, a deeper understanding of light heightens my awareness of shadows and shapes of the underlying form that are present in my surroundings. 

Studying in Italy expanded my knowledge of the Italian renaissance and deepened my understanding of the culture that birthed an unprecedented period of innovation. My immersive experience in painting, interior design, and art history transformed how I perceive and interface with the world around me.

Art is a way of life and a unique expression of my individuality and voice.

Studio Art Collection

Boboli Gardens

Boboli Gardens

Oil, Fall 2010

Still Life

Still Life

Oil, Fall 2010

Study in Blue & Orange

Study in Blue & Orange

Oil, Fall 2010

African Goddess

African Goddess

Colored Pencil, Charcoal, 11 x 17.5 in., Spring 2008

Two to Tango

Two to Tango

Watercolor, Pen & Ink, 10 x 14 in., Spring 2007

Dancing Water

Dancing Water

Watercolor, 10x15in., Fall 2007

Reconciliation

Reconciliation

Graphite, 19 x 15in., May 2009

Spoons in a Stream

Spoons in a Stream

Graphite, 8 x 10 in., February 2009

Contour Branch Composition

Contour Branch Composition

Graphite, 12 x 18in., January 2009

Rain Dancer

Rain Dancer

Watercolor, Charcoal, 11 x 17 in., Fall 2007

Lil Dancer

Lil Dancer

Charcoal, 12 x 20 in., Fall 2006

Lake Scene

Lake Scene

Watercolor, Pen & Ink, 8x10in., Fall 2007

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Boboli Gardens
Still Life
Study in Blue & Orange
African Goddess
Two to Tango
Dancing Water
Reconciliation
Spoons in a Stream
Contour Branch Composition
Rain Dancer
Lil Dancer
Lake Scene