By Jan Titus
Betsy Nelson’s paintings will be featured in the Lundeen Room at Orcas Senior Center during June.
She has studied with Caroline Buchanan and, for the past five years, with Terry Johnson. Her work, evocative of emotions rather than straight portraiture, has a shining quality that draws the viewer into deep attention.
“People are my favorite subject; not portraits of specific individuals but rather paintings that evolve as I go and speak to an emotion. For me, painting is a wonderful, sometimes frustrating, open-ended experience. Each work, successful or not, is an adventure,” writes this artist.
She and her husband, Jim, have lived on Orcas since 1975. Together, they own and manage Orcas Island Bayside Cottages.
Without reservation, Betsy Nelson is one of the most intellectual and most formally advanced artists on Orcas Island. Compliments to an artist mean nothing if they’re not meeting quality; and Betsy Nelson’s work is most definitely quality work! There are very few artists on the island that I would give my whole hearted recommendation for…and Betsy Nelson is one!