Rendering 2: 'Contemporary wildlife artist Betty Foy Botts depicts nature's divine side'

The article 'Contemporary wildlife artist Betty Foy Botts depicts nature's divine side' was published by Katie Hurst in Charleston City Paper on February 13, 2013. It reports at length about a wildlife artist, who works to express the spirit and soul of each animal she paints. 

   Speaking of Betty Foy Botts, it's interesting to note that when she sits down to paint an animal, she goes on a spiritual journey. She may have an animal in mind, say a deer, but once her brush hits canvas, she doesn't let the typical laws of nature control her. Besides, the animal might be displayed in very un-deer-like shades of blue, yellow, and red, and Botts' broad brush strokes may convey more of the animal's movement than its actual likeness. So in her paintings, we can generally recognize the animal and we can recognize movement. There is a general feeling to believe that there's no doubt in anybody's mind what animal it is, they're just much looser. They're very much inspired by painter's love of the Lord and creation, and so all these animals, to her, take on a real spiritual aspect. They aren't just a painting of an animal. 

   Analyzing her technique, it's necessary to emphasize that it is this abstract element of her work that separates her from the more realistic wildlife painters, many of whom will be participating in this week's Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. It's very likely that using everything from water-based paints and acrylics to stains and crayons, Botts creates her final image through many layers of paint, often on canvas or wood as large as six-by-six feet. Besides, there's every likelihood that on larger paintings, we really get the feeling of the bird taking off in flight or wolves charging at us or a bear in a stream. 

   Giving appraisal of her art, it's interesting to point out that for iinspiration and accuracy's sake, Betty's studio is decorated with deer heads and a collection of animal skulls that she uses to perfect the bone structure of the animals in her paintings. Though she started off focusing solely on deer, in the last several years she's advanced to bears, birds, wildcats, and other creatures. More recently, she's perfected capturing them in their natural settings. It's an open secret that Botts doesn't stick to every aspect of nature. She purposefully uses unnatural colors on many of the animals, letting her indulge her imagination and the spirit of the subject.

   In conclusion that author mentions that the painter uses her depiction of nature to celebrate creation, too, by including a meaningful Bible verse with each painting. She pulls from books of scripture like Psalms and Isaiah to focus viewers on creation, love, peace, grace, and joy. As for me, I think it is a gift, when a man can reflect this or that animal on the canvas so brightly and colorfully, with an accuracy. For this he needs to feel this world, to be aware how the animals feel or how they are built.