Showing posts with label abstract art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abstract art. Show all posts

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Breast Cancer Awareness Day At The State Capital




I had the pleasure of being asked to help select artists for Breast Cancer Awareness Day at the State Capital. Here are my sister Rose and I at the event. The five paintings that are directly in front of Rose are the ones she did. Rose has autism. We had a great turnout for this event plus I found a face painter that painted images of hope on attendees faces. Rose got a heart and I got a pink ribbon. It was held on April 30, 2013. The pieces we did were in honor of our maternal grandmother who we lost to Breast Cancer.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

And The Winner Is.....

Thanks to everyone who entered my Birthday Bash Giveaway! I've decided that everyone who entered will get one of my Fine Art Reproductions. Take a look at my reproductions here and let me know if you would like something besides "Singing The Blues." Your reproduction will come printed by me on matte graphic image paper using archival inks said to have a life of 99 years.
Hope you all enjoy your art!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Birthday Bash Giveaway!

My birthday is on the 22nd so in celebration I'm having a contest!

Here are the rules: You must be 18 or older to enter and live in the US. There are several ways to get entries and please let me know if you have questions.

Here's how to get entries: 1. follow me on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/bettyrefour and let me know you've followed either by leaving a comment here or tweeting me. For an additional entry tweet the contest to your followers.
2. "Like" me on Facebook then tell your friends and ask them to like me as well and tell me you sent them. Let me know when you like me: http://artist.to/artbybettyrefour For each person you send that likes me you get an additional entry. 3. After reading this do something nice for someone or multiple people and ask them to pay it forward. Let me know what you did. This is good for 5 entries. 4. Take a look in my etsy shop and find your favorite item and leave a comment telling me what it is. http://brefour.etsy.com, this is good for one entry.

That's it! Multiple chances to win and the winner gets a Fine Art reproduction of my painting pictured here - Singing the Blues. I'm also having a contest on my card blog at http://noteworthycrafts.blogspot.com so go and enter there as well. Good Luck everyone.

Oh and last but not least the winner will be announced sometime on August 23, 2011 right here in the comments section. Please make sure I have a way to contact you.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Journey


I started drawing geometric shapes on notebook paper when I was about six years old. I was fascinated by color and the visual appeal of different color combination's. I would sit for hours drawing lines, circles, and squares.






I loved fashion and as I got older I started drawing images from magazines. I decided I wanted to be a Fashion Designer but after obtaining a degree in Fashion Design I pursued other interests.




Through the years I did some freelance illustrating, but never painted until I was off work for a year recovering from a back injury. I didn't take a class, I just went out and bought paint and canvas and started to paint. I got commissions almost immediately.







Earlier this year I decided that instead of painting geometric shapes, as is most often the case, I would paint something different. I painted a small canvas with shades of red and waited for ideas to come. But, every idea involved geometric shapes. And so the canvas sat there waiting. One day after Rose was done painting I added the yellow she had left from her palette...still nothing. So there it sat.







Then one day, after days had turned into weeks and weeks had turned into months but before months could turn into years, I painted what I felt in my heart from day one.....geometric shapes. I titled it Journey, in honor of myself and all you other creatives out there who have a tendancy to get in your own way. It was done on
7 x 5 inch wrapped canvas and you can find it for sale in my Etsy shop with a portion of the proceeds benefiting cancer initiatives.


Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.








Thursday, September 30, 2010

Push - Contemporary Abstract Painting Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness

This has been a rough year for me. Just when I thought that soon I would be able to feel the ground under my feet again and not cry when someone asked about my mother, my uncle died suddenly of an apparent heart attack. A few weeks later a friend was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and not long after that another. Then, just last week another dear friend was diagnosed with cancer.

It would be easy to sit back and feel sorry for myself or allow myself to drown in my grief but I refuse to do that. Instead, I choose to paint, something that I have not done a lot of this year. I choose to continue to push no matter what.

There are people around me that have no idea how much their kind gestures have meant to me. Words of encouragement from members of Etsy Project Embrace and of The Etsy Twitter Team. A compliment or purchase of my art. Including me in treasuries. An unexpected present or card in the mail. Someone bringing over dinner...little things can go a long way.

With Breast Cancer Awareness month upon us, this painting is dedicated to my maternal grandmother and countless others who have lost their battles with Breast Cancer. Everyone involved with Etsy Project Embrace. My friends on The Etsy Twitter Team. Everyone that took the time to do something nice, not only for me but for anyone. The survivors, friends, family and everyone that continues to PUSH no matter how insurmountable the obstacles seem...until there's a cure for all types of cancer.

You can find this painting for sale in my Etsy shop with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support Breast Cancer Initiatives. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Bridges - Original Painting - Artist with Autism


This is a painting by my sister Rose who has autism. Rose is mostly non verbal, so when I ask her what she would like to name her work oftentimes I don't get an answer so I name it myself. I named this piece Bridges because it reminded me of people reaching out to one another.

