Artist Statement:
"My work is a reflection of my fascination with the fragmented, grid-like patterns found in nature which I use to abstractly capture the essence of landscapes and journeys. For over two years, my work has been informed by global initiatives to restore, heal and conserve environments. In my latest series, “Trails Within” I explore how restoring balance to our natural environments can serve as a metaphor to restore balance within ourselves. Drawing from personal experiences, I strive to convey feelings of connection, mindfulness and gratitude when we immerse ourselves in nature, highlighting its potential as a source of healing.
I apply multiple layers of paint, working in encaustic or acrylic, adding and subtracting layers with intuitive mark making to create surfaces rich in depth and texture. The visible brush marks and scrapes enhance the emotion and energy behind each stroke. I use my signature grid based motifs alongside organic and structural shapes to create movement and pathways for viewers to enter and engage with the pictorial space. My work invites contemplation of the duality between internal and external landscapes, encouraging healing, happiness, and reconnection."
Artistic Influences:
"Having earned my degree in Art History from McGill University, I have admired and drawn inspiration from the works of Agnes Martin, Joan Mitchell, Jean-Paul Riopelle, Jasper Johns, and Brice Marden. I appreciate Martin for her spiritually based, serene grid paintings; Mitchell and Riopelle for their emotionally charged, gestural landscapes; and Johns and Marden for their textured work and compelling subject matter."
"Blue Marble III" 40"x 60" encaustic on panel. 2022 SOLD to Adam Sandler's Happy Madison production company for set design in his Netflex film "You Are SO Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah!" released on Netflix in 2023.
Bio:
Bettas is an awarding winning, academically trained visual artist born and raised in Canada. Bettas' earliest memory of creating art was at age three making drawings of people, flowers and horses. While art was always part of her life, she pursued a corporate career and then came full circle graduating from art college to embark on a life long passion of being a professional artist. She is known for her signature grid motif paintings and has exhibited in over sixty juried exhibitions in Canada and the USA and curated several exhibitions in Toronto. Her paintings can be found in private collections in North America and Europe. Bettas is represented by the Petroff Gallery in Toronto, ON and Galerie St. Laurent + Hill in Ottawa, ON. Her work was featured in the December 2022 Issue of Encaustic Arts Magazine with readership in 42 countries; the John B. Aird's national survey of Canadian contemporary art "Painting 2020"; the Elaine Fleck Contemporary Art magazine as an emerging artist to watch; and in Adam Sandler's 2023 Netflix movie "You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah." Bettas' “District” painting is in the permanent collection in the Museum of Encaustic Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has served on volunteer executive committees of local non-profit art organizations from 2012 to 2017.
Bettas is a former marketing professional and dot-commer accomplishing extraordinary success in strategic marketing initiatives, operations and account management. In her last position, she was the Head of Marketing Operations at AOL Canada Inc. She retired from the dot com world and graduated from the Toronto School of Art with a Fine Arts diploma (three year program in 2013) in Painting and Drawing. She is a graduate of McGill University with an Art History and Literature degree, and the University of Toronto Internet & Business Technology program. She grew up being immersed in Ancient Greek art which informed her decision to study Art History. She lives in Toronto with her husband, children and two rescue dogs. She has travelled all over the world and is fascinated by geography, cultural anthropology and history. Her mother's family are revolutionary heroes and are prominently featured in the National Historical Museum in Athens, Greece.
Studio view working on a 60"x 60" commission.
MAGAZINE FEATURE:
Anastessia Bettas is a feature artist in the Winter Issue of the juried Encaustic Arts Magazine. The magazine has a readership in over 42 countries, was the recipient of the 2016 La Vendéenne Award presented by International Encaustic Artists (IEA) for outstanding contributions to the advancement and practice of encaustic art in the Media category. Available as a digital/online magazine and is a full-color, full-length magazine. Click HERE.