Artist Statement & About the Artist

Artist Statement

My present work shows the dichotomy of living in this environment. The tropical colors and volume of leaves and blossoms compared to the thirsty branches of a long south Texas summer. With rain comes lush foliage and flowers of all colors. The birds are present enjoying the days in the shade of jungle like growth. 

After a month of 100-degree temperatures and no rain the movement during the day stills. The animals save their energy for cooler evenings and mornings. The plant life staggers through the day with heat exhaustion, drooping in the heat, finding solace at night to try again tomorrow.

Being a very visual person, I cannot avoid seeing the contrast. My collages are created with botanical prints that I make using plants from my garden. The blossoms are now dry, leaves have wrinkled. The abundance of spring florals and green foliage has turned as if for an early winter. My prints will show this as will the artwork produced from them.

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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.

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art in situ

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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

2023		Blue Ridge Arts Center	Artist in Residence
2021		Blue Ridge Arts Center	S.E. Contemporary and Folk Art Show
2019 to 2020		Wild Oats and Billy Goats	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

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