About the Artist
Born and raised in New Orleans Rommel was introduced to art by parents who loved museums and gallery trips. Her K-12 school encouraged the arts, where she learned to throw clay pots and where she was taught patience and attention to detail by Helen Trivigno, gifted Romanian enamel artist. “Mrs. Trivigno instructed me to work on one large pencil drawing for several weeks. All pencil strokes had to go in the same direction. What discipline that was. I was 15 years old and had no idea how valuable patience would prove to be.”
While living in New Orleans the Crews family would pack the car each Friday night and leave the formality of the old city for the farm life. An hour and a half drive would take them to Folsom, Louisiana to an old house with cats and dogs, cows and chickens, ducks and horses, quilts and barns. The family gathered eggs, rode horses, herded cattle, and rode in a jeep learning about rural agricultural life. Having lived in so many different cities this is the home Rommel holds dear; there was tranquility, love, friends, and family. (In addition to Louisiana, she has lived in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Fort Worth area, in Texas, Knoxville, TN, Oviedo, FL, Decatur and Epworth, GA, London, GB and Santa Fe, New Mexico.)
Rommel graduated with a B.F.A. in Studio Art with an emphasis in Communication Design from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville after two years at the University of Texas in Austin. This prepared her for a career in advertising and public relations while she moved with her family throughout Texas and to Florida.
With small children at home, she developed an interest in children’s literature and illustration. As a member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) she wrote and illustrated her own stories for young readers. Melvin Fine Mouse: First Day of School, a rhyming story, for the youngest reader is one of them.
After the passing of her mother in early 2016 Rommel was in a serious car accident where her car was forced off the highway by a large truck. The car flipped back over front and rolled sideways leaving her and her husband trapped in their now battered Subaru on a Memorial Day in Satsuma, Louisiana. With a broken sternum and ribs, and time to think, Rommel thought through her options.
She has explored flying people in bright patterned clothing, a 100-day watercolor challenge, oils, acrylics, birds, horses, portraits, and cows. Rommel’s sense of joy and playfulness has been evident in her work at all times.
Her folk-art Rainbow Bridge pieces are a new addition. They are available through commission by contacting Rommel.
art in situ
Artist Statement
When my depiction of something can bring strong emotion I feel such gratitude. The mystery of what transpires between my hand and my head has worked. To communicate with a viewer is a gift from God.
My art is a remembrance of the people, animals and places in my personal visual dictionary. I have been blessed to see so much variety, beauty and wonder in my life.
I have been fortunate to have wonderful art instructors and professors who encouraged my choices of subject matter and taught the fun of painting. Some of them were Lynn Whipple with her joyful creation of artwork and Carl Sublett with his eye and European trained hand for landscape and color. The instruction I had at an earlier age taught me to really look and see and to notice detail everywhere.
Beth Rommel is my new jam. If you’re not on her psychedelic-folk art-cat lover train, I’m sorry, you’re an elementary lepton…Get your kicks art fans and get onboard.”
-H.D. Chattanooga, TN
How could I not include that summation in my artist statement?
RESUME
Beth Crews Rommel
beth@bethrommel.com
http://www.bethrommel.com
Education
Studied at University of Texas, Austin: Studio Art
Graduated from University of Tennessee, Knoxville with B.F.A. in Studio Art
Attended further classes and workshops with Carl Embrey at San Antonio Art Institute,
Portrait classwork: Dallas,
Crealde School: Winter Park, FL,
Callanwolde: Atlanta, GA,
on line studies with Carla Sonheim, Lynn Whipple, Cat Bennett
Exhibitions and Publications
| 2021 2019 to 2020 | Blue Ridge Arts Center Wild Oats and Billy Goats | S.E. Contemporary and Folk Art Show Gallery artist – Decatur, GA | |
| 2017 to 2020 | High Country Art | Gallery artist – Blue Ridge, GA | |
| 2017 Publication | Brookhaven Buzz, April 2017 | Decatur Dispatch, April 2017 | |
| 2015 to present | Pea Ridge Kitchen | One woman exhibition ongoing | |
| 2013 | Oregon Shakespeare Festival | Director portraits “My English Breath..” | |
| 2012 | Emory University Quadrangle Magazine | Features World Shakespeare Project portraits of co-directors | |
| 2012 | Spring Mingle SCBWI | First place illustration competition | |
| 2011 | Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA | Little Things Mean A Lot | |
| 2011 | Pour for Prevention, Sacramento, CA | Exhibit raising awareness of child abuse | |
| 2011 | Billboard Art Project, Savannah, GA | Paintings exhibited in 24 hour event | |
| 2011 | Pomfret Center, CT | Dynamic Duo Collaboration with artist MK Shaw | |
| 2010 | Gallery at Avalon Island Juried Show | Award of Merit | |
| 2010 | Artistree Co-op, Orlando, FL | One woman show, artist of the month | |
| 2010 | Casselberry Art House Seminole County | Featured artist of the month | |
| 2009 | Gallery at Avalon Island Award of Merit | Artists Registry.com juried show | |
| 2009 | Trinity Preparatory School, Winter Park, FL | Juried Art Bazaar, also in 2010 | |
| 2009 | Art House Co-op, Atlanta, GA | Sketchbook Project, traveling exhibit | |
| 2009 | Gallery on First, Sanford, FL | Studio and gallery artist | |
| 2009 | Gallery on First, Sanford, FL | Hot Summer Nights group show | |
| 2008 | First Thursday, Orlando, FL | Orlando Museum of Art boutique: Rojo and Women in Art juried exhibits | |
| 1996 | Muse Interiors, Colleyville, TX | Featured artist: Decorator Showhouse 1996 | |
| 1996 | HEB,TX Arts Organization | Winner 3 dimensional art award |
Private Collections
Mr. and Mrs. S. Shackelford: N.Y., New York
Mr. and Mrs. D. Higgins: Calgary, Alberta
Ms. A. McSweeney: Davis, CA
Mr. and Mrs. H. DeHart: Chattanooga, TN.
Mr. and Mrs. J. Johnson: St. Simon’s Island, GA
Mr. and Mrs. D. Johnson: Whitefish , MT
Mr. and Mrs. W.N. Rives: Columbus, OH
Mrs. C. Lowe: San Antonio, TX
Private Collectors Atlanta, GA, Decatur, GA, Maitland, FL, Washington, D.C., Houston, TX
Volunteer Work
Stride Ahead Equine Therapy Decatur, GA
Decatur Art Festival
Trinity Preparatory School
Fort Worth Christian School
Colleyville Elementary
Morse Museum of Art
Orlando Museum of Art