Artists of Note | Betsy Buckner

Providing moments of pleasure

Betsy Buckner, Vincent, oil, 36 x 48.

Betsy Buckner, Vincent, oil, 36 x 48.

This story was featured in the November 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine. Get the Southwest Art November 2014 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss another story!

Betsy Buckner’s favorite subject matter includes animals, landscapes, florals, and portraits. The reason: because they are all living things. “I struggle with painting buildings, city scenes, and objects,” Buckner says. “They’re boring, and they just don’t do it for me. The subject of a car on the street or a wine glass with a bottle does not bring a smile to my eyes.”

But a smile may spread across a viewer’s face when they peruse one of Buckner’s bold and colorful depictions of foxes, bears, and bison. And that would suit the Colorado-based artist just fine. Buckner is the first to admit she is not trying to deliver a deep statement about the state of the world but rather to provide her viewers with moments of pleasure.

Her colorful palette and expressive brush strokes are reminiscent of artists who have influenced her, such as the legendary John Nieto. Buckner, however, rarely paints on an easel. She achieves the spontaneous, often eye-popping look of her paintings by placing the canvas on the studio floor and then, as she puts it, “slinging paintbrushes as far as I can.”

As this story was going to press, Buckner was preparing works for two upcoming shows at Denver’s Sync Gallery and at the Denver Athletic Club. —Bonnie Gangelhoff

Buckner is represented by The Evergreen Gallery, Evergreen, CO; Mountain Home, Evergreen, CO; Sync Gallery, Denver, CO; and the Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO.

Featured in the November 2014 issue of Southwest Art magazine–click below to purchase:
Southwest Art November 2014 print issue or digital download Or subscribe to Southwest Art and never miss a story!

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