Primarily a self-taught painter, Betsill began studying oils following the move to a rural town in the wild and vast Chihuahuan desert, where the desert light and shadow ignited curiosity and awe. Mainly a figurative and landscape painter, Betsill believes in painting what is familiar to her, featuring Western landscapes and figures that reflect her own experiences working in, and with, the land. Her education and background as a biologist have also inspired the incorporation of native flora and fauna to create narrative portraits of landscapes and give a subtle nod to the ecosystem they facilitate. What started as a pursuit to recreate landscape in a literal “as is” depiction has morphed into a more relaxed, explorative play with shape, color, and contrast in her finished studio paintings. Betsill currently lives in San Marcos, Texas, with her husband and two young children.

kbpaintworks.com