April is Autism Awareness month so all month I'll be featuring art by Rose and other artists on the spectrum.

You can find this for sale in my Etsy shop.... I think it's time Rose had her own Etsy shop!

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Turmoil - Abstract Painting


The original image was done using acrylics on 10 x 8 wrapped canvas. You can find reproductions for sale at Fine Art America.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Name That Painting


The hardest thing about painting for me is coming up with a title, and since I have joined a daily painting group that task is even harder. What I have decided to do is have a contest! Help me come up with a name for this painting and if I decide to use your suggestion for this painting or any of the paintings I do this year I'll send you a reproduction of one of my works. So put those thinking caps on and help me out.

This was done using acrylics on 8 x 10 x 1/2 inch wrapped canvas. The staple free sides are painted purple. It is signed and dated on the back, wired and ready to hang. You can find it for sale in my etsy shop, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to support Breast Cancer Initiatives.

Please, please, please leave a comment with your suggestion and make sure I have a way to contact you if I like your idea. Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

One Last Present To Share

Tangled (c) 2009 - Betty Refour

Whenever I've given a gift of art I usually do pieces 8 x 10 or smaller but this year I decided to do a large painting for someone. This was done using acrylics on 36 x 24 wrapped canvas. I hope they like it.

Happy Holidays everybody! Thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

More Gifts Yet Again!



I was trying to think of another idea we could do for stocking stuffers and found these gold frames for aceos' at Dollar Tree. We framed some for our local recipients and I think it makes them look really nice. Rose did these drawings too.

I also bought die cut cards for aceos' at Hobby Lobby. I did these drawings and some of my friends will get these instead of a traditional type of holiday card. We are almost done with everything, thank goodness.

Don't forget to tell me about the gifts you made.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Remembering Liza

Liza - Acrylics on an 8 x 10 Canvas Panel (c)Betty Refour 2009

One of the most influential people in my life was my maternal grandmother. While my mom encouraged academics she fueled my desire to be an artist. When mom bought books she bought art supplies. She taught me how to knit and sew and would encourage me to draw and paint.

One of the many things I learned from Liza, as we called her, was the idea of giving back. She encouraged me to do volunteer work and to donate money to causes I believed in whenever I could. Little did I know just how important those ideals would become in my life. In 1986 after a courageous battle with Breast Cancer we lost Liza and I became an advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness.

In the years since I have had several friends diagnosed with Breast Cancer some have survived and others have not but I do whatever I can to promote awareness through art in honor of Liza and countless others.


We have come a long way but we still have a long way to go in the battle against Breast Cancer so please do all that you can to support awareness.


This painting is part of the EBSQ online show Think Pink.
Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Reflections

Reflections - (c) 2009 Betty Refour - Acrylics on an 8 x 10 Canvas Panel

This is my newest work. Enjoy!

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

What Was She Thinking?

Wonder - (c) Rose Refour - 2009 - Acrylic on Canvas Panel

I always wonder what Rose is thinking when she paints. Before she starts she walks around the studio and looks at my work as well as images of hers, selects her palette and begins. She will often stop and look around again as if to draw inspiration, and when she's done she brings me her brush as if to say, "I'm finished!" She loves to draw but I'm not sure she would paint if I didn't encourage her. This is probably my favorite piece to date and I can hardly wait to see what she comes up with next.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Art For The Day

Untitled (c)Rose Refour - Acrylic on Paper

My sister and I were home on President's Day and to keep ourselves entertained we painted. Rose really doesn't like painting much, she's more comfortable with drawing but I think she did a great job. She used ink and acrylics on paper. This image will probably end up on a note card at http://www.noteworthycrafts.com.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Art For The Day

Looking Out (c)2009 Betty Refour - Acrylic on Canvas Panel

This painting was done using acrylics on an 8 x 10 canvas panel. You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Art For The Day

Bounce (c)2009 - Betty Refour

The most difficult part of painting for me is coming up with a title. I've been watching the Australian Open though for the past couple of weeks and this reminds me of the computer generated images that are shown of where the players ball landed. I think mine is a bit more colorful though. This was done using acrylics on 8 x 10 wrapped canvas. The sides are painted dark blue so it's ready to hang. You can find it in my eBay store.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Art For The Day

Fleeting 2009 (c)Betty Refour

This painting was done on a 7 x 5 canvas panel using acrylics. You can find it for sale in my eBay store.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Art For The Day

Melt - (c)Betty Refour - 2009 Acrylics on Canvas Panel

This painting was done using acrylics on an 8 x 10 canvas panel. You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Art For The Day

Paths - (C)Betty Refour 2009 Acrylics on 5 x 7 Canvas Panel

Another new painting. Available for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Art Of The Day

Listening 2009 (C)Betty Refour

This painting was done using acrylics on an 8 x 10 canvas panel.
You can find it for sale in my Etsy shop.

Have a great day everybody, thanks for stopping by.