Artist Statement
God has created all the beauty that surrounds us in nature and in people. If I, through my art can invoke an emotion and capture a moment in time of God's beauty, then I have been successful. My years of experience and my professional background enables me to render paintings in oils or pastels in an impressionist style. Utilizing color, to harmonize and complement your color scheme, I am capable of responding to a wide variety of subjects from tranquil streams, vibrant sunsets, morning mist, ocean sunrises, mountain vistas and beautiful gardens. I love Plein Air painting, but I readily accept commissions from your special photographs of landscapes and people. I enjoy working with decorators, designers and individuals, to create a mood or enliven a room to harmonize or enhance your color scheme.
Biography
Bette Coningsby has painted all her life. She was inspired by her artistgrandmother and as a child she always preferred to draw and paint rather than playing outdoors. She started art lessons at a young age and won her first awards at 12. As a teen growing up in New York City she spent her Saturdays drawing at New York Art Students League and enjoyed many visits to the New York city museums. Bette studied painting and commercial art at Centenary College and worked as a graphic designer. After her 5 children were in school she received a BFA with a teaching certificate from Florida Atlantic University. She taught art in the school system for six years and has continued to teach adult classes in Florida and North Carolina for the past 30 years. Bette has explored all mediums but fell in love with oil and pastel, which she now works in and teaches exclusively.
Education
AA Centenary College
BFA Florida Atlantic
University
Florida State teaching
certificate
Studied six years with
Henry Hensche learning color and how it is affected by light.
Workshops in oils: Lois
Griffel, Gay Faulkenberry
Workshops in pastels:
Albert Handell, Gregory Kondos, Susan Ogilvie, Elsie Dresch, Wolf
Kahn
Portrait study: Daniel
Green, Peggy Baumgaertner, Michael DelPriore, Cedric and Joanette
Egell
Affiliations
Juried into professional status Boca Artist Guild
Member of Southeast Pastel Society
Atlanta Portrait Society
Appalachian Pastel Society
Recent Awards and Honors
Coral Springs Open Juried Art Show Honorable Mention 2008
Boca Artist Guild Show Honorable Mention 2007
One person show at Transylvania Art Center in 2007
Silver Medal in pastel...N.C. State Silver Games 2005
First Place pastel Transylvania Senior Games 2005
Second Place oil Transylvania Senior Games 2005 Honorable Mention...Focus on Art Brevard N.C. 2005
Honorable Mention...Bonnet House Historic Florida 2005
Second Place Boca Raton Artist Guild Show 2005
Honorable Mention...Bascum Louise Highlands, N.C.
Venues
Bette Coningsby Studios (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and Lake Toxaway, North Carolina)