Betty Merken
About the Artist
Artist Statement
The nature of painting drives the meaning of my work. The interplay between the physical, sensual activity of painting and the necessary intellectual and formal decisions which present themselves creates an ongoing dialogue within each work and among the works themselves.
My newest work explores the effect of a single color and its illumination. It is inspired by observations of the manner in which light affects color, with its passing movement and changes.
I am fascinated by the power of color to convey feelings and my intention as an artist is to reflect how color can evoke emotion and contemplation, allowing the viewer to become the subject of the work.
As a non-serial abstract painter, my work can result in strikingly different moods and meanings, with each painting becoming an entire story, or world unto itself.
I am attempting to coax poetry from paint, to transform my materials into metaphor.
Betty Merken
“Illumination, Persimmon”
Medium: Oil on canvas
Year: 2017
Size: 32 x 24 in. Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Lapis”
Medium: Oil on canvas
Size: 40 x 32 in.
Category: Contemporary abstract
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Kokoro”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Date: 2014
Size: 60 x 68 in.
Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Orvieto”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Date: 2015
Size: 40 x 24 in.
Contemporary abstract
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Garden of Delights”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 49.5 x 56.5 in.
Contemporary abstract
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“A Girl’s Best Friend”
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Date: 2014
Size: 60 x 68 in.
Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Dual #01-17-01”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK paper
Date: 2017
Paper: 27.5 x 30.25 in.
Image: 18 x 24 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Mint
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Persimmon #01-17-04”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK paper
Date: 2017
Paper: 27.5 x 30.25 in.
Image: 18 x 24 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Mint
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“llumination, Lavender #09-16-09”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK Paper
Date: 2016
Paper size: 54 x 39.5 in.
Image size: 36 x 48 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Illumination, Orange #09-16-01”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK Paper
Date: 2016
Paper size: 54 x 39.5 in.
Image size: 36 x 48 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Illumination, Ultramarine #07-16-02”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK Paper
Date: 2016
Paper size: 54 x 39.5 in.
Image size: 36 x 48 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Illumination, Ecru 01-16-09”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK Paper
Date: 2016
Paper size: 27.5 x 30.25 in.
Image size: 18 x 24 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Lavender #07-16-38”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK paper
Date: 2017
Paper: 27.5 x 30.25 in.
Image: 18 x 24 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Mint
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Illumination, Ultramarine 01-16-12”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK Paper
Date: 2016
Paper size: 27.5 x 30.25 in.
Image size: 18 x 24 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Illumination, Orange 01-16-13”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK Paper
Date: 2016
Paper size: 27.5 x 30.25 in.
Image size: 18 x 24 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Betty Merken
“Illumination, Yellow 01-16-05”
Medium: Oil monotype on Rives BFK Paper
Date: 2016
Paper size: 27.5 x 30.25 in.
Image size: 18 x 24 in.
Inked, printed, and published by the artist.
Condition: Excellent
Price: On Request
Education
Workshop in Printmaking, Crown Point Press, San Francisco, CA
Bachelor of Arts, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Graduate work in Art, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, ME
Penland School of Crafts, Penland, NC