Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Younger.
Hi Beth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always dreamed of being an artist. I’d watch Bob Ross paint on PBS and it all seemed so beautiful and magical. I grew up as an only child in rural America raised by my mother who taught 6th grade and my dad who was a metal fabricator. I was always interested in making things or as my mom would call making a mess. I’d make my own paintings, recipe books, paper chain jewelry, hand-stitched socks and you name it.
In high school, I was taught by artist Nelly Jones, who I admire. I gained so much confidence in my work and learned art techniques from her that I use to this day. My work was shown at Virginia’s state capital building. One of my paintings was a golden key winner Scholastic Arts award and my work traveled to be displayed in New York.
After high school, I went to a private college for a week. I felt out of place and homesick there, and so I came back home feeling defeated because I didn’t have a plan. Thankfully, my aunt had connections to a nearby community college and she helped register me for that semester. Afterward, I matriculated to Art school at Virginia Commonwealth University, where I studied illustration, graphic design and other art forms. And now, I’m a professional visual artist and business owner of. B. Younger, an arts and designer company. So as you see my life has taken some twists and turns.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve overcome several obstacles along the way. I was devastated when I lost my mother at 13 years of age, and then my dad raised me to adulthood. In my town, there were no therapists and families are not always equipped to deal with traumatic life events of this magnitude, so creation of art became a form of therapy for me. I’ve also had a painting stolen. It hindered me from publicly exhibiting my work for years. Losing it after putting my heart and hours of time into was so painful. Regardless of what happens, I always believe that we might have bad days from time to time and that the better days will outnumber the bad. I’ve learned that hope and perseverance is key.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I paint layer over layer, using bright colors that conjure up human emotion. I put my own most inner feelings and life’s journey into creating each painting, and that’s what makes my work unique.
Since I have the gift of communicating with people through art, I thought why not take it a step further. What if people could wear my art and carry bright and cheerful vibes my work evokes through the day or night? It is my hope that while I paint as a form of therapy, that my art collectors will feel loved and uplifted when they wear my scarves or jewelry and when they look at my painting on the living room wall or entryway, that they feel happy and at peace. Making art brings me so much joy and I want everyone to experience it.
My artwork and wearable items can be purchased on my website www.shopbyounger.com and at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts and the Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My childhood memory involves my cousin Leslie. We were outside playing and we took the water hose and started spraying one another. Our uncle was also washing his car and we sprinkled water over him while he was in the process of drying the car with a towel!! It still makes me laugh to this day!
I miss those days, and although I’m an adult now, there’s still a part of me that wants to have fun like that little girl did on that day. And that’s where the art comes into play.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.shopbyounger.com
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/shopbyounger/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShopBYounger
Image Credits
Photos of the artist taken by Sean King of The King Image Photos of Group models taken by Destiny Martinez of Destiny Martinez Media Photos of artwork, jewelry and scarves by Beth Younger of B. Younger Arts & Design
